3 information notices
The Natural Entrance Tour Route will be closed for the season beginning October 1st, 2026. The Garden of Eden, Fairgrounds, and Accessibility Tour Routes remain available. This annual closure will last through the winter season.
Reminder: Overnight parking without a camping permit is prohibited. Permits are not issued specifically for parking. Shuttles are available in the Black Hills for through hikers on the Centennial Trail.
Payments for cave tours, campground fees, as well as Interagency Passes at Wind Cave National Park, will be by credit/ debit cards or digital payments only. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.
This 64-site campground is open year round. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Two sites are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available late May through September. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Payment is by credit or debit card only. Two group campsites are also available through www.recreation.gov.
The visitor center is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. All cave tours are ranger-led and leave from the visitor center.
The Visitor Center is located 11 miles north of Hot Springs or 22 miles south of Custer off US Highway 385, about 1/2 mile west of the highway. Upon entering the park look for road signs to direct you to the visitor center. GPS units routinely lead drivers into the park's backcountry.
Changes detected in official NPS alerts for Wind Cave.
The cave maintains a constant 54°F year-round, while the prairie surface experiences hot summers and cold winters.
Before embarking on hikes, backcountry routes, or winter travel, verify immediate conditions directly with National Park Service staff:
Alerts, closures, and operating notices on this page are fetched directly from the official U.S. National Park Service Developer API. Records are compared using content hashes to detect genuine status updates over time. Secondary topic labels assist quick trip scanning and do not alter official NPS classifications.