National Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a National Preserve in Kansas. The NPS currently lists 1 active alert, 0 campgrounds and 1 visitor center, and no entrance fee.

Kansas National Preserve No entrance fee

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT · NPS Data API

fall wildflowers at the preserve — Fall wildflowers at the preserve · Photo: NPS (via nps.gov)

About the park

“Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America, but within a generation most of it had been transformed into farms, cities, and towns. Today less than 4% remains intact, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills.”

— National Park Service, nps.gov/tapr

Active alerts

Closures

Campgrounds

Visitor centers

Current alerts and closures

1 active NPS alert as of Oct 28, 2026: 0 closures, 0 danger, 1 caution and 0 information.

Caution

Dangerous Highway Crossing

Highway 177 is 60 mph with a blind spot directly across from the house. Safely use the highway underpass to the Fox Creek Trail just south of the visitor center parking lot. Be smart, stay alive.

Posted or updated Mar 26, 2022 ·Park conditions on nps.gov

Entrance fees and passes

This site has no entrance fee, according to NPS fee data.

Things to do

Bison graze in an open prairie stretching to the horizon. — Photo: NPS photo

Bison viewing on the Scenic Overlook Trail

Walk along the gravel trail into the unplowed Flint Hills. Here an array of prairie wildlife make their home. The trail winds uphill through Windmill Pasture where a bison herd grazes. It continues to a hilltop on the far side.

30-180 Minutes Year-round

Wildlife Watching

A kiosk stands next to a white gravel trail through tall grasses and flowers. — Photo: NPS photo

Break on the Bottomland Trail

The Bottomland Trail offers many amenities and a short walk through the prairie. It's an ideal stop for passing through with a tight schedule. The fine gravel trail loops through a small meadow by the river.

10-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Wall exhibits dsplay several ecology topics — Photo: NPS photo

Explore Tallgrass Visitor Center

Park rangers attend the visitor center with a range of exhibits. Geology, ecology, history, and culture all shaped today's Tallgrass Prairie. A modest gift shop provides souvenirs and the park stamp for collecting memories.

10-30 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Park Film

See all 7 things to do in Tallgrass Prairie →

Activities the NPS lists for Tallgrass Prairie.

Arts and CultureCultural DemonstrationsAstronomyStargazingFishingFreshwater FishingFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHands-OnHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingLiving HistoryJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store

Operating hours

Hiking trails are open 24/7; no camping, no open flames, no drones. Prescribed fire and cattle/bison operations may close specific trails. Watch for signs.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Hours
Day	Hours
Monday	All Day
Tuesday	All Day
Wednesday	All Day
Thursday	All Day
Friday	All Day
Saturday	All Day
Sunday	All Day

Weather: Typical weather for the preserve ranges from lows of 0 degrees in the winter and highs of 90 + degrees in the summer. Prevailing prairie winds attribute to winter blizzards and occasional summer storms.

Contact and directions

Phone: 6202738494 ext. 270
Email: [email protected]
Address: 2480B KS Hwy 177, Strong City, KS 66869
Coordinates: 38.4402, -96.5671· View on OpenStreetMap

Official park page on nps.gov Directions

Visitor centers

Visitor center	Standard hours	Phone	Passport stamp
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Visitor Center	Daily: 8:30AM - 4:30PM	6202738494 ext. hit 0	Yes

Campgrounds

No NPS campgrounds are listed for this site. Nearby national forests or state parks may offer camping.

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More parks in Kansas

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park California National Historic Trail Fort Larned National Historic Site Fort Scott National Historic Site Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Nicodemus National Historic Site Oregon National Historic Trail Pony Express National Historic Trail Santa Fe National Historic Trail All in Kansas

Nearest other NPS sites

Sources

Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm
Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.