Day 16-The Royals Go Bad (lands) 👑

October 4th, 2025

The next morning, we rolled toward the Badlands, with a quick pit stop in Rapid City, SD, for groceries. Soon we were cruising east on Route 44, past wide-open ranch land that stretched forever. The horizon started shifting—those otherworldly Badlands formations began to rise in the distance—and before long, we were in the park. The landscape is incredible… and a little spooky, honestly. It just keeps going, like a scene straight out of Lost in Space.

We were surprised to see big, working cattle ranches inside the park, and before long, we hit the tiny town of Interior, SD (population 92). There’s a service station with a cowboy bar, a church, a jail, and a couple of restaurants that probably hibernate in the off-season.

The campground inside the park was full, so we headed to the nearby KOA and found a great spot. That’s where we met Martin, a friendly Sioux man who helps run the place during the camping season. He told us he loves the Badlands—he’s an electrician back home on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the off-season—and he’ll be heading back in a few weeks when the campground closes.

After a light dinner, the Royals hit the sack early to rest up for more exploring. Tomorrow we’ll finish cruising through the eerie, endless landscape before heading back toward the Black Hills to see the majestic Mt. Rushmore and the inspiring Crazy Horse.

This is BIG country. 😎🍺