Wind Cave National Park

Visitor Center:
Wind Cave Visitor Center is opened daily, year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The visitor center is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm with expanded hours during the summer. All cave tours leave from the visitor center. For more information on visitor center amenities and current hours of operation, click here.

Wind Cave National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Roads within the park are generally open all year long, but winter conditions can affect road status. For up to date road conditions, call the Wind Cave Visitor Center at (605) 745-1134.

Summers in the park are typically hot and dry, although thunderstorms, some producing large hail, are common. The park receives most of its rain in the spring; fall is a bit drier with warm days and cool evenings. The temperature inside Wind Cave is consistently 54 degrees year-round, and visitors should plan accordingly if planning on taking a cave tour. Long waits for cave tours can be expected during the summer. Consider visiting the cave during the morning to avoid the longest lines. Weekends are great times to come to the park during the summer as Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the most crowded days.

Fees & Passes:
There is no entry fee for Wind Cave National Park. Tickets are required for cave tours and there is a fee for camping in the park. To learn more about park fees click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping:
The Elk Mountain Campground is the only campground in Wind Cave National Park and is open year round. Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis but the campground does not usually fill up. Running water (including potable water) and flush toilets are available in the summer. For more information on camping in the park, click here.

Backcountry camping is allowed in the northwest area of the park. A free permit is required for all backcountry camping and can be obtained at the visitor center. Check out the park's website for more information.

Lodging:
There is no lodging offered within the park. A variety of lodging options are located in the nearby towns of Hot Springs and Custer.

There are no dining options located within the park. Visitors looking for grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants will find plenty of options in the nearby towns of Hot Springs and Custer.

Wind Cave National Park offers a variety of ranger-led programs that vary by season. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here. All tours of Wind Cave are led by rangers and depart from the visitor center. Tickets for cave tours are required and are distributed on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are recommended for the Candlelight and Wild Cave tours. Call (605) 745-4600 to make a reservation or visit the park's website for more information.

• Natural Entrance Cave Tour: A moderate tour that is the most popular and great for families.
• Fairgrounds Cave Tour: A more strenuous tour with the widest array of features and the most stairs.
• Garden of Eden Cave Tour: An easy tour ideal for those with limited time or abilities.
• Candlelight Cave Tour: A more strenuous tour with some off-trail travel. Minimum age is 8 years old).
• Wild Cave Tour: Very strenuous with some crawling required. Minimum age is 16 (with signed parent permission).

With over 30 miles of hiking trails to explore above ground, and plenty to see below the surface in Wind Cave, visitors will have plenty of ways to explore the park. Additionally, backcountry camping and horseback riding are two other popular activities within the park. For those looking to extend their exploration of the area outside of the park, there are several other noteworthy national park units and state parks located nearby; click here for more information on these nearby attractions. Other options include mountain biking up the road in Rapid City or rock climbing around the park.

To download a free visitor guide to help plan your visit, click here.