About Fort Larned National Historic Site
Discover a complete and authentic army post from the 1860s -1870s! This well-preserved fort on the Santa Fe Trail shares a tumultuous history of the Indian Wars era. The sandstone constructed buildings sheltered troops who were known as the Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Central Kansas has a four-season climate. Winter tends to be cold and dry, with average daytime highs below 40F (4C). Foehn winds blowing across the Great Plains from the Southwest periodically raise temperatures above 80F (27C). Unsettled warmer air, higher winds, and severe weather arrive in the spring and often…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Kansas. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Staff begin closing the grounds and visitor center at 4:30 p.m. The parking lot gate is closed and locked for the night at 5 p.m.
Activities
Getting There
Fort Larned National Historic Site is located on KS Hwy 156, six miles west of Larned, Kansas.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Fort Larned Living History
Fort Larned staff and volunteers help bring the fort to life during the summer with our living history programs.
Visit the Fort Larned Blacksmith
See a blacksmith practice his art in the Fort Larned blacksmith shop.
Picnic at Fort Larned
Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of your visit to Fort Larned!
Hike the Fort Larned History & Nature Trail
There was more to Fort Larned than the sandstone buildings left standing today. Beyond the Parade Ground was a complex…
Tour Fort Larned with a Ranger
The best way to see the fort. Check on availability when you arrive.
Tour Fort Larned's Original Sandstone Buildings
See the original, restored sandstone buildings of a 19th century Indian Wars era fort.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Fort Larned Visitor Center
The Fort Larned Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New…
See Santa Fe Trail Ruts
See the evidence of the passage of hundreds of wagons over the Santa Fe Trail. Tracks like these are the only reminders…
Visitor Centers
Fort Larned Visitor Center
Located in one of the two historic barracks buildings, the park's Visitor Center features a bookstore with a wide variety of books on Army life,…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
🗺️ Guided Tours & Experiences
Discover Fort Larned National Historic Site with expert-led tours
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
🏨 Search Lodging for Fort Larned National Historic Site
Review lodging results matching this park or site name
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.