Is it just me, or is South Dakota the most underrated state? Sure, people know us for Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, but there is more to South Dakota than just our world-class landmarks, such as our natural beauty and landscapes. Thankfully, Readers Digest has taken notice, naming this SoDak drive as one of The 40 Most Scenic Drives in America:

It's official: The Badlands Loop Road is one of the most scenic drives in America!
TripAdvisor/RoOSully
As per Readers Digest, the Badlands Loop was a no-brainer, citing that "You’ll get up close and personal with one of the most jaw-dropping sights in the country as you drive along South Dakota’s Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240), where the vast rugged areas of layered rock formations make you feel like you’re on the moon."
TripAdvisor/ELKW
Spanning a jaw-dropping 242,756 acres, Badlands National Park seems like something out-of-this-world, as the area comprises pinnacles and buttes created 69-million-years ago by geologic forces of deposition and erosion.
TripAdvisor/hatlad
With all there is to see in the Badlands, we agree that the Badlands Loop Road is the best and most efficient way to experience it, as the drive takes you through the heart of the Park and past many of its best overlooks.
TripAdvisor/Christopher P

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Keep your eyes peeled when you drive the Loop, as you may even see some native wildlife!
TripAdvisor/Ny trees
In addition to the Badlands Loop, Readers Digest has also named Skyline Drive (Virginia), the Lonesome Highway (Texas), and Historic Route 66 (pictured) as some of the most scenic roads in America. 
Wikimedia Commons/Dietmar Rabich
Badlands National Park is open year-round, with an entrance fee of $35 per private vehicle (valid for seven days).
TripAdvisor/KopiMocha
To learn more about Badlands National Park and the Badlands Loop Road, visit the National Park Service's website.
TripAdvisor/Grover R

For even more of our favorite SoDak drives, check out The Iron Mountain Road Is 17 Miles Of White-Knuckle Driving In South Dakota That’s Not For The Faint Of Heart.

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South Dakota 240, SD-240, Wall, SD, USA