Boasting over 400 miles of explored passageways and subterranean halls, Mammoth Cave in south-central Kentucky is the longest known cave system on Earth and one of America’s oldest tourist attractions. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
Map credit: Park Junkie
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Lodge at Mammoth Cave offers the closest option for overnight stays in the park. The Lodge is located directly next to the visitor center, and features a mix of modern hotel rooms as well as historic cottages nestled in a woodland setting all within walking distance to cave tours and park trails.
Advance reservations are recommended and make them as far in advance as possible.
Call (844)760-CAVE or 270-758-2225 or visit mammothcavelodge.com.
frontdesk@mammothcavelodge.com
Photo credit: National Parked
Any time you stay within the National Parks it's been my experience you're going to pay overinflated prices for lodging. Therefore, I tend to stay outside of the parks. When visiting Mammoth Natl. Park we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Cave City, only 5 minutes from the park. I belong to Hampton Honors Program so accumulate points for my Hampton stays that help pay for Hampton lodging. We were at Mammoth Cave in the fall off season so our room was $174 per night.
We booked a King room.
The Inn had the usual Hampton amenities: In room refrigerator, breakfast, WiFi, indoor heated pool, laundry facilities, fitness center, free parking. There were plenty of restaurants around the Inn.
GETTING TO THE PARK
FLYING IN: The closest full-service international airports to the park are Louisville International Airport (80 minutes) and Nashville International Airport (90 minutes).
BY CAR: Most visitors arrive at Mammoth Cave National Park by car. The park is located very close to Interstate 65 (I-65), a major north–south highway which spans from southern Alabama to northern Indiana.
BY RV, TRAILERS OR BUSES: There are no restrictions on the size of RVs, trailers, or buses allowed on the main park roads, but trailers and RVs may have difficulty crossing the Green River Ferry or traveling on park secondary roads. Please drive carefully and watch for wildlife, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
GREEN RIVER FERRY:
The Green River Ferry provides shuttle service for thousands of vehicles, hikers and bikers across Green River every year.
Photo credit: NPS
Ferry Advisories
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Ferry operations are subject to water levels on the Green River and may be affected by high or low water.
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In the event of ferry closure, the nearest crossing is via Hwy 70 through Brownsville.
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Vehicles and trailers boarding the ferry must not exceed 12 tons and have a length no more than 16 feet. If you have a large vehicle or trailer, please call ahead to check if your vehicle can board.
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Follow Mammoth Cave Roads and Ferry (@MCNPRoadsFerry) on X for current information on ferry operations or call the Ferry Hotline at (270) 758-2166.
The National Weather Service in Louisville in coordination with the Ohio River Forecast Center maintains a Daily Forecast for the Green River at Mammoth Cave National Park.
THE VISITORS CENTER
Mammoth Cave Natl. Park Visitor Center
From the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). Turn right onto KY-70. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
From the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Turn left onto KY-255 and follow 255 as it becomes the Park City Road into the park. Follow Park City Road until it joins the Mammoth Cave Parkway; turn left. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
An entrance pass is not required to access Mammoth Cave National Park.
Other National Park Service sites may require an entrance pass or fee. Depending on your trip plans, an interagency pass may save you money.
The park accepts the America the Beautiful Interagency Senior LIfetime and Senior Annual Passes, as well as, the Access Pass. These passes will provide a 50% discount on cave tour tickets for the cardholder only. The passes will also provide a 50% discount for camping provided the reservation is in the cardholder's name. No discounts are provided for shelters.
There is no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park. However, there are fees associated with cave tours, camping, and shelter rentals.
For more information on entrance fee free days in the national parks, visit the Free Entrance Days website.
The visitor center area is a hub of activity for starting and ending cave tours in the park. Whether you'll be going into the cave or not, take some time to explore the area to learn about the park history and see the sights.
We'll start with Mammoth Cave itself. Here's a FREE audio tour you can download to your device.
Photo credit: PixelRZ
There are different cave tours you can take, each offering a different experience.
Historic Entrance Tour: Experience the classic route through Mammoth Cave's most famous passages. About 2 hours long.
Adventure Tour: Adventure tour through undeveloped cave passages with crawling and climbing. For the physically fit. About 6 hours long.
Discovery Tour: Self-guided exploration of the cave's entrance area and visitor center. You'll only see the cave entrance portion not the interior of the cave itself. About 1 hour.
Violet City Lantern Tour: Unique experience using lanterns to illuminati the cave.
These tours are broken down even further and you can read about those tours here.
Reservations sell out weeks in advance so book online as early as possible before your visit. Visit Recreation.gov or calling 877-444-6777 to secure your tickets in advance. Availability of walk-up tickets for guided tours is not guaranteed.
Tour route availability and times change depending on the season. Before arriving at the park or trying to reserve tickets for a tour, please review the tour schedule for the dates of your trip. The park may not publish the complete schedule or variety of tours until 1 to 3 months prior to tour date. Read more about tour descriptions.
We took:
Extended Historic Tour: Be prepared for a physically challenging experience, as this tour involves hundreds of stairs and steep inclines without alternative routes. This tour also includes a visit to the site of an 1840s-era underground tuberculosis hospital experiment. Ideal for history enthusiasts and adventurers alike, this tour is a great option for those wanting to delve deeper into the cave’s rich history. The Extended Historic Tour takes you deeper into the cave than the Historic Tour does. 2.25 hours
River Styx Tour: To access this section of the cave the tour leaves modern tour trail to uneven terrain that may be wet, muddy, and/or slick. The tour route travels next to bodies of water, some of which can be very deep depending on river levels. Viewing of this area will also be conducted with electric lanterns and not the modern lighting system used along the rest of the route. 2.5 hours
River Styx Tour Photo credit: Flickr
There was a third cave tour we took that isn't part of Mammoth Cave Natl. Park - Great Onyx Lantern Tour.
A beautiful cave in its own right, Great Onyx Cave houses an abundance of beautiful geologic formations that sparkle in the lantern light of this tour. Visitors on this tour can see many stalactites, stalagmites, gypsum crystals, and helictites. This cave was also the site of very important cultural history in the early days of Kentucky cave tourism. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in cave tourism history and unusual rock formations. Please note: this tour is in Great Onyx Cave, which is separate from Mammoth Cave. Must be 6 years and older to go on this tour.
Great Onyx Cave Photo credit: NPS
Beyond the underground marvels, the park protects 52,830 acres of Kentucky's rolling hills and forests, providing habitat for over 200 animal species and serving as an important karst landscape research site.
After our cave tour we decided to go horseback riding through the park.
Riders will find miles of wooded backcountry trails suitable for many skills and ages. The trails range from wide, smooth dirt paths that two riders can travel together, to daring, single file, ridgeline trails.
We booked with Double J Stables. They're located off the Northeastern corner of Mammoth Cave National Park. They are about as close as you can get to the Mammoth Cave National Park. You do not need to cross or ride on any public roads to enter the park, just mount up and ride on in. They're the only independently owned ranch with direct access to over 85 miles of trails in the park.
All trails ridden are within Mammoth Cave Natl. Park and groups are limited to 8 riders.
Guided Trail Rides
1 hour ride - $40.00
1 1/2 hour ride - $65.00
2 hour ride - $75.00
Prices include all local and state taxes.
For more information on visiting Double J Stables call 270-286-0310.
MAMMOTH CAVE RAILROAD BIKE & HIKE TRAIL
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.
Bikes of all types are allowed on the paved roads of Mammoth Cave National Park, but most of the trails do not allow them. The exceptions are the 9-mile Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail, the Big Hollow Trail, and a short connector to the Big Hollow Trail, the Maple Springs Trail. The Railroad Trail is a wide gravel path, but the Big Hollow Trail is a true mountain biking trail.
You want to wear a helmet while riding this trail and obey all signs that tell you when to walk your bike. There are hills and steep grades.
Bikes are available for rental from 7 AM to 3 PM (must be returned by 5 PM) at the Mammoth Cave Lodge, the building across the footbridge from the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center. Once paid for, pick up the bike at the Caver’s Camp Store located near the entrance to the Mammoth Cave Campground.
If using an e-Bike, the motor cannot be larger than 750 watts, and you cannot use the motor exclusively for propulsion—you must peddle. I doubt anyone will ever know but you. Just don’t motorbike past a park Ranger.
Campground store at Mammoth Cave National Park
PADDLE THE GREEN RIVER
This incredible paddle route starts at the Green River Ferry, which was first developed in 1934 and is the last remaining active river ferry in the park. The ferry shuttles vehicles, hikers, and bikers across the Green River 364 days a year.
If your plan is to go boating, the cement ramp used to reach the ferry boat will be used as your launch.
If you are canoeing or kayaking you should use the gravel launch provided in the corner of the parking area, upriver from the ferry.
There are some boaters that launch further up river at Dennison Ferry or beyond the park’s boundaries who also utilize this area for taking their boats out of the Green River.
DINOSAUR PARK
Photo credit: Dinosaur Park
This one's for the kids. Dinosaur World is located in Cave City at 711 Mammoth Cave Rd.
Kids can wander among hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs in a natural setting, play in a dino-themed playground, dig for hidden gems in Uncle Rex's Dino Gem Mine, dig for fossils in Aunt Cera's Fossil Dig, or step into an all new immersive adventure at the Jurassic Jungle! Encounter and discover hidden wonders of the prehistoric habitat.
The admission price to Dinosaur World in Cave City, KY is as follows:
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Kids (ages 3-12): $9.75
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Adults: $12.75
Open Daily: 8:30am to 5:00pm
TREASURE TROVE PARK
Fun for the whole family. Artifacts from around the world, games, gem mining, go karts, great food, animal petting area and a staff like no other place.
Adult ticket: $21,58
Child ticket $15.18 (4-14) Ages 3 and under FREE
Military & Senior Citizen $13.58
🤩ANY PAID ADMISSIONS🤩 Enjoy immediate Next Day Open FREE
817 and 901 Mammoth Cave Rd, Cave City
DINING
Two restaurants are located inside the park and are operated by The Lodge at Mammoth Cave. Inquire at the lodge front desk or dining room host stand when you arrive at the park for menus and dining hours or visit The Lodge at Mammoth Cave to help plan your visit before you arrive.
Photos credit: Mammoth Cave Lodge
The Lodge has a full-service restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a café for faster service and a Starbucks coffee shop. The Lodge serves American fare - breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We didn't eat at the Green River Tavern. It has mixed reviews, some visitors citing extremely small portions and the average price for a meal for one + tip was $50.
EL MAZATLAN BAR & GRILL
We were in the mood for Mexican and found this gem El Mazatlan Bar and Grill, offering classic Mexican dishes and margaritas in a casual and festive setting. The restaurant features indoor dining, an expansive bar, and one of the largest covered patios for outdoor dining.
The Piña Fajita served inside a carved pineapple was fantastic. $17.50
And the Mexican Fried Ice Cream?
Heaven on earth! $7.50
Just the name got us curious but we weren't sure what to expect. Was JB's Haunted Mansion & Snack Shack a haunted house? A restaurant? It's actually kind of both - a haunted house full of animatronics and a pizza joint that serves pizza, hot wings and ice cream.
We couldn't resist, we had to check it out. This will give you an idea of what you can expect in the haunted house... Admission is $10.
We ordered a cheese, pepperoni, onion, green pepper and olive pizza.
It wasn't the best pizza I've ever had but it certainly wasn't the worst either.
I love unique attractions and this was definitely the first time I'd found a combo pizzaria and haunted house!
5 BROKE GIRLS
If you want a fantastic burger that's huge, hit up 5 Broke Girls.
5 Broke Girls is a restaurant known for its home made country cooking and southern food, with hand-battered meals that customers find delicious. (The onion rings are amazing!)
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great spot for families and a comfortable dining area for families.
The staff is praised for their excellent service, hospitality, and friendly demeanor.
Mammoth Cave National Park is the smallest of the national parks but it's a relatively budget friendly park to visit given there is no admission fee to get into the park. We included it in a state tour of Kentucky. You should plan at least 2 days in the park - one for cave tours, one for everything else.