Est. 1941 | Kentucky | 72,472 acres

Mammoth Cave

With over 420 miles of surveyed passageways, Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park stands as the world’s largest known cave system. Choose from a myriad of tours and venture into the damp dripstones and the voluminous sandstone caverns each sculpted by time and water, only growing larger with each passing day. Then hike nearly 85 miles of overland trails in beautiful, forested, sinkhole country, discovering abundant wildlife drawn to the springs and rivers as they pop above and below ground. This is the adventure called Mammoth Cave.

In the heart of rural Kentucky, Mammoth Cave has many country roads surrounding the land offering access to the park. However, the main Mammoth Cave Parkway road from the south is the most popular entrance, leading directly to the park’s single visitor center. Many roads branch off of Mammoth Cave Parkway leading to backcountry trails and minor attractions, including the Green River Ferry Road that crosses the Green River by way of a simple ferry system and continues northward out of the park.

However, visitors soon find the majority of park activities take place at the visitor center and surrounding trails. With the cave being the main draw, the park offers up to 17 different tours to choose. These range in difficulty, duration and distance—everything from 1-hour self-guided tours to 6-hour guided spelunking excursions—navigating the endless miles of cave formations and corridors.

Must-see highlights in Mammoth Cave National Park

Frozen Niagara—A highlight of the park, Frozen Niagara is a highly concentrated cascade of flowstone reaching down from the cave ceiling. Flowstone is created when mineral-rich water drips for millennia over cave features building up what appears to be a stone waterfall. This attraction bears its own cave tour (Frozen Niagara Tour) and can also be seen as a grand finale on the Domes and Dripstones Tour.

Gothic Avenue—A piece of living history, Gothic Avenue is a scenic passageway known for its high cathedral-like ceilings, impressive rock formations resembling gothic architecture, and 19th-century graffiti left by early visitors and tour guides using candle smoke. The myriad of names scrawled on the cave ceiling gives record of early tourism in Mammoth Cave.

River Styx Spring Trail—Hike half a mile from the visitor center under oak, poplar and beech trees to reach a boardwalk overlooking the River Styx emerging from the cave system as it feeds into the Green River. Not only does this hike offer a unique perspective on the park’s hydrology, but offers a whimsical stroll through verdant forest to the Green River. This trail offers access to other notable trails in the area such as Green River Bluffs Trail and Two Springs Trail.

Cave Sing—Every winter, the park revives a long held tradition since 1883 by hosting a Christmas celebration of carols and festivity in the echoing chambers of Mammoth Cave. This candlelight event is usually performed by local choirs and ensembles to usher in the Christmas season.

Best time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park

Though Kentucky experiences the extremes of each season, the air temperature inside Mammoth Cave remains a steady 54ºF year round, making the park suitable at any time of year. However, to experience the best of the overland trails and paths, spring and fall are usually the best time to visit with cooler temperatures and mild crowds.

Spring (March to May): Springtime temperatures range from 60ºF–70ºF making this a good time to visit. Foliage and wildflowers usually peak in mid-April. Southern Kentucky accumulates the most precipitation (50 in/year) of anywhere in the state, making springs especially wet and soggy. Though tornadoes and flooding can occur throughout the spring and into summer, severe storms are infrequent in this region. Just be aware of inclement weather traveling to and from the park.
Summer (June to August): Summer brings the highest volume of visitors. June, July and August are the hottest months of the year at Mammoth Cave National Park hovering in the 80sºF, making the cave a popular respite from the heat. This season is also very humid adding to the heat index. If hiking during this time, pack extra water and perhaps a clean pair of clothes. Early summer is usually the worst time for mosquitos, ticks and gnats.
Fall (September to October): As summer winds down, fall brings cooler temperatures (65ºF–70ºF) and fewer bugs. Autumn foliage usually peaks mid- to late-October. Sunset Point is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the Green River during this time.
Winter (November to February): Winter in Kentucky is fairly mild, with daytime averages in the low 40sºF. Snow and ice, though rare, are possible. Crowds are at their lowest, making winter a peaceful time to visit.

How long should I visit Mammoth Cave National Park?

Mammoth Cave National Park really needs just a single day. Many of the guided tours offer an extensive view into the cave system. And lasting at most 4 hours, the tours leave plenty of time to adequately explore the surrounding trails above land.

Getting to Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave sits along Interstate 65 halfway between Nashville, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky, roughly 40 miles north of the state line. Most people approach the park from exit 48 at Park City or exit 53 in Cave City. These exits both converge in the park leading to the visitor center.

If arriving by air, Louisville International Airport (SDF) is the nearest commercial airport at 90 miles away with reasonable prices. However, at only 100 miles away, Nashville International Airport (BNA) offers a competitive alternative, often offering lower prices than Louisville depending on airline and departure city. Both airports provide car rentals for driving to the park.

Where to stay in Mammoth Cave National Park

Lodging—As the only option for hotel-style accommodations within the park, Mammoth Cave Lodge is centrally located near the visitor center, hosting both a motel and cottages for overnight reservations as well as a dog kennel for pets while touring the cave. Alternative lodging can be found outside the park in Park City and Cave City.

Mammoth Cave Lodge—70 rooms (motel and cottages), open year round

Campgrounds—The park contains three front-country campgrounds with common camping amenities. Mammoth Cave Campground is the only location in walking distance to the visitor center grounds and cave tours. Maple Springs Group Campground is an excellent choice for hiking backcountry trails but is a risky option for accessing the visitor center. Even though a mere 6 mile drive away, the campground’s location requires crossing the Green River via the ferry which can be damaged or impassible during high flood seasons. 15 miles away, Houchin Ferry Campground is furthest from the visitor center but offers a better chance at reaching the visitor center during rainy seasons when the ferry is down.

Mammoth Cave Campground—111 sites (RV and tent), open March–November
Maple Springs Group Campground—7 sites (RV and tent), open March–November
Houchin Ferry Campground—12 sites (tent only), open year round

When should I book?

Mammoth Cave Tours are available for reservation up to 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov, but except around holidays and peak summer weekends, these tickets rarely sell out. Bookings can be made a week and oftentimes a day in advance.

Likewise, campgrounds do not fill vacancy quickly either. With 111 sites, Mammoth Cave Campground usually has availability last minute. Though if full, like on Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend, the campground does reserve 4 first come first served campsites for last minute arrivals.

The Mammoth Cave Lodge however, fills up quickly, especially during peak seasons. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for stays during summer and fall (May–October), when demand is highest. Booking well in advance—ideally several months ahead—is advisable to secure your preferred accommodations.

How much should I budget?

A 2 day trip to Mammoth Cave booked 2 months in advance can cost roughly $750–$1,000 depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Nashville	$150–$300
Car Rental	$75–$95/day (not including taxes/fees)
Lodges and cabins	$130–$150/night (not including taxes/fees)
Campgrounds	$25–$50/night
Meals	$15–$20/meal
Park Entrance Fee	Free
Cave Tour	$12–$79/adult

Packing list for Mammoth Cave National Park

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Mammoth Cave National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without bug spray, close-toed shoes with good tread and a rain jacket for rainy days and cool cave temperatures.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Mammoth Cave.

For more detailed information on Mammoth Cave National Park, visit the official park website.