Wind Cave National Park – Tours, Camping & Best Tips for You

by Petr Novák, ? This article’s information was last verified on this date. If you notice any errors, let us know in the comments. Thank you! :-) Updated 06/15/2023 National Parks, South Dakota, Tips for Trips

Wind Cave National Park is situated in the state of South Dakota, close to Mount Rushmore – the rock bearing the carvings of American presidents. Similar to Mammoth Cave or Carlsbad Caverns, Wind Cave is a national park dedicated to a cave system, and it was the first of its kind worldwide. President Theodore Roosevelt designated it as the seventh national park of the USA on January 9, 1903.

Information About Wind Cave National Park

The park is located 9 mi north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota and 111 mi from Badlands National Park.

The entire park is made up of a network of 140 mi of explored caves, making it the sixth longest cave system in the world. Wind Cave NP itself covers an area of 44 mi². The park is unique due to its extensive calcite formations resembling honeycombs, known as boxwork. Over 95% of all the formations of this type in the world are found here in Wind Cave NP.

In 2021, the park received 709,001 visitors. The park’s name derives from the fluctuating air pressure inside and outside the caves. Locals suggest that the caves seem to breathe. When the internal pressure is greater than the external, air flows out into the surrounding nature, and vice versa. The wind’s force is visible in the bending of plants near the caves.

Eleven species of bats inhabit the caves, the most common being the brown bat. The park is home to 29 bird species, with the black-headed tit and the winter titmouse being the most prevalent. Park rangers are currently trying to repopulate the once sizeable bison herd. Now, fewer than a hundred of them live in the area surrounding Wind Cave, and similar efforts are underway for wapiti deer.

What to See and Do in Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave NP primarily offers guided cave tours. There are always several programs available. The timing and the particular tours change throughout the year. Tickets can be bought on Recreation.gov or at the visitor center where the tours begin.

Garden of Eden Cave Tour

The least strenuous tour lasts only an hour, providing a brief glimpse of what Wind Cave has to offer. Adults pay $15.00, while children and seniors pay half.

Natural Entrance Cave Tour

This medium-difficulty tour includes a visit to the natural entrance of the cave and a demonstration of what a novice might mistakenly call a “network of stalactites”. The correct term is boxwork. The hour-and-a-quarter tour costs adults $17.00, and children under 16 and seniors pay half.

Fairgrounds Cave Tour

A more challenging tour involves visiting the upper and middle sections of the cave, and lasts an hour and a half. You will see formations known as popcorn, which are essentially clusters of calcite spheres. The tour’s price is $17.00.

Candlelight Cave Tour

This special tour takes you to less-visited areas without electricity, where kerosene lamps provide the lighting. Offered only during summer, adults pay $17.00. Children under 8 cannot participate in this tour.

Wild Cave Tour

This four-hour tour, designed for avid cavers, takes you completely off the traditional path. This program is available by reservation only and is restricted to ages 16 and above. The cost for adults is $46.

After exploring the cave system, you can venture outside to investigate the surface, with a substantial 31 mi of trails to select from. With a permit from the visitor center and, naturally, a horse, you can survey the local landscape from atop a saddled steed.

When to Visit Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park is open all year round, with visitor centers closed only on public holidays. I advise planning your park visit around the schedule of cave tours; without them, a visit to Wind Cave isn’t as worthwhile.

The temperature inside the caves remains stable throughout the year at about 54°F. Dress appropriately.

• Current weather forecast for Wind Cave National Park

Average Temperatures and Visitor Numbers at Wind Cave National Park

The average temperatures in Wind Cave National Park and visitor numbers are based on averages from 2017 to 2021. The data source is the National Park Service.

Admission to Wind Cave National Park

Entrance to Wind Cave National Park is free, but charges apply for individual cave tours. Prices range from $17.00 to $46, depending on the tour you select. Advance booking is not available; tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Passholders of the America the Beautiful still need to pay for cave tours.

Navigating Wind Cave National Park

To reach Wind Cave National Park, you’ll require a rental car, as there is no public transportation in the vicinity.

The park is located near the town of Hot Springs and is easily accessible from I-90 from the north and Highway 385 from the south. You can find directions and estimated drive times to the park here:

Parking is available at the visitor center, but it can become crowded, especially during summer weekends.

You can also use your car to traverse the park, with USA Highway 385 and South Dakota Highway 87 serving as the primary routes. Both offer scenic views of the countryside surrounding the park.

Accommodation at Wind Cave National Park

🏨 Hotels

Hotels are available in and around the nearby town of Hot Springs. The average cost of the least expensive accommodation is approximately $35 per room per night.

• View accommodation near Wind Cave NP

⛺ Campsites

The most budget-friendly and adventurous accommodation can be found at the edge of the prairie at Elk Mountain Campground. Camping fees per night in the high season are $24.00. In spring and fall, when running water is not available, the fee is reduced to $12.00. The campground can accommodate several dozen sites, and it operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Preparation and Recommendations for Visiting Wind Cave National Park

ℹ️ Visitor Center

I recommend beginning your park tour by driving to the visitor center, which is located near Highway 385. It’s open year-round, with the exception of public holidays, from 8am to 4:30pm daily. At the center, you can reserve cave tours, view exhibits about the history of the area, and learn about how Native Americans once utilized bison. The information center serves as the starting point for all cave tours.

👍 Good to Know

You can easily spend 3 hours touring the caves and taking a scenic drive. I recommend combining a visit to the park with a trip to Mount Rushmore – both can be comfortably covered in one day.

Just a half-hour drive from Wind Cave is Jewel Cave. At 135 mi long, this second or third (depending on the source) longest cave in the world is surprisingly just a national monument. Behind the name is an interesting tale. In 1900, brothers Frank and Albert Michaud dynamited the entrance to reveal a chamber filled with calcite crystals. A basic tour of this cave costs $6.00.

• Official Wind Cave National Park website
• Wind Cave National Park Map

Photos of Wind Cave National Park