a squat tan building with a brown porch and a tree.

The White River Visitor Center is the main facility in the South Unit of the park. Be sure to stop by to pick up maps, enjoy museum exhibits, and chat with rangers about the significance of the Badlands and treaties in Lakota heritage.

Pets are prohibited in the White River Visitor Center unless they are a certified service animal. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not allowed in the visitor center.

Pets are permitted in Badlands National Park with some restrictions. Pets must be kept on a leash no more than six feet in length at all times. Pets are only permitted in developed areas, such as campgrounds and picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles, such as gravel and paved roadways, roadway corridors, and parking lots. Pets are prohibited from hiking trails, public buildings (i.e. visitor centers), and backcountry areas, including the Badlands Wilderness Area, and areas with prairie dog colonies. Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles.

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

The White River Visitor Center is open seasonally, typically May through October.

The White River Visitor Center is typically open from 8am-5pm.

The White River Visitor Center includes ramp entrances and spacious museum exhibits for those who use wheelchairs.

Ask rangers at the front desk about audio-described and text-only brochures.

Certified service animals are the only animals allowed in the visitor center. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not allowed in the building.

a squat tan building with a brown porch sits beyond green grass and a tree. — Stop by the White River Visitor Center to learn more about the South Unit of Badlands National Park.
NPS Photo

White River Visitor Center

The visitor center is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation and offers a staffed information desk, exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and water. Impromptu talks are available by request. This visitor center is only open during the summer season.

Closed today

Current Hours (Off Season (October - May))

September 27–May 18

Every Day:Closed

The White River Visitor Center is typically closed from late September through Memorial Day.

Standard Hours

Every Day:9:00 AM–4:00 PM

This visitor center is located on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is only open seasonally. 2022 Summer season, the the last day White River Visitor Center will be open is October 14.

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Off Season (October - May)

September 27–May 18

Every Day:Closed

The White River Visitor Center is typically closed from late September through Memorial Day.

Holidays

2025–2026

Holiday	Date	Hours
New Year's Day	January 1, 2026	Closed
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.	January 19, 2026	Closed
Washington's Birthday	February 16, 2026	Closed
Columbus Day	October 13, 2025	Closed
Veterans Day	November 11, 2025	Closed
Thanksgiving Day	November 27, 2025	Closed
Christmas Day	December 25, 2025	Closed

Double-wide trailer under blue sky with USA and Oglala Sioux Tribe flags.

Double-wide trailer with wooden boardwalk ascending to front door under a blue sky.

Tan sign with Lakota and English phrases indicating that approach to White River Visitor Center.

Tan Badlands National Park sign bids visitors farewell and cooperation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

White canvased Tipi under partially cloudy sky amid prairie grasses.

Double-wide trailer under blue sky with USA and Oglala Sioux Tribe flags. — The visitor center is located on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and flies the flag of the Oglala Sioux Tribe accordingly.
NPS Photo / Earl Perez-Foust

Double-wide trailer with wooden boardwalk ascending to front door under a blue sky. — The visitor center is ADA accessible and has bathrooms, exhibits, and park information available.
NPS Photo / Serena Rosales

Tan sign with Lakota and English phrases indicating that approach to White River Visitor Center. — The south unit of the park is managed in cooperation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
NPS Photo / Serena Rosales

Tan Badlands National Park sign bids visitors farewell and cooperation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe. — The south unit of the park is managed in cooperation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
NPS Photo / Serena Rosales

White canvased Tipi under partially cloudy sky amid prairie grasses. — The White River Visitor Center focuses its interpretation on Lakota culture and treaty history.
NPS Photo

a lakota man wearing a beaded vest speaks into a microphone with two park rangers looking on and smiling. — The National Park Service comanages the South Unit of the Badlands with the Oglala Lakota Tribe to properly protect and interpret Lakota heritage.
NPS Photo

The White River Visitor Center in the South Unit is a great place to visit if you want to explore the cultural significance of Badlands National Park. You can speak with rangers about the Badlands in Lakota heritage, learn about the history of the area through museum exhibits, pick up maps, and get your passport stamped.

Rangers at the White River Visitor Center offer impromptu historical and cultural talks and programs. Ask a ranger if there is a program being offered when you stop by!

Backcountry camping is not permitted in the South Unit. More information on backcountry camping in the park can be found here.

Visit the White River Visitor Center