Awesome Geological Formations in the Badlands of Kansas

After my 5-day road trip, I’ve gotta say I have a whole new appreciation for the badlands of Kansas. They are, in one word, badass. They make for a pretty amazing sightseeing adventure, one that’s millions of years in the making. Some might say that’s an awfully long time to carve a fancy bunch of rocks, but I say Mother Nature just took her time to make a masterpiece!

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Where To Stay in the Badlands

The badlands of Kansas cover a pretty expansive area. But if I had to choose a spot for accommodations, I’d go with Sleep Inn & Suites Oakley I-70.

This hotel is one of the best in the area, offering a clean, modern room with a soft bed and friendly staff. It’s a short drive out from the main city, away from urban noise and pollution, but not so far removed that it’s a pain to get to.

A brightly lit hotel breakfast area with wooden tables and chairs arranged on a carpeted floor. In the background, a long counter features a continental breakfast setup with coffee machines, juice dispensers, cereal, fruit, and pastries beneath vibrant landscape photos on a green accent wall.

Exterior view of a three-story Sleep Inn & Suites hotel on a clear, sunny day. The building features a beige and brown facade with stone accents, a covered drive-up entrance, and neatly maintained landscaping.

Indoor hotel pool area with a small, kidney-shaped swimming pool surrounded by red brick trim and textured flooring. The room features colorful blue, yellow, and red tiled walls, with white plastic chairs and tables arranged along the perimeter for seating.

Modern hotel room featuring a king-size bed with white linens and a dark wood headboard against a green accent wall. The room includes bedside tables with lamps, a work desk with an office chair, a lounge chair near a window with sheer curtains, and wall art above the bed.

Outdoor patio area of a hotel featuring a sturdy picnic table with attached benches on a concrete slab. The space overlooks a well-maintained grassy lawn with small shrubs, set against a wide-open view of farmland under a bright blue sky.

PHOTO CREDITS: Sleep Inn & Suites Oakley I-70 VIA HOTELS.COM

PLANNING A TRIP TO THE BADLANDS SOON?

Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more!

Popular Tours & Activities in the Badlands:

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
Castle Rock
Monument Rocks

Top Places to Stay in the Badlands:

Luxury: Sleep Inn & Suites Oakley I-70
Mid-Range: Kansas Country Inn
Budget: Annie Oakley Motel

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Badlands of Kansas 101: From Sand into Geological Marvels

Before we dive into the best rock formations in Kansas, we’ve gotta talk more about how these natural wonders came to be. Quick overview: from 100 to 66 million years ago, a huge inland sea covered the whole middle part of North America (including Kansas). It became kind of a huge, underwater landfill for sand, silt, and volcanic ash, which piled up like you wouldn’t believe over time.

All that sediment eventually turned into rocks, mainly chalk, sandstone, and limestone. And a lot of those rocks are filled with the fossils of ancient sea critters and dinosaurs. Eventually, the sea drained, and nature (mostly in the form of rivers and storms) started carving up the land like a butcher on too much caffeine.

In any case, it worked out pretty well in the end, because it left behind some pretty awe-inspiring geological formations. In Kansas, the most famous ones are Castle Rock, the Monument Rocks, and pretty much all of Little Jerusalem Badlands.

A dramatic sunset behind a towering rock formation, casting a golden glow across the landscape. The sun peeks through a crevice in the rugged stone, highlighting the texture of the rock and the surrounding dry grasslands under a clear sky.

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

This Kansas state park features the Niobrara Chalk formations. As you might’ve guessed, these are some of the chalk rocks mentioned earlier. Established in 2018, this park showcases dramatic 100-foot spires and cliffs where you can still see the clear lines of sediment striped across their jagged faces.

If you’re lucky, you might also catch sight of some out there wildlife, including hawks, lizards, and small mammals. They’re pretty skittish, obviously, so don’t be disappointed if you don’t see any. (Though we did come right across a rattlesnake there, so do be careful!) You’re really there for the rocks, anyway.

Keep in mind that you’re allowed to do two things while you’re in the park: hike and take pictures. No hunting for sparkly rocks or fossils, no rock climbing, and no hiking off of marked trails. The rock is soft (as far as rock can be, anyway) and easily damaged—you don’t want to take a wrong step and have the path crumble beneath you.

One last tip: this park has a $5 per vehicle entrance fee, unless you have an annual Kansas State Park pass. It’s possible to camp in the park, but you have to buy a permit for that, too ($10 per night per camping unit). There are extra fees if you want access to utilities like water, electricity, and sewage.

Even with those added on, though, it’s cheaper than a hotel for those on a tight budget.

Expansive view of a rugged badlands landscape with tall, weathered rock spires and eroded formations stretching into the distance. Warm sunlight casts shadows across the textured cliffs, highlighting bands of orange and tan sediment.

PHOTO CREDIT: FISHDECOY, CC BY-SA 3.0

Castle Rock Badlands

Aside from Little Jerusalem, you definitely want to check out the Castle Rock Badlands. They’re near Quinter, and although they’re technically on private land, they’re open to the public. As the name implies, these formations look like a castle—one of the spires in particular looks like a chess piece rook. Classic.

Unlike most other sites in Kansas, you’re actually allowed to climb on the formations. Just note that if you do climb them, you have to keep an eye out for snakes. Remember: snakes don’t bug humans unless you bug them first, so just back away if you catch sight of one.

Wide view of a weathered limestone wall formation under a deep blue sky, featuring tall, eroded spires and striated layers. The light-colored rock contrasts with the barren, dusty ground, showcasing the dramatic natural landscape of the prairie badlands.

PHOTO CREDIT: Library of Congress, RAWPIXEL, CC 1.0

Monument Rocks

Meanwhile, the Monument Rocks (AKA Chalk Pyramids) are just half an hour from Little Jerusalem. They’ve got an archway that makes for a great photograph, but that’s pretty much all they have to offer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; just don’t expect a grand adventure.

Road Tripping Through the Badlands of Kansas?

Exploring the badlands of Kansas is one of those trips that sneaks up on you. You might not expect to find towering chalk formations and ancient sea fossils in the middle of the prairie, but that’s exactly what makes them so memorable. If you’re planning a road trip through the area, set aside some time to experience these natural wonders firsthand.

Looking for more Kansas travel inspiration? Check out my post on 9 Awesome Things To Do in Wichita, Kansas, fuel your foodie side with Best Restaurants in Wichita KS For Any Craving, or get a little quirky with 4 Weird Towns in Kansas: Kick Up Your Boots. And if you’re road-tripping across the state, don’t miss my guide to eight unique things to do along the way.