Badlands National Park in July
July at Badlands National Park averages a daytime high near 88°F and an overnight low around 58°F, with about 2.2" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.9× the park's average month, which makes July a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 58°F
- Average high
- 88°F
Range across the year: 10°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 2.2 in
- Daylight
- 14.9 hours
Roughly 24% of the park's yearly visitors come in July: about 249,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Badlands; December, the quietest, runs only about 0.1× the average — a 24-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score July rates 42/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 73°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 20.6 miles from the park.
July falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 64% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 14.9 hours of daylight in July to explore — near the year-round maximum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,139,361 recreation visits, up 4.1% from 1,094,245 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 11.4%, so a July visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How July compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 80°F / 52°F | 2.4× Very busy | 58 Fair |
| July | 88°F / 58°F | 2.9× Very busy | 42 Poor |
| August | 88°F / 55°F | 2.5× Very busy | 50 Fair |
All twelve months at Badlands, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Badlands in July
The National Park Service tags 17 Badlands activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Badlands Astronomy Festival · 30-60 minutes
- Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab
- Badlands Ranger Programs · 20-60 minutes
- Enjoy the Night Sky · 30-90 minutes
- Visit the White River Visitor Center · 15-60 minutes
- Backcountry Camping
- Drive Around the South Unit of the Badlands · 1-2 hours
- Hiking the Badlands · 1-5 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
July averages a daytime high near 88°F and an overnight low around 58°F at Badlands National Park, with about 2.2 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 20.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
July is very busy at Badlands National Park (about 2.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 42/100. Our recommended month is May.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. July sits at about 2.9× the park's average, or 24% of annual visitation.
A typical July sees about 249,000 recreation visits at Badlands National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Badlands in July
Booking a July trip to Badlands National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live July availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Badlands
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in July.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.