Explore This Park

• Plan Your Visit
  • Basic Information

Basic Information

Physical Address

Directions

Operating Hours & Seasons

Weather

Spring: Highs range from 50 - 70 F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Warm and generally dry with highs in the 80s F. Thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and severe lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs in the 50s - 60s F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs in the upper 30s F with lows in the 10s F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

Entrance Fee - $0.00

There are no fees to drive through or hike in the park. Enjoy!

Garden of Eden Cave Tour Fee - $10.00

Half price for children 6-16 and for Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders. Children 5 and under are free.

Natural Entrance Cave Tour Fee - $12.00

Half price for children 6-16 and for Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders. Children 5 and under are free.

Fairgrounds Cave Tour Fee - $12.00

Half price for children 6-16 and for Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders. Children 5 and under are free.

Candlelight Cave Tour Fee - $12.00

Half price for children 8*-16 and for Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders. Reservations strongly recommended. *Minimum age for Candlelight Tour is 8 years old.

Wild Cave Tour Fee - $30.00

Half price Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders. Minimum age is 17. Reservations are required.

Visitor Centers

Wind Cave Visitor Center

The visitor center is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. All cave tours are ranger-led and leave from the visitor center.

 

Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam at will throughout most of the park.

NPS

 

The visitor center is located 11 miles north of Hot Springs, South Dakota, just west of US Highway 385. Park roads are generally open year round. However, snow can limit access to some remote areas of the park in winter. For current park road conditions call the Visitor Center at 605.745.1134. For travel conditions outside the park check out the South Dakota road report.

Other information to help plan a visit to Wind Cave:

Operating Hours & Seasons

Visitor Center hours and information about visiting the park anytime of year.

Fees & Passes

Get information on cave tour and camping fees and find out about the America the Beautiful Pass program.

Permits & Reservations

Cave tour reservations are accepted in some some circumstances. Follow this link for information on backcountry camping and filming permits, as well.

Pets

What you need to know about visiting Wind Cave National Park with your pet.

Weather

Wind Cave National Park and the southern Black Hills are generally warmer and drier than the northern hills. Winter snowfall averages 30 inches annually. Spring and fall days vary from sunny and warm to cool, rainy, and windy.

Summer brings warm daytime temperatures with cool evenings. Severe thunderstorms are common in June and July and can produce large hail and severe lightning. Slow moving storms can dump large amounts of rain over a small area, leading to flash flooding. Be cautious when camping near a creek bed even if it is dry. Move uphill if flooding starts.

For current forecasts and warnings visit the National Weather Service forecast for Wind Cave National Park.

Cell Phones

Cell coverage in the Black Hills is spotty at best. It is often not possible to make a call while driving between towns. At the visitor center there is no coverage.

Food Services

The park has limited food and beverage vending services in the visitor center. Nearest grocery or restaurant services are available in the nearby towns of Custer and Hot Springs. A picnic area 1/4 mile north of the visitor center offers easy access to the visitor center and the start of cave tours.