Wind Cave National Park - Plan Your Visit

Operating Hours Seasons

Park open year-round. Visitor center open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days.

All cave tours are ranger-guided and leave from the visitor center. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations for organized groups are available. For more information please call (605) 745-4600. The same number is used for TTY.

Local Partners Information Resources

Detailed Activity and Tour Schedule

More Park Information

Hot Springs, SD

Custer, SD

Black Hills Parks and Forest Association

Getting There

Plane

Nearest commerical airport is in Rapid City, SD.

Car

Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385 North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16 west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park.

Public Transportation

No public transportation serves the park.

Getting Around

There are 30 miles of hiking trails in the park. U.S. Route 385, S.D. Route 87 and two backcountry roads make much of the park accessible to motor vehicles. Three trails, the Prairie Vista Trail, the Rankin Ridge Trail and the Elk Mountain Trail are self-guiding nature trails with trail booklets.