the main part of the park is paved but the big loop is not...also there is a nice B&B just a few miles away...I can't remember the name, something or nother ranch...its about 2-4 miles from the park...the house is high up on a hill and has a great view and at sunset the coyotes howl and there are a kabillion stars at nite...
I found the link.....http://www.circleviewranch.com/

 

whats the problem with running dirt roads. just take it slower and be careful with the brakes. i ride them, just don't fight the bike and be careful in the turns. just saying you might miss out on some real good scenery if you just take the path well paved.

 

I have to share: I've ridden the Loop many times. But the best was when we were headed back east and it was about 11:30 at night and it was deserted. It was clear above us, but a huge thunderhead was over the Hills to the west, tens of thousands of feet high, just flashing with cloud to cloud lightning. Overhead was a full moon, so everything was lit up, with an erie bright moonglow. On top of that there was a low level fog bank in the lower elevations, so as we went up and down the rim on the Loop road we went in and out of the fog. Got out of the fog, and the sky was flashing, go back into the fog, it was lit up with misty glowing moon light. All this as we rode the amazing geology of the Badlands. I totally felt like I was on a foreign planet. Just surreal.

That is all.

 

Nice! Yes the Badlands are something to see day or night, summer or winter. Sunrise and sunset can be mind blowing.

 

44 is a good choice. Not much traffic. Friendly little towns. And most important ...... gas. 44 East of the Missouri river looks just like Iowa. Then after you cross the river, it's like flipping a geological switch, and the scenery gets awesome.

The Badlands National Park loop is paved, and has a fairly slow speed limit. Just keep in mind that it gets repaired on a regular basis, as you can see in the video at about the 7:34 minute mark


Here's a small taste.