National Historic Site

Fort Larned National Historic Site

Midwest

About Fort Larned

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.

Region: Midwest
State: Kansas
Designation: National Historic Site
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Fort Larned.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Park Grounds and Historic Buildings

Mon: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Tue: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Wed: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Thu: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Fri: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Sat: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Sun: 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.

Weather and when to go

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.

Getting there

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

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 1767 KS Hwy 156, Larned, KS 67550
Phone: (620) 285-6911
Email: fols_internet@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/fols

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Fort Larned

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Fort Larned

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Fort Larned Living History

Living History · about 45 min

Fort Larned staff and volunteers help bring the fort to life during the summer with our living history programs.
Visit the Fort Larned Blacksmith

Craft Demonstrations · about 15 min

See a blacksmith practice his art in the Fort Larned blacksmith shop.
Picnic at Fort Larned

Picnicking · about 45 min

Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of your visit to Fort Larned!
Hike the Fort Larned History & Nature Trail

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 50 min

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 bro…
Tour Fort Larned with a Ranger

Guided Tours · about 1 hour · Reservation required

The best way to see the fort. Check on availability when you arrive.
Tour Fort Larned's Original Sandstone Buildings

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 1.3 hours

See the original, restored sandstone buildings of a 19th century Indian Wars era fort.
Fort Larned Visitor Center

Museum Exhibits · about 40 min

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

Self-Guided Tours - Auto · about 15 min

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.