Located in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park is renowned for one of the world's longest and most complex caves.
Wind Cave is notable for its remarkable display of boxwork, a rare cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. Above ground, the park's mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forests are a sanctuary for wildlife, including bison, elk, pronghorns, and the endangered black-footed ferret.
The park's surface is a blend of rolling prairie and hills, offering hiking trails that traverse this diverse landscape, providing a stark contrast to the hidden underground world below.
Biome at Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park, located in South Dakota, is renowned for its underground labyrinth of caves and diverse above-ground habitats. The park's terrain of mixed-grass prairie and Ponderosa Pine forest supports a variety of biomes, each contributing to the park's ecological richness. Keep on reading to learn more about the biomes at Wind Cave National Park
Airports Near Wind Cave National Park
This is a list of the closest airports to the park, if you plan on flying into Wind Cave click here to read our recommendations.
| Distance to Park | Drive Time | ||
| Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field | 76.5 miles | 1 hour 0 mins | Get Directions |
| Rapid City Regional Airport | 76.8 miles | 58 mins | Get Directions |
| Ellsworth Afb Airport | 79.6 miles | 1 hour 1 min | Get Directions |
| Chadron Municipal Airport | 97.5 miles | 1 hour 4 mins | Get Directions |
| Mondell Field | 98.1 miles | 1 hour 7 mins | Get Directions |
| Pine Ridge Airport | 117.2 miles | 1 hour 19 mins | Get Directions |
| Lusk Municipal Airport | 167.3 miles | 1 hour 38 mins | Get Directions |
| Gordon Municipal Airport | 185.5 miles | 2 hours 1 min | Get Directions |
Cities Near Wind Cave National Park
Here are some of the closest cities and towns near the park, take a look at our recommendations for where to stay when visiting Wind Cave.
| Distance to Park | ||
| Hot Springs | 15.4 miles | Get Directions |
| Custer | 23.9 miles | Get Directions |
| Hill City | 41.0 miles | Get Directions |
| Rapid City | 60.3 miles | Get Directions |
| Newcastle | 66.3 miles | Get Directions |
| Summerset | 68.7 miles | Get Directions |
| Box Elder | 71.0 miles | Get Directions |
| Oglala | 73.3 miles | Get Directions |
| Lead | 89.9 miles | Get Directions |
| Chadron | 90.9 miles | Get Directions |
Wind Cave National Park TimeZone
The timezone at Wind Cave is America/Denver, the current time here is:
Sunrise and Sunset Times at Wind Cave National Park
This table shows the sunrise and sunset times at Wind Cave for the next 10 days, use it to plan your day around Wind Cave stunning displays.
|
Date |
Sunrise |
Sunset |
| December 22, 2024 | 07:23 | 16:22 |
| December 23, 2024 | 07:23 | 16:23 |
| December 24, 2024 | 07:23 | 16:23 |
| December 25, 2024 | 07:24 | 16:24 |
| December 26, 2024 | 07:24 | 16:25 |
| December 27, 2024 | 07:24 | 16:25 |
| December 28, 2024 | 07:24 | 16:26 |
| December 29, 2024 | 07:25 | 16:27 |
| December 30, 2024 | 07:25 | 16:28 |
| December 31, 2024 | 07:25 | 16:29 |
Weather at Wind Cave National Park
This table shows weather averages around the year at Wind Cave National Park, it provides information on average rainfall, as well as maximum and minimum temperatures. Be sure to consult it when planning your trip.
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Precipitation |
Our Opinion |
| January | -8.1 °C / 2.1 °C | 5.5mm | Bad Weather |
| February | -10.3 °C / 0.4 °C | 5.9mm | Bad Weather |
| April | -2.5 °C / 9.2 °C | 22.1mm | Bad Weather |
| May | 3.4 °C / 15.2 °C | 30.9mm | Good Weather |
| June | 9.9 °C / 23.2 °C | 23.8mm | Perfect Weather |
| July | 12.7 °C / 26.3 °C | 14.4mm | Perfect Weather |
| August | 11.2 °C / 25.3 °C | 8.9mm | Perfect Weather |
| September | 7.6 °C / 21.6 °C | 4.8mm | Perfect Weather |
| October | 0.8 °C / 12.4 °C | 10.2mm | Bad Weather |
| November | -4.7 °C / 6.4 °C | 1.6mm | Bad Weather |
| December | -9.1 °C / 1.2 °C | 20.6mm | Bad Weather |