Yeah, the Plains get pretty hot and humid, especially with the flatness and general lack of trees. I remember a 118°F day in east-river SD in 2005 or -6, a shitty day to be a lifeguard lol. At least there's a little geography in the Badlands, and you're close to the Black Hills, which are gorgeous. But yeah, they are called the Badlands for a reason lol.

this summer has been unlike others. you might have done the exact same thing in half the country.

when i was a kid (seems like eons ago) we vacationed there a lot, in north and south dakota (and a little mt and wy). mom and me loved the badlands. the terrain and features, wildlife, the night sky... i don't remember it ever being "too hot" to be outside. we camped, in a tent or popup; so outside is where we were basically all the time.