Mammoth Cave National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Region.
About 1.5 hours from Louisville/Jefferson County and 2 hours from Nashville by car.
Alerts
- ClosureGreen River Ferry Temporarily Out of Service
The Green River Ferry has temporarily suspended operation due to low water levels. Ferry service will resume once water levels rise and conditions are safe. A river forecast is available at: water.noaa.gov/gauges/03309000
- ClosureElevator for Accessible Tour Out of Service
Due to mechanical issues with the cave elevator, the Accessible Tour is currently unavailable. Please check back for updates or call the visitor center at (270) 758-2180.
- InformationTemporary Closure of Select Trails for Rehabilitation Project
The Old Guides Trail, Heritage Trail, Sunset Point Trail and areas of the Sinkhole Trail are currently closed due to a trail rehabilitation project.
- InformationNPS ↗Tickets are required to enter Mammoth Cave
Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations are the only way to ensure a spot is available for your party. Please plan accordingly by visiting Recreation.gov to secure your tickets in advance. Availability of walk-up tickets is not guaranteed.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
There is no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park. However, there are fees associated with cave tours, camping, and shelter rentals. For detailed information related to the fees for these activities, please visit our Fees and Passes webpage.
Hours
| Park Hours | Daily · All Day |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Mammoth Cave Campground | 111 sites | |
| $25 a night · Campground Hours | ||
| Maple Springs Group Campground | 7 sites | |
| $50 a night · Closed Dec 1 to Feb 28 | ||
| Houchin Ferry Campground | 12 sites | |
| $20 a night · Open Year-Round · 12 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Mammoth Cave Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
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…
Explore
Things to do
- Cave Tours1-6 Hours
Join a ranger as you discover the complex history and intricate geology of the worlds longest cave system.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Mammoth Cave Junior Ranger
Do you want to explore, learn about, and protect Mammoth Cave? If so, become a Mammoth Cave Junior Ranger! The Junior Ranger activity book is appropriate for all ages and is a great way to get more in-depth knowledge about the world’s longest cave…
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore Wildflowers at Cedar Sink45-60 Minutes
Stunning rock faces, cave springs, and geological panoramas, you will experience a wide array of seasonal wildflowers and biodiversity.
Opens on the Park Service site - Viewing Park Wildlife
Mammoth Cave is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life ranging from rare exotic cave species to more common woodland creatures.
Opens on the Park Service site - Attend a Ranger-led Program10-60 Minutes
Attending a ranger-led program in the park is a great way to discover new things and learn more about the Mammoth Cave National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Houchin Ferry to Brownsville90-120 Minutes
This short trip travels along the Green River from Houchin Ferry inside Mammoth Cave National Park to the former site of Lock and Dam #6 or the Brownsville boat ramp.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Nolin River Dam to Houchin Ferry4-6 Hours
This trip starts at the Tailwater Recreation Area below the Nolin River Dam north of the park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Green River Ferry to Houchin Ferry4-6 Hours
This longer section of the Green River is less traveled then the popular Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry trip.
Opens on the Park Service site - Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry150-240 Minutes
This popular river trip takes paddlers from the Dennison Ferry Day Use Area to the Green River Ferry.
Opens on the Park Service site - River Safety and Regulations
Safety is your responsibility. Follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable river trip.
Opens on the Park Service site - Planning Your River Trip
Over 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers trace through the Mammoth Cave National Park and offer a wealth of recreational opportunities.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the park on Horseback
Mammoth Cave National Park is an exceptional destination for anyone who loves to see the world from the back of a horse.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
Events
- 11:00 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 08:45 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 08:45 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 03:45 PM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 09:45 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 11:15 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
Show all 10Hide
- Historic Cave Tour10/1410:30 AM · runs through Oct 29This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 11:00 AM · runs through Oct 29This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 10:00 AM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
- 02:00 PM · runs through Oct 31This tour departs from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Maple Springs Ranger StationBuilding · Mammoth Cave · 0.7 mi
- Good Spring Baptist Church and CemeteryBuilding · Mammoth Cave · 1.2 mi
- Old Guide CemeterySite · Mammoth Cave · 1.6 mi
- Hercules and Coach No. 2Structure · Mammoth Cave · 2 mi
Guidebooks for Mammoth Cave National Park and the South
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Full checklist: 142 birds, 50 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barred Owl · Black Vulture · Broad-winged Hawk · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Screech Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Hen Harrier · Merlin · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Black Duck · American Coot · Canada Goose · Great Blue Heron · Green Heron · Hooded Merganser · Pied-billed Grebe · Sandhill Crane · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Woodcock · Common Snipe · Killdeer · Ring-billed Gull · spotted sandpiper
Gamebirds & dovesMourning Dove · Northern Bobwhite · Rock Pigeon · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Pileated Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift · Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Also on the checklistAcadian Flycatcher · American Crow · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-billed Cuckoo · Blackburnian Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Blue-headed Vireo · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Carolina Chickadee · Carolina Wren · Cedar Waxwing · Chipping Sparrow · Chuck-will's-widow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Starling · Common Yellowthroat · Connecticut Warbler · Dark-eyed Junco · Dickcissel · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Kingbird · Eastern Meadowlark · Eastern Phoebe · Eastern Towhee · Eastern Wood Pewee · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-winged Warbler · Gray Catbird · Gray-cheeked Thrush · Great Crested Flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Lincoln's Sparrow · Mallard · Northern Cardinal · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orchard Oriole · Philadelphia Vireo · Pine Siskin · Prothonotary Warbler · Purple Finch · Purple Martin · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Roughleg · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Savannah Sparrow · Scarlet Tanager · Sedge Wren · Song Sparrow · Summer Tanager · Swainson's Thrush · Swamp Sparrow · Tree Swallow · Tufted Titmouse · Veery · Warbling Vireo · Whip-poor-will · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · White-eyed Vireo · White-throated Sparrow · Winter Wren · Wood Thrush · Yellow-bellied Flycatcher · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-throated Vireo · blue grosbeak · ovenbird · worm-eating warbler
Small mammalsAllegheny woodrat · American beaver · Norway rat · eastern chipmunk · eastern cottontail · eastern fox squirrel · eastern gray squirrel · eastern harvest mouse · eastern mole · least shrew · meadow jumping mouse · muskrat · northern short-tailed shrew · prairie vole · pygmy shrew · smoky shrew · southeastern shrew · southern bog lemming · southern flying squirrel · white-footed mouse · woodland vole
Predatorsbobcat · coyote · gray fox · long-tailed weasel · mink · raccoon · red fox · river otter · striped skunk
Hoofed mammalswhite-tailed deer
BatsIndiana bat · Rafinesque's big-eared bat · Seminole bat · Tricolored Bat · big brown bat · eastern red bat · eastern small-footed bat · evening bat · gray bat · hoary bat · little brown bat · northern bat · silver-haired bat · southeastern bat
Also on the checklistVirginia opossum · domestic cat · domestic dog · long-nosed armadillo · woodchuck
Activities
Activity guides for this park Camping in the national parks · Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Kentucky has a moderate climate with warm, yet moist conditions. Summers average in the high 80s; winters average in the low 40s. Southern Kentucky, where Mammoth Cave is located, receives the highest average precipitation for the state, about 50 inches per year, mostly in spring. Winter can bring mild to moderate snow and ice. Storms happen year-round, and can include tornadoes and flooding in low-lying areas, but severe weather is infrequent. The temperature deep in the cave is a constant 54°F (12°C).
Questions people ask
Does Mammoth Cave charge an entrance fee?
No. Mammoth Cave is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
Is Mammoth Cave open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Mammoth Cave?
Yes. The Park Service lists 3 campgrounds in Mammoth Cave: Mammoth Cave, Maple Springs Group, and Houchin Ferry. 3 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Mammoth Cave campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Mammoth Cave. Dump station: Mammoth Cave. Electric hookups: Maple Springs Group.
Source: Campgrounds
When do Mammoth Cave campgrounds close for the season?
Maple Springs Group is closed Dec 1 to Feb 28.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Mammoth Cave right now?
4 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Green River Ferry Temporarily Out of Service; Elevator for Accessible Tour Out of Service; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Mammoth Cave?
660,734 recreation visits in 2025, number 97 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is Mammoth Cave good for stargazing?
Yes. Mammoth Cave is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
What is the weather like at Mammoth Cave?
Kentucky has a moderate climate with warm, yet moist conditions. Summers average in the high 80s; winters average in the low 40s.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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