Welcome to the world’s largest cave system – Mammoth Cave National Park. Spanning over 400 miles, it is at least three times longer than any other known cave. Scientists believe there are corridors still to be discovered! Explore the variety of underground cathedral-like chambers beneath the state of Kentucky. Experience the haunting terrain filled with history!
Where To Find It
A natural wonder, Mammoth Cave is located in southern Kentucky, USA. It is about 85 miles from both Louisville, KY, and Nashville, TN (or 4 hours from Memphis, TN). These two cities will be the closest airport to Mammoth Cave, as well as great cities to rent a car. There are two parts to the Mammoth Cave system. One above ground and the other above. Above ground, experience the forest, river, and light. Below ground, experience the passages, pits, and darkness below.
Where To Stay
There are three campgrounds located at Mammoth Cave. All camping in the park requires a permit. Most sites are available by reservation which is highly recommended, especially around holidays and weekends.
Mammoth Cave – Perfect for tent, group, and RV campsites. And just a short walk from the visitor center.
Maple Springs – This campground offers group sites, horseback group sites, and RV sites. Just a ten-minute drive from the visitor center.
Houchin Ferry – This campground is for tent sites only. Next to the Green River, it is about a twenty-minute drive from the visitor center.
Horse Cave, Cave City, and Park City are the closest cities to Mammoth Cave for a hotel stay. Each city has a number of different hotels to choose from and is approximately a 15-minute drive to the National Park entrance.
Where To Eat
Two restaurants are located inside the park and are operated by The Lodge at Mammoth Cave. (Please check before your trip from opening times). Green River Grill is inside the lodge, across the footbridge from the visitor center. Perfect for a fine dining experience. Spelunkers Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor offer counter-service dining and food on the go. If you are looking for a quick snack try Caver’s Camp Store.
There are also six picnic areas located around the park. Mammoth Cave Picnic Area offers two reservable picnic shelters available for a fee.
If these options are not to your liking, there are more options outside the park. Cave City has some wonderful choices. Fast food and sit-down dining alike.
Climate and Best Time To Go
Mammoth Cave National Park is open 24 hours a day, although services such as cave tours and the visitor center are limited after-hours (generally the visitor center closes at 4:30 pm in winter or 6:00 pm in summer). There is no gate at the park entrance.
Spring – March, April, and May are lovely times to visit the Park. Winter is melting away and the forest is awakening. Although a shoulder season, the spring can offer more tours than the winter. Crowds can depend on the holidays, weekends, and spring break. As the day lengthens, the temperatures start to warm to the mid-60s or 70s.
Summer – June, July, and August are great times to explore Mammoth Cave. Temperatures are high as well as the number of activities opening. Remember, summer is the busiest time at the park, so be sure to reserve your cave tour in advance!
Fall – September, October, and November are beautiful times to visit the Park and surrounding forest! The fall colors are just stunning to see, but being a shoulder season the cave tours are fewer in offering. The weather is dry and comfortable warm and decreasing as the season advances.
Winter – December, January, and February is a cold and slower time to visit Mammoth Cave. Snow blankets the hillsides, however, parts of the cave still maintain a warm temperature. There are a reduced number of cave tours, but there will be more tickets available.
Bucket List Activities
The main attraction is the Cave! There are twelve different cave tours to choose from. From a fully wheelchair-accessible tour to short and long walking tours, lantern tours, and adventurous crawling tours. Some cave tours require a short bus ride to and from the cave entrance.
My favorite is the Frozen Niagara. The naturally decorated Frozen Niagara section remains one of the most famous at Mammoth Cave and serves as the last stop for a variety of cave tours. While many tours require long hikes and numerous stairs to reach this point, this short tour offers a chance to visit this area with only 12 stairs. This tour is ideal for anyone with difficulty walking long distances or negotiating stairs. (This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance).
Another one of my favorites is the Gothic Avenue Tour. Gothic Avenue was named because of its unusual rock formations resembling Gothic architecture and was the site of some of the earliest 19th-century tourism. Early visitors left behind signatures, artifacts, and monuments in this area of the cave, which also features stalactites and stalagmites. This tour focuses on 1800s tourism and uses of Mammoth Cave and is ideal for people with a high interest in history. Portions of this tour are also seen on the Star Chamber, Historic, and Violet City Lantern Tours.
Be sure to reserve your ticket in advance!
Aside from the cave, Mammoth National Park offers a number of different outside activities. From bicycle trails to hiking there are over 53,000 acres to explore. In the summer try canoeing, kayaking, and boating. For those of you who love horses, there are 60 miles of backcountry trails for many skills and ages. At night, look to the sky for ideal stargazing!
Instagram Worthy Spots
Unless you are skilled in dark-light photography; it will be difficult to get good photos inside the cave. Instead, grab your shot at the entrance and throughout the many trails all over the Park!
My favorite is the Historic Cave Entrance and the Green River Bluffs Trail.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!
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