Away from city light, South Dakota's parks offer some of the darkest, starriest skies in the country. Between the Black Hills and the Badlands, the state is built for a life spent outside.

The Badlands hold regular night-sky programs under exceptionally dark conditions.

What sets it apart

Campgrounds range from full-service parks to remote grassland sites. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Clear high-plains air makes the Milky Way vivid on moonless nights.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.