Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center

When you arrive at the park, the visitor center is a great first stop. Explore the exhibit rooms to learn about the history of the cave and surrounding prairie grasslands and get all the information you need on cave tours, exhibits, maps, backcountry permits and more. Wind Cave Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all year except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, with expanded hours in the summer.

Note: Do not use your GPS to find the visitor center — you are likely to get lost. Find directions here.

Wind Cave Tickets & Tours

Access to the cave is only available via tours from the Wind Cave Visitor Center. Advance reservations for specialized tours like the Garden of Eden, Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds tours are recommended. For more info on tours, keep reading or click here.

Entrance to the park is free, but you must purchase tickets for the cave tours ahead of time. Tickets for other tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the tour day. Due to high demand, long waits are common for in-person ticket sales during spring, summer and fall, and tours often sell out 1-2 hours in advance and may be sold out for the day by mid-afternoon.

Garden of Eden Tour (1 hour, ¼ mile, 150 stairs)
This is the easiest of the tours, offering a chance to appreciate the delicate and intricate beauty of cave popcorn, boxwork and flowstone. It’s ideal for first-timers or those with limited time or mobility.

Natural Entrance Tour (1.25 hours, 2/3 mile, 300 stairs)

See the cave’s natural entrance — and largest opening — as you journey to the cave’s middle. You’ll see plenty of the boxwork Wind Cave is known for on this moderately strenuous tour that’s ideal for families.

Fairgrounds Tour (1.5 hours, 2/3 mile, 450 stairs)

Experience upper and middle levels of Wind Cave on this tour that will show stalactites, stalagmites, abundant boxwork and large rooms full of popcorn and frostwork formations. This is the most strenuous of the tours, but perhaps also the most rewarding.

Accessibility Tour (30 minutes, 100 feet, 0 stairs)

This tour is perfect for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. An elevator takes you in and out of the cave, and you’ll see the cave’s signature boxwork.

Candlelight Tour (summer only, 2 hours, 2/3 mile, 424 stairs)

See the cave as the first explorers did! In the soft glow of candle lanterns, you’ll explore paved and natural cave surfaces. Make sure to wear long, hole-free pants and fully enclosed, lace-up footwear. That means no open-toed shoes, cowboy boots or sandals. All participants must be 8 or older. Limited to 10 people, the tour does not permit photography. Reservations are required.

Wild Cave Tour (summer only, 4 hours, 2/3 mile)

The adventurous and physically fit can don helmets, kneepads and headlamps for a rare look at an undeveloped portion of the cave. Limited to 10 people with a minimum age of 16, you must have long, hole-free pants, a long or short sleeve shirt and sturdy lace-up footwear with tread. Be ready to fit through a space 10 inches by 3 feet and prepare to crawl as you explore just like a caver!

For more info on tours, click here.

When to Visit

Spring, summer and fall can be busy, with long waits and tours selling out by midday. While there is less demand for tours in winter, it’s still best to arrive well ahead of your desired tour time to secure your spot. No matter what season you decide to visit, we always recommend booking tours in advance to guarantee cave access. Don’t forget to check road conditions and the weather as you plan your cave adventure.

Wind Cave Weather

For the most comfortable and temperate weather, visit Wind Cave National Park in spring or fall. Spring and fall days at the park vary from sunny and warm to cool, rainy and windy. Summertime brings warm daytime temperatures in the high 80s and cool evenings in the low to mid-50s. The average winter snowfall is 30 inches, with daytime averages in the low 40s and evening temperatures falling below freezing.

Places to Stay Near Wind Cave

Whether you want to stay in a hotel, rent a cabin or camp, there are plenty of lodging options near Wind Cave National Park. Elk Mountain Campground is the only campground inside the park and is open year-round, but there are numerous campgrounds and cabins throughout the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.

Explore Responsibly

We want to keep Wind Cave National Park in great shape so visitors can enjoy its natural splendor for decades. You can do your part by following some simple guidelines for responsible recreation and fun. Learn about sustainable travel in South Dakota.

Follow Cave Rules

Visiting Wind Cave is an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Remember: This is one of the longest caves in the world, so always stay with your tour group and never wander off alone. Wind Cave is also one of the oldest caves in the world, with some parts of the cave dating back over 300 million years. Never touch natural cave formations or crystals, as oils from our hands can permanently damage them. Touching or leaning against rocks in the cave disrupts lava flow and will hinder future crystal growth. Read more about rules and safety info at Wind Cave National Park.

Respect All Wildlife

In 1913, the American Bison Society donated 14 bison to Wind Cave National Park with the goal of establishing a free-ranging herd within the park. Originating from the New York Zoological Society’s herd in the Bronx Zoo, the bison were released into the park to roam freely in a natural setting. As a result, Wind Cave National Park offers a rare and fascinating combination of cave tours and wildlife viewing in a diverse ecosystem. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including mammals like bison, elk, prairie dogs, deer, mountain lions, coyotes and various species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Appreciate these extraordinary creatures, but always do so from a safe distance. They are wild animals and can be unpredictable, especially bison, mountain lions and coyotes. Never feed any wild animals or approach them.

Obey Road Signs & Drive Carefully

Always follow speed limits and road rules, no matter the season. These rules protect you and the park wildlife. Off-roading in cars or bicycles is strictly prohibited, so stick to the trails. Exercise extreme caution and common sense when visiting the park during wintertime. Snowy, icy weather makes for poor visibility and potentially dangerous road conditions, especially when bison crowd the roads at night.

Look Out For Poison Ivy

Avoid that itch! Poison ivy is common throughout the park and its hiking trails. It usually hangs low to the ground in moist areas but can sometimes appear as a hairy vine. You can identify poison ivy by its three distinctive, jagged, shiny leaves. Wear long pants and fully enclosed socks and shoes when hiking through the park to avoid accidental contact with the plant.

Nearby Attractions

Wind Cave National Park offers quick access to the rest of South Dakota’s Great 8, from short drives to half-day trips. But the adventure doesn’t stop with the Great 8. Check out this list of activities and attractions just outside the park in Custer.

Distance to the Other Great 8 Landmarks:

Custer State Park: 9-minute drive north

Jewel Cave National Monument: 32-minute drive northwest

Crazy Horse Memorial^®: 36-minute drive northwest

Mount Rushmore National Memorial: 1 hour drive north

Badlands National Park: 1 hour, 13-minute drive northeast

Historic Deadwood: 1 hour, 31-minute drive northwest

Missouri River: 3 hour, 25-minute drive east