Wind Cave National Park was founded in 1903, and a visit comes in two halves. The trails, scenic drives and visitor center cost nothing, while the cave itself is seen on guided tours, which are ticketed and cheaper for children.
The trade-off is getting a place. Tours often sell out from March through October and on holiday weekends in winter. Tickets for the Garden of Eden, Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds tours can be bought in advance online. Ticket sales for each tour stop five minutes before it departs.
Cave tours have their own rules, which apply inside the cave rather than across the whole park. Food and drinks, including water, candy and gum, are not allowed underground, and neither are bags of any kind, whether backpacks, purses or fanny packs.
Not every tour suits every family. The Candlelight Tour runs in summer only and has to be reserved, and the Wild Cave Tour needs a signed parent permission slip. Some tours may be too strenuous for visitors with limited mobility. For wheelchair users, limited areas of the cave are open on the half-hour Accessibility Tour, which serves as an introduction to the cave and its formations.
Family FAQ
How much does Wind Cave National Park cost?
There is no entrance fee for the trails, scenic drives and visitor center.
Where are the toilets at Wind Cave National Park?
Leave enough time before your tour starts to use the restroom, get a jacket and put on good walking shoes.
