Although Mammoth Cave is one of the less well known national parks, last year 747,042 people visited the national park last year and spent $73.2 million on such things as gas, lodging, retail needs and in restaurants in local communities.
Before You Go
There is no admission fee to Mammoth Cave National Park itself. It is FREE to enter. However, there are fees for tours, accommodations and the like. You cannot enter the Cave without a tour ticket booked in advance. Every visit to the underground portion of the park requires a timed entry booked through Recreaction.gov.
If a self guided tour becomes available you still need still need a reservation to do it. Don't show up without one or you'll be turned away!
Always check with Recreation.gov and Mammoth Cave National Park website well in advance and book as soon as soon as tickets are released for your trip dates.
There are many different cave tours you can elect to take:
If it's your first visit to the cave you might want to start out with the Historic Extended tour. Most first timers take the Historic tour. The extended version gives you more information and you likely won't have as many people on your tour. As impressive as the cave is, its history is equally as impressive.
So line up the cave tours you want to take before you head to the Park, get your tickets, timed entry or anything else you'll be needing ahead of time.
You will be needing a car as Mammoth Cave Natl. Park does not have a free shuttle system like some of the other national parks do. So if you're flying into Kentucky, you'll need a rental car.
When you arrive at the park you'll want to drive in via Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitors Center.
Mammoth Cave Natl. Park Visitors Center Photo credit: NPS
The park visitor center is the central point for visitors to orient themselves to what lies both above and below the surface at Mammoth Cave. Situated just up the hill from the cave's Historic Entrance, the visitor center is the departure point for all cave tours, and offers exhibits to prepare you for discovery. You can also meet a ranger for a talk or a hike. Gifts, restrooms, permits and information are available and visitor amenities are offered by the nearby Lodge at Mammoth Cave across the footbridge.
Inside the Visitors Center Photo credit: NPS
NOTE: The footbridge to the Lodge was closed and under construction but was scheduled to open again this fall. We're into fall now so it should be open again?? If not, you can still walk to the Lodge via another route.
Mammoth Cave National Park, located in beautiful south-central Kentucky, encompasses 52,007 acres.
has been mapped to over 426 miles. This makes it significantly longer than any other cave system in the world.
The cave has only partially been mapped. Scientists believe it extends at least another 1,000 miles if not more.
While the cave is the main attraction of the park, Mammoth Cave National Park has much more to offer than just the cave - above ground. Visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park can engage in a variety of activities, including:
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Ranger led programs.
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Canoeing, Kayaking & Boating
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Fishing
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Horseback riding
An entrance pass is not required to access Mammoth Cave National Park. There is no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park. However, there are fees associated with cave tours, camping, and shelter rentals.
See the NPS fees and passes page for more information.
The visitor center has a large lobby with a ticket desk on one side, an info desk in the center, two small gift shops on opposite sides of the lobby, a museum, and restrooms. Screens above the center desk give info about the various tours and where they meet and about ranger-led programs. There are several benches but it can be hard to find a place to sit when it gets crowded. The museum has plenty of information about the natural features and science of the cave and its human history. Cell service may not be great in the park.
Outside there are two shelters with benches where the tours begin. From there the rangers will lead your tour group to either walk down the hill to the Historic Entrance, or board a green school bus to another entrance to the cave, depending on which tour it is.
Pick up a map of the park while you're there.
Current Hours (Fall Hours)
September 21–November 1
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Every Day: 8:00 AM–6:30 PM
Summer Hours
May 18–September 20
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Every Day: 8:00 AM–6:30 PM
Accommodations
Camping
Mammoth Cave National Park has three frontcountry campgrounds that offer common camping amenities and close proximity to the park’s visitor center area and cave tours. Goods & Services, such as laundry machines, shower facilities, and camping supplies are also available in the park.
The park also has 13 designated backcountry campsites or riverside camping options that offer opportunities to find solitude in the park’s rugged hills and majestic woodlands. Reaching these remote sites requires hiking, riding a horse, or paddling on the river for several miles.
All camping in the park requires a permit. Most sites are available by reservation which are highly recommended, especially around holidays and weekends. Reservations: Recreation.gov
Be forewarned that Houchin Ferry and Maple Springs have anything but good reviews as far as space, cleanliness, size and level of sites (uphill downhill). There is a water spigot and porta pots for bathrooms. These campsites might be okay for those who are into primitive camping but families might want something a little less rustic.
I recommend going to nearby Nolin Lake State Park and securing accommodations there...but again, book as early as possible so you get a spot! This is a BEAUTIFUL spot with plenty of amenities and activities for the whole family and part of the lake borders Mammoth Cave so you're not that far from the cave itself. (14 miles)
Nolin Lake State Park is a beautiful destination located in Edmonson County, Kentucky. The park is situated on the shores of Nolin Lake, a 5,795-acre reservoir that offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors.
Nolin Park has 60 primitive camping sites. They also have 32 RV spots with hookups and cabins for rent.
This page will show you all of the amenities the park offers.
For you RV'ers, Jay found a gem of an RV park called Cave Country RV Campground, located off KY 65 near Exit 53. I have to say it was one of the nicest RV parks I've ever seen! And clean? Everything was spotless including the bathrooms. The grounds were impeccably kept and beautifully landscaped. Save for an occasionally train passing at one end of the park (they don't blow their whistles so the noise isn't obtrusive) it was peaceful and quiet. All sites are pull-throughs with full hookups 50/30 amp. Sites are plenty large with a picnic table and you're not on top of anyone else.
Lodge at Mammoth Cave
For most national parks I recommend staying in a town or city outside of the park as it's usually more economical. Not the case with Mammoth Park because the next closest accommodations can be 20-45 minutes away.
Better to plan your trip as far in advance as possible and book your accommodations at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave. It is located right next door to the Visitors Center and features guest rooms, cottages and cabins. View accommodation options here
Lodge at Mammoth Cave
Lodge at Mammoth Cave lobby
There are dining options on site as well as a small convenience type store, Cavers Camp Store.
Itinerary
Day 1
In the morning, check into your accommodations and get settled when you arrive at Mammoth Cave National Park.
After you're settled in, visit the Mammoth Cave Visitors Center if you still need to.
Take a short hike on the Heritage Trail to get familiar with the park. Very easy hike to the ridge-top Sunset Point, where you can see nearly the entire Green River Valley.
Heritage Trail Photo credit: WNKY
Sunset Point
Green River Valley
You can opt to have lunch in one of the Lodge restaurants or...
We decided to drive to Park City near the park entrance to a place called The Lookout on a tip from one of the campers in the RV park. WOW! American $
Phenomenal food, service and view for the right price! Good menu selection too.
22850 Louisville Rd, Park City, KY
After lunch you can rest up for your cave tour tomorrow or do another attraction. We opted to drive the short distance from Park City to Kentucky Down Under, run by a couple of native Australians. It's basically like an Australian mini zoo featuring animals from Australia. We loved the Outback section where "roos" (as the Aussies call kangaroos) and emus roam freely. For $1 you can feed them. There's also a lorrie house where the lorries fly freely, a petting zoo, and a gem mining area,
They have golf carts for rent if you have mobility issues or just don't feel like walking the entire property. The golf carts can be reserved 24 hours in advance. The terrain is a bit hilly...
No reservations are required and tickets must be purchased at their ticket office. Prices are posted here
Kentucky Down Under is a place the kids would get a kick out of.
Feeding a baby Roo in mom's pouch
Evening: Enjoy a meal at the park’s restaurant or a nearby local diner.
NOTE: What you're going to find in the Mammoth Cave area (Mammoth, Cave City, Park City) is a whole slew of fast food restaurants and mom 'n pop type diners that are not open for dinner.
We opted our first night to drive the 45 minutes to Glasgow and just have dinner at the Applebee's there.
Applebee's always has some kind of deal or promotion going on. Plus I'm member of Club Applebee's - so we paid less than $25 for dinner for the two of us.
That alone made the drive worth it and we weren't in any rush to be anywhere so we enjoyed the Kentucky scenery enroute. Made for a very pleasant relaxing evening.
After dinner we stopped at a grocery store to pick up some food to cook some of our own dinners in the RV.
Day 2
Get your hiking boots on! Today you'll begin to explore Mammoth Cave and you'll begin doing whatever tour(s) you signed up to do. Be sure to bring a jacket as it's cool in the cave.
After your cave tour, have a picnic lunch in the Park or take a short 25 minute drive to Blue Holler Cafe for lunch.
This small cafe is bringing a slice of Deutschland to Kentucky, but don’t worry, they also have American-based dishes available. The restaurant is just a short drive from Mammoth Cave NP and has a very beautiful view of the park on its outside balcony.
Try their Zigeuner Schnitzel. Delicious!
$15.
The menu is filled with German favorites like Schnitzel and Bratwurst, but they also serve other American classics and a robust breakfast. Delicious down-home German cooking, friendly service and reasonable prices. They focus on authentic German recipes.
7713 Nolin Dam Rd, Mammoth Cave, KY
Zigeuner Schnitzel
After lunch you can return to your accommodations to relax or you can return to Mammoth Cave Park to explore the Cedar Sink Trail.
The hike is 2.5 miles roundtrip, with several sets of stairs that will lead you down into the sink hole and back out. A total of 295 stairs will be traveled during the hike. 45 to 60 minutes.
Photos credit: Steven Markos
If you're still up for some hiking, try hiking the short River Styx Spring trail. This trail takes you to see a spring in which groundwater emerges out of a cave.
Starting from the Mammoth Cave Visitor's Center, take the "Historic Entrance" trail that descends down the hill between the Visitor's Center and the Mammoth Cave Hotel. After 0.2 miles you will reach the historic entrance of Mammoth Cave on your right side. You cannot go in the cave without a guided tour, but you can walk down and look at the entrance.
The trail splits into two trails at the historic entrance. Take the wider trail on the left side which has a sign stating the River Styx Spring Trail. You will descend for 0.4 miles. When you level out near the Green River, take the boardwalk to your left to view the River Styx Spring, which is where groundwater is discharging from Mammoth Cave to the Green River. There's also a small area where you can view the Green River.
When finished, walk back the way you came up the hill to the Visitor's Center to complete this short and easy hike.
OR if you've booked more than one cave tour and you wish to do another cave tour on your bucket list you can do that too. (There is a River Styx cave tour where you see the River Styx inside the cave so maybe combine the two.)
Evening: Have dinner at the Green River Grill inside the Lodge at Mammoth Cave.
Day 3
After breakfast, pack a picnic lunch and head to the Park and rent a canoe or kayak to paddle the Green River.
The rivers inside of the park are part of the Green and Nolin Rivers Blueway, a National Water Trail encompassing 36 miles of navigable waterway and 7 public access sites. Over 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers trace through the Mammoth Cave National Park.
The Green River is one of the most biodiverse rivers in the country. It is home to more than 150 fish species, more than 70 species of mussel including many threatened or endangered species. The river spans 25 miles (40.2 km) through the park and is dotted with sandbars, islands, and subsurface springs.
While considered a flat-water river, the current can still be very swift and prior paddling experience is recommended. Regardless of water level, always be alert to hazards such as submerged trees and rocks, drifting debris, and the park's ferry.
Within the park there are three river access points accessible by car: Dennison Ferry, Green River Ferry, and Houchin Ferry. All of these sites are located on the south side of the Green River. Outside of the park on the Nolin River is the Tailwater Recreation Area.
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Dennison Ferry consists of a wooden canoe and kayak ramp with a series of concrete stairs to the water.
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Green River Ferry consists of a wooden canoe and kayak ramp with a concrete staircase to the water and an auto ferry ramp that doubles as a launch site for motorboats.
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Houchin Ferry consist of a temporary canoe and kayak launch ramp. This launch site is often very muddy, please use caution.
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Tailwater Recreation Area consists of a paved boat ramp to access the Nolin River.
Canoes and Kayaks Liveries
Always wear a life jacket. Personal flotation devices (PFDs/life jacket) are encouraged for all river users and required to be worn by children ages 12 and under at all times while on rivers inside of Mammoth Cave National Parks. It is important that your PFD is properly fitted, and US Coast Guard approved. Federal and state law requires a Type I, II, or III PFD for each person onboard a watercraft.
The Green River current flows at 5 mph. While that doesn't sound like much, when it comes to water currents, that's enough to knock you off your feet and drag you downriver, even if just wading in shallow water and you slip. I recommend anyone not sufficiently trained in canoeing or kayaking wear a PFD to be on the safe side.
If canoeing or kayaking doesn't appeal to you, then as an alternate take another cave tour on your list or explore some more of the trails within the park, like the Echo River Spring Trail in the Park.
This newly improved handicapped accessible trail located within Mammoth Cave National Park has something for everyone.
Bluff lines, wildlife, wildflowers, streams, and cave entrances abound on this hike in Mammoth Cave National Park. The pathway is mostly paved and has interactive exhibits and viewing platforms around the spring.
The highlight of the trail is a “blue hole” on the edge of the Green River. Water can be seen "bubbling" up from somewhere within Mammoth Cave.
Evening: Have dinner at the restaurant of your choice, then kick back and relax.
Day 4
Have breakfast at another local hangout - Ace Coffee Company in Cave City.
Simple done well at a very reasonable price.
We were partial to their Açaí bowl (at right). Their coffee was the best we had while in Kentucky.
After breakfast you have some options:
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Take another cave tour if you still have tours on your bucket list. Recommend the Frozen Niagra tour or Domes and Dripstones tour if you haven't already taken them.
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If you're not staying at Nolin State Park, head to the beach there for swimming and a day in the sun. (See Nolin State Park under Accommodations above on this page)
Lots of other activities available there too! -
Visit Dinosaur World in Cave City.
This is just the cutest place. Kind of like coffee shop meets vintage bookstore, meets diner. Very unique but friendly atmosphere.
You place your order at the counter, when it's ready pick it up and head for a table.
Photo credit: Dinosaur World
This is a nice stop if you have little kids or kids that are into dinosaurs. There are over 150 (as I recall) life-size dinosaurs on exhibit, all well-crafted and maintained. There's an informational plaque for every exhibit giving the name, pronunciation guide, location information, and a few other facts about each particular dinosaur. There's also an animatronic T Rex that's awesome but might scare toddlers and very young children.
The park is kept exceptionally clean. (We personally saw 3 park employees cleaning the park) It took us about an hour to visit all the dinosaurs.
There's also an informational dinosaur museum that's got a number of fossils and replicas.
The Stegosaurus
ADMISSION - DAILY PASSES
Adults: $18.95
Children: $14.5
You can add on an excavation dig and/or a gemstone dig but I personally feel it's not worth the additional price.
EXCVATION PASS
Adults: $28.95
Children: $24.95
To get to Dinosaur World just get on I-65 and watch for the huge billboard with a dinosaur beside it.
Visitors Center
You can purchase tickets here. 711 Mammoth Cave Rd, Cave City, KY Open Daily: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Have lunch at the spot of your choice. We opted for Cracker Barrel as we don't care for fast food and it's only about 8 miles away from Mammoth Cave in Cave City.
Plus we've always had good food and good service at any Cracker Barrel restaurant we've eaten at and their menu is extensive.
(One can only eat so much diner fare!)
They do have a Rewards Program that's free to join.
Click on the button below to join and get a free shareable.
After lunch visit the Mammoth Cave Wildlife Center. The museum has nearly 14,000 square feet of exhibit area containing rare and exotic animals such as tigers, lions, bears, leopards (including the Snow Leopard - one of the rarest cats in the world), deer, sheep, ox, and much more. But the museum doesn't stop at the big animals; they also have a huge selection of marine life, insects, birds, and many more creatures.
The animals are displayed in their natural environments. Kids love the museum because they can get much closer to the animals than they could in a zoo. Note that these are not live animals, they're taxidermies.
The place is a bit on the kitschy side but we spent probably a good 30 minutes looking at the exhibits.
Adults ages 16 and over: $15 for self guided tour
Children ages 6 - 15: $10
Children 2 and under free
Seniors 62+: $10
Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum is located at 409 Happy Valley Street, Cave City, KY
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily, from March to October. During the winter months it operates on Saturdays and Sundays only.
Money $aving Tip: Bring a copy of this coupon with you and receive 10% off.
You could also hike or bike the Mammoth Cave Railroad Hike & Bike Trail in Mammoth Cave Natl. Park,
Originally opened in 1886 the Mammoth Cave Railroad brought early tourists to Mammoth Cave and other neighboring caves in the area. The train line continued its service for 45 years and made its final run on August 1, 1931.
Today, a portion of the path of the former Mammoth Cave Railroad has been converted into a 9-mile hike and bike trail. This trail can be accessed from Park City, KY, several points along Mammoth Cave Parkway, and the park’s visitor center area. Along the trail, cyclists and hikers can stop at historic sites, interpretive waysides, and scenic overlooks. The trail is 9 miles long. The path is a gravel surface that may have some minor pot holes and some steep grades.
If you're biking the trail, be aware of hills and steep grades. Walk your bicycle when signs instruct you to do so and it's a good idea to wear a helmet biking this trail.
The trail is free to use, there is no activity fee to it. Adventures of Mammoth Cave (located in Cave City, near the park) offers mountain bike rentals. Note that this is not a trail you want to attempt on a street bike!
Parking is available at 1878 Mammoth Cave Pkwy (Park City)
Evening: Dinner at El Mazatlan - A popular Mexican restaurant known for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious dishes. And it doesn't cost any more than fast food!
Day 5 - Departure Day
Depending on your desired departure time, try to do anything on your Mammoth Cave Park bucket list you haven't done yet.
Depart Mammoth Cave National Park, taking with you memories of a wonderful adventure!