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Thin fins of calcite forming box-shaped openings, called boxwork, on a cave ceiling.

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Wind Cave National Park

SD

Boxwork in the Elk's Room. Photo: NPS Photo

Entrance
Free
Nonresident fee
None
Park annual pass
Not sold
Payment
Card only, no cash

Work out the cost for your group

About Wind Cave

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.

From the National Park Service.

Things to do

14 ideas in total on nps.gov. Descriptions from the National Park Service.

Photos

  • a bison cow and calf on the prairie
    Bison cow and calf Photo: NPS Photo / Dan Roddy
  • criss-cross-patterned calcite fins of the cave feature boxwork
    Boxwork Photo: NPS Photo
  • rolling hills of forest and prairie landscape
    Rankin Ridge view Photo: NPS Photo
  • a caver with pads and helmet crawling in the cave
    Wind Cave explorer Photo: NPS Photo
  • View of Wind Cave National Park from a ridge with scattered ponderosa pine trees and open grassland.
    Park View Photo: NPS Photo

Entrance fees

This park has no entrance fee.

Reservations

NPS lists no entry reservation for this park as of October 26, 2026. Campgrounds and tours may still need booking.

Weather and seasons

Spring: Highs range from 50-70°F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Hot and generally dry with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 80°F (27°C). Strong thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs 50-60°F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs are in the high 30s with lows around 10°F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.

Hours

The park is open all day, every day. Snow or severe weather can limit access to some areas of the park, especially in winter. Visitor Center hours and cave tour schedules vary throughout the year. Visit the park website or call 605.745.4600 for current conditions.

Getting there

Wind Cave National Park is located in South Dakota about 11 miles north of Hot Springs, or about 22 miles south of Custer, on US Highway 385. The park Visitor Center, where all cave tours begin, is approximately 1/2 mile west of the highway.

Campgrounds

Visitor centers

Alerts

  • Information: Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026
  • Information: Centennial Trailhead Parking
  • Information: Wind Cave moves to cashless fee collection

As of October 26, 2026. Current alerts on nps.gov

Parks nearby

Sources

Wind Cave National Park fees on nps.gov. Prices, park information and photos from the NPS Data API, checked October 26, 2026. Photos credited to the National Park Service.