Fort Larned National Historic Site

Fort Larned National Historic Site is a national historic site run by the National Park Service in Kansas.

In the park service’s words

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

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 (10 to 30 Minutes): 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 (45 to 60 Minutes): There was more to Fort Larned than the sandstone buildings left standing today. Beyond the Parade Ground was a complex of stables and corrals, along with the mail station that brought the Army here. The History & Nature trail explores the part of Fort Larned no longer here.
• Tour Fort Larned with a Ranger (45 to 90 Minutes): The best way to see the fort. Check on availability when you arrive.
• Tour Fort Larned's Original Sandstone Buildings (1 to 2 Hours): See the original, restored sandstone buildings of a 19th century Indian Wars era fort.
• Fort Larned Visitor Center (30 to 60 Minutes): The Fort Larned Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• See Santa Fe Trail Ruts (5 to 10 Minutes): See the evidence of the passage of hundreds of wagons over the Santa Fe Trail. Tracks like these are the only reminders of a once important trade route through the Southwest.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:30PM. 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.

Getting there

Fort Larned National Historic Site is located on KS Hwy 156, six miles west of Larned, Kansas.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Fort Larned Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:30PM. The park's Visitor Center is located in one of the two historic barracks buildings, It features exhibits telling about the westward expansion of the United States government, international commerce and conflicts affecting the American Indians, traders, soldiers and Indian Agents in and around Fort Larned. The park's bookstore features a wide variety of books on Army life, the Plains Indians and the Santa Fe Trail.

Weather

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 last through early July. Late summer days hover above 90F (32C) and readings over 100F (38C) are not uncommon. Fall is variable but generally milder with showers changing to snow and ice later.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Great Sand Dunes, about 344 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Fort Larned National Historic Site (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.