Explore This Park

• Plan Your Visit
  • Basic Information
    • Fees & Passes

Fees & Passes

Fees

Entrance Fees

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

Cave Tour Fees

Tickets for most cave tours are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are accepted for schools or large groups, the Historic Candlelight Tour (strongly recommended), and the Wild Cave Tour (required). Groups need to make arrangements several weeks in advance. Call 605-745-4600 for group information or reservations.

	Garden of Eden	Natural Entrance	Fairgrounds	Candlelight	Wild Cave
Adults (17+)	$10	$12	$12	$12	$30
Children (6-16)	$5	$6	$6	**	Not permitted
5 and under	Free	Free	Free	Not permitted	Not permitted
Senior/Access Pass*	$5	$6	$6	$6

*Price applies only to cardholders.

**Minimum age for Candlelight Tour is 8 years old. Tickets for children 8-16 cost $6.

Tours for Visitors with Special Needs - $5.00 for adults 17 and older, $2.50 for children 6-16, children 5 and under are free, $2.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Sign-language capable rangers are available for the hearing impaired.

Camping Fees

Camp where the prairie meets the forest at the Elk Mountain Campground. The fee is $18.00 per site per night regularly, and $9.00 per site per night when the water is turned off (generally November through March). Visitors holding a Senior or Access Pass, or a Golden Age or Golden Access Pass pay half price a night per site.

 

Passes & Special Use Fees

America the Beautiful: National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass

As of 2007 the Golden Age, Golden Eagle, and Golden Access passes were replaced with a new series of interagency passes call the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Passes can be purchased at the Wind Cave visitor center and at any staffed entrance station throughout the National Park System.

Annual Pass* - Cost $80 Available to the general public and provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee for a full year from month of purchase.

4th Grader Pass - Free Available to U.S. 4th graders or home school equivalents with a valid Every Kid in a Park paper voucher. Valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year through the following summer (September - August). The pass covers tour fees for the 4th grader and immediate family on the Garden of Eden, Natural Entrance, or Fairgrounds tours. Learn more at the Every Kid in a Park website.

Senior Lifetime Pass - Cost $80 A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 and over. The Senior Lifetime/Golden Age Pass provides half price tickets for the cardholder only.

Senior Annual Pass - Cost $20 An annual pass for U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 and over. Good for one full year from month of purchase. The Senior Annual/Golden Age Pass provides half price tickets for the cardholder only.

Access Pass - Free A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens and permanent residents with permanent disabilities. The Access Pass provides half price tickets for the cardholder only.

Military Pass* - Free Available to active duty military personnel and dependents with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173) for a full year from month of purchase.

Volunteer Pass* - Free Volunteers who acquire 250 service hours on a cumulative basis are eligible for this pass. It provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee for a full year from month of award.

*NOTE: The Annual, Military, and Volunteer passes do not waive Expanded Amenity Fees such as cave tours.

Special Use Fees

There are also fees associated with special park uses including special events and professional photography. These activities need a special use permit.