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10 Best Mammoth Cave Tours Worth Your Time

This post is all about the best Mammoth Cave tours in Mammoth Cave National Park! You’ll find an overview of the different tours, travel tips, effort level listings, and estimated times based on our personal experiences hiking Mammoth Cave National Park.

In the beginning of autumn, I went on my first Mammoth Cave tour. I sat – legs pressed tight against a bench, feet clacking the ground – under the wide awning of Shelter A, waiting for a ranger to herd me (and a hundred or so other tourists) into the belly of the longest cave in the world. We walked and walked and walked some more. We climbed up and down thin, platformed stairs. We paused and gasped as the cave curved and snarled and dropped and twisted. Mammoth Cave’s pathways are serpentine; its walls are textured. And I was enamored by it all.

I returned to Mammoth Cave National Park often after, each time with the intention of taking one guided trip (sometimes two, much to the misery of my calves) through the cave itself. On those ranger-led tours, I chatted with travelers and staff, die-hard cave lovers and new-to-the-cave-scene visitors. Tour-by-tour, I fell deeper and deeper in love with Kentucky’s karst landscape.

Now, having been on almost all the Mammoth Cave tours (with the exception of their crawling tours), I feel ready to share my favorites.

Here are Passport To Eden’s top picks for the best cave tours at Mammoth Cave National Park!

Editor’s Note: Mammoth Cave tours are seasonal and not necessarily offered year-round. Sometimes tours close for construction (one of my favorite mammoth cave tours was closed in 2023 for this very reason. The goal was to make paths to be more accessible in the future). The best place to check what tours are available right now is the National Park website ( I’ll link it here ). I also tried to include a list of phobia warnings based on my own personal experiences on each of the cave tours. If you experience any cave-triggered phobias, I highly recommend talking with one of the rangers at Mammoth Cave National Park (you can reach them at 270-758-2180) before booking a tour. They can help you decide which tour (if any) might suit you best!

Table of Contents

Historic Tour

Mammoth Cave has long been a place for the curious. Even before it became integrated into the National Park system in 1941, tours were being led down and through its hidden alleys and layered passageways. The Historic Tour is the oldest, continually operated tour at Mammoth Cave . It’s also the most popular .

Go for the atmosphere: the gaping, moss-laden Historic Entrance; the vaulted, limestone ceilings; the remnants of 19th century century saltpetre vats . Go for the route too. You’ll stroll through wide and thin areas of Mammoth Cave. You’ll pass a coffin-shaped rock that looks like it’s been plucked from the pages of an old vampire novel. You’ll duck and twist and shimmy through Fat Man’s Misery (though I’d personally call this portion of the cave Anybody’s Misery). And by the end of your tour, you’ll be left with no doubts as to how Mammoth Cave got its name.

General Info

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 Hours (Allot 2.5 hours) STAIRS: 540 EFFORT: Moderately Strenuous COST: $20.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Nyctophobia, Agoraphobia

Frozen Niagara Tour

Quick, short, and low-in-effort , The Frozen Niagara tour is hands-down the easiest tour offered at Mammoth Cave National Park. Don’t be fooled by the sketchy looking entryway: this is one of the most beautiful sections of Mammoth Cave . Within a small, dark, fourth-of-a-mile stretch, you’ll see wrangled beards of limestone, spirals of stalactites, and ice-like distortions of flowstone. Your tour guide will brief you on the geology of Mammoth Cave , the story behind the Frozen Niagara entrance, and some of the keystone species you might see at Mammoth Cave National Park (this part of the cavern is usually crawling with cave crickets).

ESTIMATED TIME: 1.25 Hours (Allot 1.5 hours) STAIRS: 12 With Optional 98 Stairs To The Drapery Room EFFORT: Easy COST: $18.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Arachnophobia, Nyctophobia, Agoraphobia

Cleaveland Avenue Tour

The Cleaveland Avenue Tour is one of the most underrated Mammoth Cave tours. If you’re visiting Mammoth Cave for the first time and want to get a feel for the length of Mammoth Cave without the stress of a large group size, this is the tour I’d recommend the most! Be warned: there are lots of steps up front and towards the end. But the path in-between is nice and gentle and compact . It’s a hike that’s strenuous in bursts, more tiring than difficult . And the reward is floral gypsum , white petals of calcium sulfate that choke cracks and crevices. You’ll amble and ramble and snap photos. And as you stroll through Cleaveland Avenue, your tour guide will introduce you to Mammoth Cave’s geology, topology, and history .

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 Hours STAIRS: 400 EFFORT: Moderate COST: $22.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Nyctophobia, Claustrophobia, Agoraphobia

Grand Avenue Tour

The Grand Avenue Tour is intense. It’s stair after stair, incline after incline. You’ll trek through sparkling passageways and squeeze into slot canyons and amble past rich tapestries of flowstone. You’ll experience Mammoth Cave to the fullest – its highs and lows, its dimness and darkness, its emptiness and too-muchness. Grand Avenue’s variation alone it makes it one of the best mammoth cave tours, but it’s also one of the most difficult . The pace tends to be slow and unhurried ( there are even restroom breaks) to accommodate, but the length will absolutely test your legs. This tour is long. You’ll spend half-a-day in a cool, dark, seemingly endless underground . At times, the landscape will feel (and look) hellish. But if you love caves and enjoy Stairmaster challenges, you’ll feel right at home in this tour.

ESTIMATED TIME: 4 Hours (Allot 4.5) STAIRS: 1313 EFFORT: Strenuous COST: $35.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Acrophobia, Arachnophobia, Nyctophobia, Agoraphobia

Violet City Lantern Tour

Whilst at Mammoth Cave National Park, I tried asking as many park rangers as I could find what their favorite tour was. The overwhelming response? The Violet City Lantern Tour . This is one the most dramatic Mammoth Cave tours. Here’s what I love about it: Violet City swoops you back in time to an era of early exploration , an era where your eyes depended on the soft, intimate glow of lantern-light . So as you hold up your lantern to Mammoth Cave’s water-cut nooks and crannies, you’ll tap into the past. But you’ll also focus on the little details – the here-and-now, the what-was and what-could-be.

ESTIMATED TIME: 3 Hours STAIRS: 160 EFFORT: Moderate COST: $25.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Acrophobia, Nyctophobia, Agoraphobia

Gothic Avenue Tour

One of my favorite Mammoth Cave tours was the Gothic Avenue Tour (which to me felt a lot like The Historic Tour without the severe claustrophobia moments). The Gothic Avenue tour is dark and moody . It’s theatrical in its form and shape. Spheres of light are cast onto historic graffiti burned into Mammoth Cave’s walls. Monuments (old Jenga-ed stacks of rocks) are strewn along the edge of the trails. You’ll see broody stalactites and stalagmites droop down below blackened shadows. You’ll crescent moon around a dramatic ring of formations (known as The Bridal Altar), which devilishly drips down to hard, compact ground. The atmosphere of Gothic Avenue is gloomy and eerie. Go in October if you can (this is the perfect tour to take during spooky season).

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 Hours STAIRS: 160 EFFORT: Easy COST: $19.00 Per adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Nyctophobia, Agoraphobia

River Styx Tour

I was told by a park ranger that the River Styx Tour is often touted as one of the most underwhelming tours at Mammoth Cave. “It’s because people expect to go down to the water,” he said. And while you do see water on the River Styx tour , you see it from above . You catch a small glimpse of it (just a glimpse). Know that this is less of a river tour, and mostly a mashup of many other Mammoth Cave tours . The River Styx trek (which is slick and muddy and wet in some areas) covers the entire Historic Route (truth be told, I was not looking forward to walking through Fat Man’s Misery again). It also injects some elements of the Violet City Lantern Tour and the Mammoth Passage Tour.

ESTIMATED TIME: 2.5 Hours (Allot 3) STAIRS: 600 EFFORT: Moderately strenuous COST: $22.00 Per adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Nyctophobia, Acrophobia, Agoraphobia

Domes & Dripstones Tour

Like Frozen Niagara, Domes & Dripstones walks you through some of the prettiest sections of Mammoth Cave. It’s a lot more strenuous than Frozen Niagara though (according to the ranger who led our tour, this is the hike he’s seen the most people end up in need of medical evacuation – eeeep ). And after negotiating the steps past the entrance, I could see why. On the Domes & Dripstones tour, you knock out 280 stairs in the initial descent . The steps get smaller and smaller as you go farther and farther down. At the choke points, my feet were barely covered by the stairs. But wow, oh wow, once the stairs taper off, you’ll see one of the most beautiful sides to Mammoth Cave. This portion of Mammoth Cave isn’t dry and clean-cut. It’s moist and layered and filled with formations .

Side Note: I definitely felt like I gained the most knowledge from this tour. There were two ranger-led “Ask Me Anything” moments where our group got an opportunity to sit down on a handful of benches (arranged classroom-style right in the cave) and shoot questions. Y’all, I learned so much from the open-ended style of these portions, so if you’re looking to grasp more of the history and geology of Mammoth Cave, I highly recommend this tour!

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 Hours (Allot 2.5) STAIRS: 500 EFFORT: Strenuous COST: $21.00 Per Adult PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Nyctophobia, Acrophobia, Agoraphobia

Self-Guided Tour

For a quick in-then-out jaunt into Mammoth Cave, opt for the self-guided tour . You still need a ticket (first come, first served), but once you’ve strode down past the Historic Entrance, you can walk around and read the placards at your own pace . This is a popular option for those planning a last-minute stopover at Mammoth Cave.

The self-guided tour showcases a large , wide open, level snapshot of Mammoth Cave, making it more accessible to people who might experience claustrophobia, acrophobia, and agoraphobia. There is a guided version of this tour too ( The Mammoth Passage Tour ), but if you get a chance, try booking one of the other Mammoth Cave tours on this list instead (for a more in-depth Mammoth Cave experience)!

ESTIMATED TIME: 20-30 Minutes STAIRS: 130 COST: $8.00 Per Adult EFFORT: Easy

Wild Cave Tour

While I do not intend on going on any of the crawling tours at Mammoth Cave (I looked at one of the holes you have to squeeze whilst on another tour and no, just no), I do still want to mention one crawling tour in this guide. Here’s why: everyone I spoke to who has done the Wild Cave Tour in the past has absolutely loved it. Apparently, you crawl on your hands and knees and push your body through small gaps in the ground. You don’t just get to see Mammoth Cave, you get to feel it. The Wild Cave tour offers a tactile way to experience Mammoth Cave. It’s supposed to be fun and challenging and adventurous .

ESTIMATED TIME: 4 Hours EFFORT: Very Strenuous PHOBIA WARNINGS: Claustrophobia, Nyctophobia, ACROPHOBIA, Agoraphobia COST: $46.00 Per adult

Did you find this guide to the best Mammoth Cave tours helpful? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments below! As always, I love hearing from you.

Pack With Me (WHAT I BROUGHT TO MAMMOTH CAVE)

• 🥾 Merrell Moab 2 : these shoes got me through every tour in Mammoth Cave
• 💧 Hydroflask : I brought this stainless steel water bottle (keep in mind, only clear water bottles are allowed on Mammoth Cave tours, but I didn’t feel like buying a new one and no one commented on my bottle being opaque ☺️).
• 🥜 Sahale : since no food was allowed in the cave, I kept this nut mix in my car and snacked on it after each tour (Sahale’s pomegranate vanilla cashews have my heart and soul 😋)
• 🧣 Light Sweater : Mammoth Cave tends to be a bit cold (in the mid 50s) so I opted for a light, long-sleeved, breathable sweater
• 📷 Sony Alpha a6400 : this is the mirrorless camera I personally used to take photos and film videos (I love that it has a flip-out screen)
• 🎒 Sling Backpack : this comfy little crossbody canvas rucksack was (and still is) my go-to day hiking bag

Editor-In-Chief

Anshula grew up with a love of stories and places. Thirty-five states and 100 bookstores later, she's made her hobbit home in Middle Tennessee. Her Tookish side still takes over and leaves her chasing window seats, literary destinations, adventure books, sunrise coffee, and indie bookshops. She's appeared as a travel source on HuffPost, Reader's Digest, and MSN.

You describe places in a way that inspires me to travel and see the world. Thank you very much for that! Greetings from Canada.

Your firsthand info and perspective of each cave tour was very helpful, thanks!

Thank you so much for these reviews and assessments the physical demands of them. So very helpful!!!

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How to Pick the Best Mammoth Cave Tour: from Families to Avid Adventurers

Mammoth Cave National Park is a natural wonder nestled in the heart of Kentucky. We’ll show you all the reasons why you should add this extraordinary national park to your travel bucket list and how to pick the best Mammoth cave tour for you and your family. Uncover the mysteries of the world’s longest-known cave system, boasting awe-inspiring rock formations and captivating underground passages at this underrated family destination!

We visited Mammoth Cave National Park when our kids were 4 and 6. In fact, it was the first time they earned Junior Ranger badges! We asked our friend Amanda Perkins of Life Has Its Perks Blog to break down the best Mammoth cave tours, so you can choose the right tour for you- whether you are a first-timer, a family with small kids, or looking for a more challenging or adventurous tour through Mammoth Cave.

This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase.   As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All our recommendations are our own and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

At the bottom of this post,  download our Top Ten Tricks for Exploring National Parks with Kids .

Lodging: Booking.com Flight Deals: Skyscanner Rental Cars: Discover Cars Airport Transfers: Welcome Pickups

Digital SIM Cards: Airalo eSIM Travel Insurance: SafetyWing

Table of Contents

Is Mammoth Cave Worth Visiting?

Yes, Mammoth Cave is worth visiting! Immersing yourself in the park’s stunning landscapes, from lush forests to picturesque river valleys to the famous cave itself, is a family bucket list experience. Mammoth Cave National Park offers an experience unlike any other National Park east of the Mississippi River. From the moment you step foot into the cave, you’ll be transported to a world of natural wonder and beauty that will leave you awestruck. Mammoth Cave makes a great stop on a family cross-country road trip .

Mammoth Cave is an incredible feat of nature, with massive chambers, intricate passageways, and bizarre formations that have been sculpted by millions of years of water erosion and geologic activity. But beyond its sheer size and beauty, Mammoth Cave also has a rich history that is woven into the fabric of American culture.

In addition to the cave tours, Mammoth Cave National Park has a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy. We love hiking and biking as a family and there are plenty of trails to explore here. The Green River also provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. And for those who prefer to stay indoors, the park offers a variety of ranger-led programs and exhibits.

When is the Best Time to Visit Mammoth Cave?

The best time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park is during the spring and fall seasons, specifically from April to June and September to October. We visited in September, right after school started, and that seemed like the perfect time to come to Mammoth Cave! During these times, the weather is generally pleasant, with milder temperatures and lower humidity compared to the hot and humid summer months. 

The park’s natural beauty flourishes during spring, as wildflowers bloom and the surrounding landscape comes alive with vibrant colors. Fall offers a picturesque spectacle with the changing leaves, creating a breathtaking backdrop for exploration.

Visiting during these seasons also ensures a more comfortable experience while exploring the cave system. The cave’s temperature remains constant at around 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) throughout the year, making it a refreshing escape from both the summer heat and winter chill.

More importantly, spring and fall attract fewer crowds compared to the peak summer season. This means shorter lines for the best Mammoth Cave tour, easier access to hiking trails, and a quieter overall ambiance.

Mammoth Cave National Park is a popular destination year-round, and each season offers its own unique charm. However, for those seeking pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, and a more relaxed atmosphere, spring and fall are the ideal times to experience the park’s wonders at their best.

The Best Mammoth Cave Tours

Tours are required when visiting Mammoth Cave. They offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the cave’s history and geology from knowledgeable rangers who will guide you through the cave system and point out interesting features along the way. There is one option for a short, self-guided tour of the cave, which is only offered in the summer. All other tours are guided tours.

There are a variety of tours available to suit every interest and level of ability, from easy strolls through well-lit sections of the cave to more challenging explorations of remote areas that require crawling and climbing. The cost of most tours ranges from $10 – $30 a person. Many cave tours require a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

We took the Domes and Dripstone Tour which was a perfect fit for us. There are quite a few stairs and some tight spaces, but we were up for the adventure. The views were incredible and not something I will soon forget. 

No matter which tour you choose, you’ll be treated to a one-of-a-kind experience that you will never forget. And with so much to see and do at Mammoth Cave National Park, you’ll want to plan a return trip before you even leave.

Top Tip: Make sure to book tours well in advance- not all tours are available year-round.

Best Mammoth Cave Tours for Families

Exploring Mammoth Cave with kids can be lots of fun! There are lots of fun things to see and do in the park, including many cave tours that are suitable for families with kids. Here are some of the best Mammoth cave tours for families.

1. Frozen Niagara Tour

🌟 Easy ⏳ 1.25 Hours ✅ 1/2 mile, Great for young children

The Frozen Niagara Tour is a great option for families with young children. This tour is an easy, half-mile walk through the cave, and it’s filled with all kinds of cool sights to see. You’ll get to explore the Frozen Niagara Formation which looks like a big, frozen waterfall. Your guide will tell you all about how the cave was formed and answer any questions you might have. This is one of the most popular tours at Mammoth Cave.

2. Domes & Dripstones Tour

🌟 Difficult ⏳ 2 Hours ✅ Great for older children

For families with slightly older kids who are up for a bit more adventure, the Domes & Dripstones Tour is a fantastic choice. We loved this tour that took us on a 2-hour journey through some of the most beautiful parts of the cave. We saw massive domes, towering stalagmites, and sparkling dripstones. You’ll even get to climb up a spiral staircase to a lookout point that offers a stunning view of the cave.

3. Mammoth Passage Tour

🌟 Easy ⏳ 1.25 Hours ✅ Educational

If you’re looking for a tour that’s both fun and educational, check out the Mammoth Passage Tour. This tour is led by a park ranger who will teach you all about the history of the cave and the animals that live inside. You’ll get to see some amazing cave formations, like the Giant’s Coffin and the Bottomless Pit. This tour is perfect for families with kids who love to learn new things.

4. Accessible Tour 🌟 Easy ⏳ 2 Hours ✅ No Stairs

Mammoth Cave National Park offers an accessible tour designed to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges. The Accessible Tour is the only tour with no stairs . This tour provides an inclusive experience, featuring wheelchair-accessible routes and audio descriptions. It allows everyone to marvel at the cave’s wonders and learn about its fascinating history, ensuring that no one is left behind in experiencing this incredible natural treasure.

6. Best Mammoth Cave Tour for History Buffs: Historic Tour

🌟 Difficult ⏳ 2 Hours ✅ Focus on History and Usage

If you love history, you’ll love the Historic Tour , which explores the cave’s role in the War of 1812 and the Civil War, as well as its use as a source of saltpeter for gunpowder during both conflicts. This tour involves a lot of stairs and some tight spaces. You can also do the Extended Historic Tour for a slightly longer, more in-depth experience.

7. Best Mammoth Tour for First-Time Visitors: Domes & Dripstones Tour

The Domes & Dripstones Tour is a fantastic choice for first-time visitors who want to experience a mix of history and beauty inside Mammoth Cave. We loved this tour that took us on a 2-hour journey, which includes massive domes, towering stalagmites, and sparkling dripstones. You’ll even get to climb up a spiral staircase to a lookout point that offers a stunning view of the cave.

Best Mammoth Cave Tours for Hard Core Adventurers

If you are looking for an exciting adventure during your visit to Mammoth Cave National Park, look no further! Here are some of the best Mammoth Cave tours for hard-core adventurers and adrenaline junkies like you.

8. Wild Cave Tour

🌟 Very Difficult ⏳ 6 Hours ✅ Ages 16+, Includes crawling

The Wild Cave Tour is not for the faint of heart and you must be at least 16 years old to take part. This tour takes you on a 6-hour journey through the cave that includes crawling through tight spaces, wading through underground streams, and climbing up steep rocks. You’ll get to explore parts of the cave that most visitors never get to see, and you’ll feel like a true explorer. This tour is definitely not recommended for anyone who is claustrophobic or has mobility issues.

9. Grand Avenue Tour

🌟 Very Difficult ⏳4 Hours ✅ Beautiful Areas, ages 6+

If you’re looking for a tour that’s both challenging and awe-inspiring, check out the Grand Avenue Tour. You must be at least 6 years old to do this tour. This tour takes you on a 4-hour journey through some of the most beautiful parts of the cave. You’ll get to see massive domes, towering stalagmites, and sparkling dripstones. You’ll also get to climb up and down several sets of stairs, so be prepared for a workout!

10. Violet City Lantern Tour

🌟 Very Difficult ⏳ 3 Hours ✅ Tour by Lantern Light, Ages 6+

For a truly unique and thrilling experience, try the Violet City Lantern Tour. This tour takes you on a 2-hour journey through the cave by lantern light and you must be at least 6 years old to go. You’ll get to explore the darker corners of the cave and learn about the history and geology of Mammoth Cave. This tour is not recommended for anyone who is afraid of the dark or has trouble walking on uneven surfaces.

11. Introduction to Caving Tour

🌟 Very Difficult ⏳ 3 1/2 Hours ✅ Includes Crawling and Climbing

For families with older kids ( 10 years or older ) who are ready for a real adventure, the Introduction to Caving Tour is an awesome choice. This tour takes you on a 3-hour journey through the cave that includes crawling through narrow passageways and climbing up steep rocks. You’ll get to see parts of the cave that most visitors never get to experience, and you’ll feel like a real explorer. This tour is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a great way to challenge yourself and make some amazing memories.

Most Underrated Mammoth Cave Tours

If you are looking for a Mammoth Cave tour that’s off the beaten path but still offers amazing views, you are in luck. Here are the most underrated Mammoth Cave tours that offer incredible sights you won’t want to miss.

12. River Styx Tour

🌟 Moderate ⏳ 2 1/2 Hours ✅ Includes Boat Ride, Ages 6+

The River Styx Tour may not be as well-known as some of the other tours, but it’s definitely worth checking out. This tour takes you on a 2.5-hour journey through the cave that includes a boat ride on the underground River Styx. Kids must be at least 6 years old to go on this tour. You’ll get to see some amazing cave formations and even a few bats hanging from the ceiling. And the best part? You’ll get to experience the cave in a completely unique way.

13. Great Onyx Lantern Tour

🌟 Moderate ⏳ 2 1/4 Hours ✅ Unique Part of the Cave

The Great Onyx Tour takes you on a 2-hour journey through a portion of the cave that’s not open to the general public. Kids must be at least 6 years old to go on this tour. You’ll get to see some incredible formations, including one of the largest stalactites in the world. You’ll also get to learn about the history of the cave and the people who have explored it over the years.

No matter which underrated tour you choose, you’re sure to be blown away by the amazing sights and experiences. Don’t forget to bring your camera and be prepared to be amazed!

Booking your Mammoth Cave Tour

To explore the cave, you’ll need to purchase a ticket for one of the guided tours. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the park. It’s a good idea to book your tour in advance, especially during peak season, to ensure you get the tour you want. Tickets tend to sell out fairly quickly. You can book your tickets up to 2 months in advance.

Tickets can be purchased at the recreation website . Be aware that not all tours are available year-round. 

How to Get to Mammoth Cave

Getting to Mammoth Cave National Park is easy! The park is located in south-central Kentucky and can be reached by car, bus, or plane. If you’re driving, the park is located off Interstate 65, about 90 miles south of Louisville and 35 miles north of Bowling Green.

The closest airport to Mammoth Cave National Park is Louisville International Airport (SDF) , located approximately 90 miles north of the park. From the airport, visitors can rent a car or arrange for a shuttle service to reach the park. Interstate highways, such as I-65 and I-165, provide a straightforward route from the airport to Mammoth Cave.

To reach Mammoth Cave National Park from Nashville International Airport (BNA) , you can rent a car and drive approximately 95 miles north via I-65. The journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, offering scenic views of the Kentucky countryside.

Need a rental car to visit Mammoth Cave? We recommend Discover Cars , they always have easy, straightforward pricing. No last-minute surprises!

Book a Rental Car with Discover Cars

Don’t forget to stock up on road trip essentials and of course the best road trip snacks as well!

Where to Stay to Visit Mammoth Cave

When visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, there are various accommodation options available to suit different preferences and budgets.

Remember to book your accommodations well in advance, especially during peak season, to secure your preferred choice. Here are some suggestions for places to stay near the park.

Recommended Budget Hotel: Days Inn Wyndham Cave City

This days inn hotel is a clean, and no-frills motel, with a pool that our kids quite enjoyed. it is also very close to dinosaur world if that is also on your itinerary., book now: days inn wyndham cave city, the lodge at mammoth cave.

The only lodging within the park, you’ll find The Lodge at Mammoth Cave just next to the visitors center. This historic lodge offers comfortable rooms and cabins with modern amenities. Staying here provides easy access to the cave tours and other park attractions.

Campgrounds

Mammoth Cave National Park offers several campgrounds, such as the Mammoth Cave Campground and Maple Springs Group Camp, which provide opportunities for a more immersive and budget-friendly experience. These campgrounds offer both tent and RV camping facilities, along with amenities like restrooms, showers, and picnic areas.

Tips for Taking a Tour of Mammoth Cave

Here are some tips for visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, including what to bring and what is allowed in the park.

-Dress appropriately. The cave stays a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so bring a light jacket or sweater regardless of the season.

-Wear comfortable shoes with good traction, as some of the tours require climbing stairs or walking on uneven surfaces.

-Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated

-Photography is allowed as long as there is no flash.

-Strollers are not allowed, and neither are backpack child carriers. Front packs are allowed.

-Pets are not allowed in the cave or on the cave tours, and they must be leashed at all times in the park.

-Smoking is not permitted in any buildings or on any trails.

And of course, always remember to stay on designated trails and respect the park’s wildlife.

FAQ: Best Mammoth Cave Tours

The “best” tour at Mammoth Cave National Park depends on personal preferences and interests. Ultimately, the best tour depends on factors such as fitness level, desired level of adventure, and interest in specific cave features or history. The park offers a variety of cave tours, each providing a unique experience. The Domes and Dripstones Tour is popular for its stunning formations, while the Historic Tour delves into the cave’s rich history. The Frozen Niagara Tour showcases the magnificent Frozen Niagara formation. The Grand Avenue Tour is the longest and most strenuous, offering a comprehensive exploration. For an adventurous experience, the Wild Cave Tour is recommended.

The most popular tour at Mammoth Cave National Park is the Domes and Dripstones Tour . This tour takes visitors through the cave’s awe-inspiring formations, showcasing the breathtaking domes and intricate dripstone features. It offers a glimpse into the natural wonders and geological history of Mammoth Cave. The Domes and Dripstones Tour is suitable for a wide range of visitors, providing an engaging and informative experience without being overly strenuous. Due to its popularity, it is advisable to make reservations in advance, especially during peak seasons, to secure a spot on this highly sought-after tour.

The hardest tour at Mammoth Cave National Park is the Wild Cave Tour . This tour is designed for the adventurous and physically fit, as it involves crawling, climbing, and navigating through tight spaces within the cave system. Participants wear helmets, headlamps, and kneepads as they explore lesser-traveled sections of the cave, experiencing the raw and rugged aspects of underground exploration. The Wild Cave Tour requires a high level of stamina, agility, and a willingness to challenge oneself physically and mentally. Due to the demanding nature of the tour, participants must meet certain age and health requirements and should be prepared for a thrilling and strenuous adventure.

The easiest tour at Mammoth Cave National Park is the Frozen Niagara Tour . This tour offers a relatively accessible and leisurely exploration of the cave. Visitors can experience the beauty of the Frozen Niagara Formation, a magnificent display of stalactites and flowstone. The tour involves minimal walking on well-maintained paths, making it suitable for individuals of various fitness levels and ages. It provides a captivating introduction to the wonders of Mammoth Cave without requiring strenuous physical exertion or navigating challenging cave passages. The Frozen Niagara Tour offers a convenient option for those seeking a more relaxed and accessible cave experience.

No, you cannot explore Mammoth Cave without a tour, although one self-guided tour is available for part of the cave. The cave is a complex and delicate natural environment, and for conservation and safety reasons, access to most of the cave system is restricted to guided tours. The National Park Service offers a range of tours led by knowledgeable guides who provide valuable information about the cave’s geological features, history, and environmental significance. These tours ensure that visitors can safely navigate the cave while minimizing any negative impact on the delicate ecosystem.

A tour in Mammoth Cave National Park ranges from 30 minutes to more than 6 hours depending on which tour you choose. The shorter tours, such as the Frozen Niagara Tour or the Historic Tour, typically last around one hour, providing a condensed but still captivating cave experience. Longer tours like the Domes and Dripstones Tour or the Grand Avenue Tour can last two to three hours or more, allowing for a more comprehensive exploration of the cave’s features and passages.

The cost of touring Mammoth Cave National Park varies depending on the specific tour chosen. The prices range from approximately $8 to $30 per person, depending on the tour. The shorter tours, such as the Frozen Niagara Tour, generally have lower prices, while longer and more extensive tours, like the Grand Avenue Tour, are more expensive.

While Mammoth Cave does not have a boat tour, however, The River Styx Tour includes a boat ride. This 2 1/2-hour tour is the only one that includes a boat. Mammoth Cave primarily offers walking tours, allowing visitors to explore the stunning underground passages and formations on foot.

Yes, you can visit Mammoth Cave in the winter. The cave remains open year-round, allowing visitors to explore its wonders even during the colder months. The cave retains the same cool temperature all year. However, some tours and facilities may have adjusted schedules or limited availability during the winter season.

It is very helpful to have a car when visiting Mammoth Cave National Park. Public transportation options are limited, and having a car provides flexibility and convenience for accessing the park, touring the area, and exploring nearby attractions. We recommend using Discover Cars for your car rental- you’ll find an easy interface and upfront pricing.

There You Have it: Best Mammoth Cave Tours

Mammoth Cave National Park is a truly fantastic place, and with a little planning, you can enjoy the best Mammoth Cave Tour for you and your family. From exploring the cave’s depths to hiking through the park’s beautiful forests, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the beautiful National Park.

With so many cave tours to choose from, ranging from family-friendly to extreme adventures, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The park also offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and water sports, as well as ranger-led programs and exhibits. 

From the stunning cave formations to the beautiful natural scenery, there is so much to see and do at this incredible park. So, pack your bags, grab your sense of adventure, and get ready to explore the best tours of Mammoth Cave!

Interested in National Parks? Don’t miss our posts of family favorites like Glacier National Park , Yellowstone National Park , or Yosemite . We also like more under-the-radar parks like Craters of the Moon and the Wright Brothers Memorial !

Cynthia Matthews von Berg is the founder of Sharing the Wander. She is a passionate traveler, mom, and travel coach specializing in long-term travel and family travel. She and her family embarked on a Family Gap Year in 2021, and haven't looked back.

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The complete guide to Mammoth Cave National Park

Apr 15, 2021 • 11 min read

A view of the Green River from a bluff in Mammoth Cave National Park framed by redbud trees

The rolling hills of central Kentucky look solid enough where the well-worn foothills of the Appalachian Mountains slide into the flatter, fertile farm land of the Mississippian Plateau. But laced underneath that pretty landscape of telescoping green slopes is a vast network of caves, sink holes, and underground creeks that stand in stark contrast to the sunny spreads of spring wildflowers like trillium, dwarf iris, trout lily, and phlox above ground. And one of those caverns is Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system anywhere in the world. 

Humans have been exploring Kentucky's hidden depths for over five thousand years. Down here in the dark, there is evidence of the first intrepid visitors to what is now known as Mammoth Cave, who carried burning reed torches into winding, unmapped passageways. Now scientists have determined Mammoth Cave extends for over 400 miles. It winds down in numerous layers carved over millions of years by trickles and torrents of water making their way to join the wide Green River.

These days, you don't need torches to see the upper reaches of Mammoth Cave, now softly lit by electricity, punctuated by park rangers ready to explain the cavern's many features, and the sometimes unusual ways the cave has been used since the arrival of European settlers in the 1700s.

Editor's note: During  COVID-19 , please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government health advice. Events may be subject to change.

Mammoth Cave history

Legend has it that a bear hunt is what lead the first non-Indigenous person to the entrance of Mammoth Cave, which sits at the end of a long-eroded creek bed that now mostly runs dry. The water that ordinarily would flow here instead works its way down into the cave through tiny cracks in the earth and the sandstone below it, carving the tunnels below from limestone deposits created millions of years ago, when the Appalachian Mountains were new and jutted into a shallow inland sea that covered much of the southeast. Eventually, a sinkhole collapsed at the thin intersection of the creek bed and the cave mouth, revealing Mammoth to whoever passed by.

While it's unclear if it was the hunter chasing the bear or the other way round (or if the incident even happened) what is confirmed is that Mammoth Cave was first seen not as a natural wonder, but a manufacturing resource by the man who purchased the land in time for the war of 1812. Dozens of enslaved people were tasked with hauling tons of dirt into huge vats in the cave, where natural lime could leach from the stone walls and eventually be used in the manufacture of saltpeter needed by the young United States' military to make gunpowder.

After the war was over the cave changed hands again and the new owner saw an opportunity to capitalize on affluent travelers' growing interest in outdoor recreation. Enslaved guide Stephen Bishop was the first to create a contemporary map of large swaths of the cave, and the names he gave many of the cave's features are still in use today. Bishop worked with Materson Bransford, Nick Bransford, and Alfred Croghan to lead early tourists past the old earthworks and other unusual businesses that had cropped up in Mammoth Cave, including a mushroom farm and a failed tuberculosis clinic.

The Bransfords and their descendants carried on the guiding trade long after they, Bishop and Croghan were emancipated and well into the 1930s. However, when Mammoth Cave was turned into a national park in the 1940s, the four-generation tradition of Bransfords working in the cave came to a close. The family guides were replaced by park rangers until 2004, when Jerry Bransford joined the NPS staff as the fifth generation of his family to lead tours in Mammoth.

Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park

Unlike many other national parks, you don't need to pay admission or flash your America the Beautiful pass to enter the park or enjoy its trails. The only fees you'll need to pay are if you're camping, staying in the lodge, want to reserve a picnic shelter, or to tour the cave itself. It's wise to book your cave tour at the same time you're making any other reservations in the park, as tours often sell out – especially on weekends, and especially while tour offerings and capacity are limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The nearest airports are in Nashville, Tennessee (about two hours away) and Lousiville, Kentucky (about an hour and a half away). Bowling Green, Kentucky is about half an hour away – a college town with restaurants, bars, a new brewery , and the vibrant, historically Black Shakerag neighborhood. Scattered nearby throughout central Kentucky are several of the state's famous bourbon distilleries. Just eight miles from Mammoth Cave is Cave City, whose quaint mid-century main street is lined with antique shops. Stop for a beer at The Dive, an atmospheric watering hole full of long-time locals. 

Peak season at Mammoth Cave matches the summers in central Kentucky, which tend to be warm and humid, with highs in the 70s and 80s. Fall and spring are mild and cool, and winters see temperatures hovering in the 30s and 40s. Temperatures inside Mammoth Cave itself, though, are consistently around 54 degrees no matter the time of year or weather. Even when it's raining outside (spring is the wettest month in central Kentucky), Mammoth Cave will be dry, however – at least the part open to visitors.

Activities near Mammoth Cave 

When the COVID-19 pandemic isn't raging, there's usually several cave tours on offer that go to different areas of the cave and showcase different features, from The Rotunda to a formation known as Frozen Niagara. Most of the tours go a quarter of a mile to two miles into the cave, and some involve staircases or some challenging climbs. There are also special holiday-themed events that have been offered in years past, including caroling around Christmastime. Many of the tours depart from one of two outdoor pavilions close to the visitor center before entering Mammoth through the Historic Entrance.

Currently, the Historic Extended tour is what's on offer with limited capacity. This self-guided experience gives you the opportunity to go at your own pace and ask park rangers stationed at notable points along the tour route any questions you might have. Notable features included are the Rotunda, the Methodist Church where actual church services were once held, the historic salt peter mining site, Booth’s Amphitheatre (where the brother of the infamous John Wilkes Booth would recipe passages from Shakespeare), and an eerie formation known as the Giant’s Coffin. 

Tickets for cave tours can be purchased at the Visitor Center or reserved online and cost $25. 

There are a number of hiking trails at Mammoth Cave, but those concentrated around the Visitor Center, campgrounds, and picnic pavilions are well-connected, moderately challenging, and can easily be tackled over the course of a weekend – or even combined into various loops for a day hike. 

Some like the Cedar Sink Trail, Echo River Spring Trail, and River Styx Trail give you a chance to learn more about the unique geography and hydrology of Mammoth Cave. They lead to spots where water either enters or exits the cave system. Water might enter through a sink (think a big natural drain) like the one surrounding the Historic Entrance, or the Cedar Sink on the side of the ridge under which Mammoth is carved. Water also exits the cave on its way to the Green River through several springs where water bubbles out from under rocks or from beneath ponds not far from the main shore.

The Dixon Cave Trail Loop climbs to a separate cave system that used to be connected to Mammoth Cave, but was cut off by a rock collapse similar to that which made Mammoth's entrance accessible. There's a wooden platform built to give hikers a good vantage point of the sink surrounding Dixon Cave's entrance, but you cannot enter the cave. That's to protect Dixon's resident bats, who are at risk from white nose syndrome – a disease that isn't harmful to humans, but can be carried by their shoes and clothing and is a severe threat to bat colonies worldwide.

The Green River Bluffs trail connects to several of these shorter jaunts and offers splendid views of the titular river from high on the bluffs down to the bottom of the ridge where paddle wheel steamboats used to dock at the turn of the last century. One of the easiest loops to create with the Green River Bluffs trail is by connecting to the Heritage Trail for a 2.5 mile hike. The Heritage Trail leads to the historic cemetery where Stephen Bishop is buried, along with several other former cave guides, community members, and the tuberculosis patients treated in Mammoth Cave.

The Echo River Spring Trail has been recently renovated to be more accessible for visitors with disabilities. A portion of the trail has been redesigned as a level, composite boardwalk loop around the Echo River with interpretive features that have tactile elements as well as braille and audio captions. It's part of a longer two mile trail that connects to the Green River Bluffs and Mammoth Sink Hole trails. The new, more accessible section also connects to a recently renovated trailhead that will include a put-in for canoes and kayaks. This trailhead will also be serviced by the Green River Ferry, which has transported vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from the south to north shores since 1934. 

Back in the late 19th century, when the Kentucky Caves wars were just starting to heat up and land-owners were competing to see who could tap into the success of Mammoth Cave as a tourist attraction, a railroad was built to bring travelers into the area. It was in service for almost fifty years before the age of the automobile took over and ferry service began at sites like Green River. Today, nine miles of that old rail bed has been turned into a Railroad Trail, an easy to moderate cycling and hiking route that winds through the park.

Staying at Mammoth Cave

There are two primary campgrounds at Mammoth Cave – the main campground and the Maple Springs campground, which caters more to groups, equestrian campers, and those heading into the backcountry. Both feature bathrooms with flush toilets and dumpsters on site. There is also more primitive, tent-only, but still car-accessible camping at Houchin Ferry Campground 15 miles from the visitor center. Backcountry sites are scattered throughout the park, and include some remote island sites only reachable by boat.

You aren't required to have a bear canister in Mammoth Cave National Park, and there aren't bear boxes on site due to low risk. That said, you are advised to keep food in your vehicle overnight to prevent interference from other wildlife. The campsites can accommodate both RV and tent campers, as well as hammock campers thanks to the abundant tree canopy. Due to the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle to trees in the park, campers shouldn't bring firewood with them from neighboring states, but should instead purchase at the camp store or use dead, fallen timber collected on site. 

The Caver’s Camp Store has a range of convenience food and beverage items, including takeaway like pizza, coffee, and biscuits and gravy, as well as some camping supplies and souvenirs. There's a post office on site where you can get stamps for postcards from the gift shop or pick up a package. There are also hot showers available. WiFi is available in the Visitor Center and  in the Lodge, but cellphone service is limited throughout the park.

The Mammoth Cave Lodge

The Mammoth Cave Lodge is made up of several different buildings ranging from hotel-style rooms in a 1960s modernist structure to small cottages to an ADA-accessible motor-lodge style space. There are two eateries on site, including a sit-down restaurant called the Green River Grill  and the more casual cafeteria-style Spelunkers Café & Ice Cream Parlor, which has takeaway sandwiches, chips and drinks, as well as hot items like burgers on offer. Both make extensive use of local products from Kentucky vendors on their menus.

While the Visitors Center was built in 2012 in a contemporary style that refers back to classic "parksitecture" and is powered by banks of solar panels, recent renovations to the Lodge buildings weren't started until 2017. Thus far, the updates have focused on making Mammoth Cave National Park more environmentally friendly, with outdoor LED lighting, upgrades to waste water treatment, and refreshes to the room amenities, as well as expansions of the concessionaire and gift shops. Since 2019, has been continued expansion of the lodge with new construction, too, as well as continued renovation of the existing rooms. 

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Top ten tips for visiting mammoth cave national park.

Planning a visit to Mammoth Cave? GREAT! Here are some tips that will help you have a fun and memorable visit to the longest cave system in the world.

NPS Photo/ Kait Evensen

1. Get Your Cave Tour Tickets and Campground Reservations in Advance

Cave tours are our most popular activity and often sell out. By purchasing your tickets ahead of time through Recreation.gov , it will ensure you can get the tour you want, on the day you want, at the time you want. It is a win-win-win! And don’t miss your chance to roast s’mores around the campfire, make your campsite reservation in advance for one of our three campgrounds . Reservations can be made through Recreation.gov .

2. Pick the Right Tour

Mammoth Cave offers a variety of cave tours for visitors of all abilities an interest. This allows you to select the adventure that best fits your group’s needs. From a 2.5-mile, 2.5-hour dirt trail hike to an underground river, to a .25-mile, 1.25-hour walk to see hundreds of dripstone formations, there is a tour here that is right for you. Check out all our tour descriptions to learn about all our tour options.

NPS Photo/ Nathaniel Leies

3. Get Out Early to Enjoy the Sunnier Side of the Park

Mammoth Cave is known for its extensive labyrinth of underground cave passages, but did you know the park has over 85 miles of hiking , biking , and equestrian trails? Get out on the trails early in the day to view wildlife, wildflowers, and the park’s scenic views along the forested rolling hills before the rest of the world has even rolled out of bed for their morning breakfast.

4. Hang Out With a Ranger

If you are looking for something to do other than visit a dark hole in the ground, join one of our guides for a free Ranger-led Program . These walks and talks take place throughout the day and offer a great way to learn about the park. They are the perfect activity to complement your cave tour.

NPS Photo/ Kevin Howard

5. Paddle Away on a Weekday

Not all the water at Mammoth Cave is hidden at the bottom of a cave. The park is home to over 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers which are perfect for paddling or fishing . The river can get very busy over the weekends, though, so plan your trip along the scenic waterways on weekdays to avoid congestion at the river access points. Several canoe and kayak outfitters are happy to set you up for your trip down the river.

6. Remember Your Jacket

The sultry summer heat and humidity can make us sweat, but the cave’s temperature averages a cool 54 degrees year-round. Be prepared for your tour by bringing an extra clothing layer to keep you comfortable while inside the cave. Find out what else you need to Know Before You Go .

7. Don’t Be Scared. Be Prepared!

Mammoth Cave is a place for fun, not folly! At the end of the day, we want both you and the park to be in a better condition than when you first found each other. Learn more about how to keep yourself and the park safe during your visit.

8. Tick-Tock…Watch the Clock

Mammoth Cave National Park sits on the far eastern side of the Central Time Zone (GMT-5). This can be confusing to visitors traveling from the north and Eastern Time Zone who are trying to plan their cave tour schedule. We don’t want you to be too late or too early for your tour.

NPS Photo/ Molly Schroer

9. Don’t Let Technology Lead You Astray

GPS and electronic navigations are handy for guiding us around, but they don’t always lead you on the best path to the park. Check your route and review our directions to the park before you set out on your journey. Also know that public Wi-Fi is available at the park visitor center but cell service throughout the park can be spotty.

10. See What South-Central Kentucky is All About

Feel like you are cramming a lot of Mammoth Cave into one day trip? Stay around and avoid the rush! There are several lodging and camping options inside the park as well as within our neighboring communities . You might even check another National Park Service site off your list by visiting Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgensville, KY which is right up the road.

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Mammoth Cave National Park

Last updated: February 1, 2022

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AARP's Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park

Explore the natural world above and below ground at this kentucky treasure.

by Margaret Littman, AARP , Updated August 13, 2021

Mark C Stevens/Getty Images

En español | Imagine a national park so complex and, well, mammoth, that no one really knows its true size. Yes, signs mark entrances and exits, but underground, where limestone and water have carved the world's largest cave system (412 miles and still counting), no one knows how vast it is or what will be discovered next. That's the majesty of Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) in Central Kentucky. Every time you come back, you can learn about what has been newly discovered and what is better understood about what had been found before.

History is told from inside the underground maze of connected cave passages. Rangers and interpretive materials tell tales from Stephen Bishop, an enslaved man who explored and discovered many new passages and led public tours in the 1800s. Signatures of past visitors written on the rocky walls and ceilings (no, the park doesn't allow that anymore) show the area's long history of tourism. A former subterranean church space retains its sanctuary feel and lantern-made soot markings. Structures used as a former tuberculosis hospital remain. The vast Rotunda shows off old saltpeter mines once used for gunpowder production. The caves’ geology connects all these elements: striped limestone walls, blooming gypsum “flower” formations and small stalagmites and stalactites.

Unlike many other commercial caves, Mammoth Cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and respects its underground treasure. Some sections do have handrails and lighting, but nothing is hokey or garish. No flashing neon lights or colored water. On the contrary, on some tours, you can experience the caves as early explorers did — in complete darkness or by lantern. You'll learn about wildlife, such as the endangered eyeless cave shrimp, eyeless fish and cave crickets, that thrive on the lack of light and constancy of underground conditions.

Mammoth Cave was a community and a destination long before it became a national park in 1941. Locals created an association to protect the land back in 1926, but as far back as 3,000 B.C. native Americans explored the caves, taking gypsum and other minerals out for their purported medicinal properties. White colonizers discovered these caves in the late 1700s and tried over generations to profit off of them, using them as mines for saltpeter, purported healing hospitals and a geological curiosity.

Eighty percent of the 500,000 people who visit MCNP every year take cave tours, but you can partake in plenty of fun outdoor activities above ground, too. Explore lush green rolling hills, sinkholes, running rivers and scenic overlooks by biking, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and more. Its surface areas are rarely overrun, says Molly Schroer, the park's public information officer, so you can enjoy the sounds of nature, not of crowds.

COVID-19 Update

Following a phased reopening plan, most tours are now being offered, but they are modified due to pandemic restrictions. The park strongly recommends that visitors interested in the Extended Historic Cave Tour — the classic tour — make advance reservations for timed entry slots online or by calling 877-444-6777. (There’s no guarantee that walk-up tickets will be available.) The park’s visitor center is open, with limited ranger programs. Note that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is required to wear a mask inside national park buildings and on all forms of public transportation. Check the park's website for updates .

Location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Total acres: 52,830

Miles/number of trails: 85 miles above ground, 412 miles underground

Main attraction: Cave tours

Cost: Free, but cave tours cost from $6-$60

Best way to see it: Walking through the caves

When to go to avoid the crowds: Spring and fall

Plan Your Trip

MCNP is easily reached by car from Nashville (89 miles south) and Louisville (86 miles north), both of which have airports served by multiple airlines. The park is also drivable from Cincinnati (186 miles north) and Indianapolis (203 miles north). You'll find the entrance just 2-1/2 miles off of Interstate 65, so plan to arrive via that route.

Be forewarned that many GPS systems give inaccurate directions to the park, sending visitors on small roads or to the closed Green River Ferry. If coming from the south on I-65, take exit 48 Park City; if coming from the north, take exit 53 Cave City. Good signage on both routes will help you stay on course.

Going underground for a tour means going down several flights of stairs and then coming back up them to exit, so mobility is an issue at MCNP. For that reason, it's important that you check tour descriptions before booking. Plus, some tours have age and size limits and some may require carrying a lantern or crawling. Others are specifically designed for children. Booking tip: When buying tickets, know that this part of Kentucky is on Central Time, as are tour times.

Regardless of the season, weather conditions typically don't impact tours since they're underground: It's usually around 54 degrees inside the caves, whether there's a heat wave or snowstorm outside. So always wear a jacket to explore them — and wear shoes with a nonskid sole to avoid slipping.

In summer, the most popular season to visit, the park offers the most cave tours, and outdoor activities such as canoeing, fishing and kayaking are at their peak in temperatures ranging from a high of 86 to a low of 62. You'll encounter smaller crowds in spring and fall, and you can usually expect pleasant weather, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. Spring rains may cause some flooding that can temporarily limit river access, but foliage thrives on the precipitation. “I really love it here when the spring wildflowers are in bloom, but the entrance to the cave is pretty all year,” says Schroer.

You may have the park practically to yourself in winter, but you'll have fewer tours to choose from and much chillier weather in the 30s and 40s.

A ranger-led talks in the outdoor amphitheater is a good way to get context for the park's varied offerings. The talks cover topics ranging from history to wildflower identification and geology.

Admission to the park is free, and tours range in price from $6-$60. Even if you buy a ticket online, you'll check in at the visitor center near the cave entrance, which has museum-style exhibitions and historical information about the caves and their exploration, as well as a well-stocked gift shop, an outdoor pathway to the lodge and restaurants, ample parking and restrooms. Except in the caves, you should have reliable cellphone service.

Where to Stay and Eat

A convenient location just steps from the park's visitor center, cave tours and trails is the reason to settle into the Lodge at Mammoth Cave . It's not a typical national park-style lodge, but rather a collection of basic hotel rooms (some ADA accessible) and rustic, but comfortable cottages (some with multiple bedrooms) spread out in an inviting woodland area. The rooms all have air conditioning, TVs and Wi-Fi; some cottages have Wi-Fi, but none have TVs or air conditioning. Some cottages permit pets.

The park's three campgrounds are in leafy, shady locales. You'll find 111 campsites (some accessible) at the Mammoth Cave Campground (MCC), within walking distance of the visitor center, and just eight at the more secluded Maple Springs Group Campground, six miles north. Both of these campgrounds accommodate tents and RVs, though each has limited sites with electric and water hookups. (At Maple Springs, visitors can camp with their horses.) None of the 12 tent-only sites at the Houchin Ferry Campground , located 15 miles from the visitor center on the Green River, have hookups, but they have river views. All three have toilet facilities seasonally, and MCC has laundry and showers seasonally, plus an on-site store sells camping essentials. You can reserve sites at all three in advance at recreation.gov, with prices from $7.50 to $50 per night. Mammoth Cave also has two first-come, first-served sites.

For a more rugged camping experience, the park has 13 primitive backcountry campsites accessed only by hiking or horseback.

MCNP's two restaurants are in the lodge. The breakfast buffet at the Green River Grill will give you plenty of fuel for the day. The counter-service-only Spelunkers Café serves breakfast sandwiches and better-than-standard fare (burgers, sandwiches and some vegetarian options) at lunch, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Or just drop by the café for delicious ice cream from a popular local dairy.

The park has six picnic areas in relaxing settings. Look for the largest one, the Mammoth Cave Picnic Area, just north of visitor center parking. It has picnic tables, fire grates, charcoal grills, potable water and restrooms. You can also just find a secluded clearing in a forest.

Things to Do

Go underground. Like most visitors to MCNP, you came to venture down into its caves — and booking a cave tour is the only way to do that. Depending on the time of year, you may have more than a dozen ranger-led tours of varying durations, difficulty and area of focus to choose from.

Experience what it must have been like to discover the caves more than a century ago on the three-hour Violet City Lantern Tour . By lantern light, you'll see outcroppings of rock and walk steeps hills created by both man and nature, as well as petroglyphs more than 2,000 years old. But note: You must traverse 3 miles of steep inclines and declines on uneven dirt paths, with the limited lighting.

The two-hour Accessible Tour covers just 0.5 miles of terrain, none of it with stairs (you'll take an elevator down), but includes some of the caves’ most interesting geological elements. Look up in the large Snowball Room, named for the snowball-shaped calcium carbonate formations on the ceiling.

On the Historic Tour, you'll see displays about geology, sightless fish, saltpeter mines and other uses for the caves over time. Rangers usually lead this 2-mile tour, but it has been temporarily switched to self-guided during the pandemic. Rangers stationed inside tell stories and answer questions, though.

With 412 discovered miles underground, the tours take different routes and don't necessarily overlap, so book more than one — perhaps a tour heavy on history and one that highlights petroglyphs. Buy tickets in advance online to save time and make sure you get a spot, as they do sell out. You'll have more options in the summer, but also more people trying to get tickets at the same time. You'll have less competition in off-season, but also less availability.

Hike. The park has nearly 85 miles of interconnected and overlapping aboveground trails, most of them accessible by both hikers and those on horseback. In addition, mountain bikers can ride on three. Many trails tend to be steep, so always ask about difficulty level before hiking one.

For one of the steeper trails, set out on the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail , which follows the historic rail line. The 9-mile (one way), mostly gravel trail starts east of the Green River and winds its way past four cemeteries and a lovely pond, then into a meadow and through densely wooden forest.

On the 1-mile Cedar Sink Loop Trail, get a hint of cave topography without going underground — it leads to a sinkhole where you can see the kind of water that formed the caves. In spring, wildflowers fill the landscape and tree leaves turn red in fall. The walk itself is fairly easy, but 150 stairs lead down to the sinkhole.

The park recently regraded several trails, making them wheelchair-accessible. The mobility impaired will like the easy Echo River Springs Trail, which leaves from near the Green River Ferry. With the construction of a new bridge, the 1.1-mile trail will become a loop walk instead of an out-and-back one. Tactile exhibits and audio panels accommodate the seeing-impaired.

Many of the trails have lovely shade from the summer sun and nice overlooks. Meadows are dotted with wildflowers such as Eggert's Sunflower, a native plant that has been removed from the Endangered Species List because of its recovery in the wild. The 7 miles of trail around the visitor center, cave entrance, lodge and Old Guide's Cemetery have fewer inclines and more benches and places to rest.

The bulk of the park's trails (60 miles) are in the backcountry and perfect for horseback riding, a popular Mammoth Cave activity. Sign up for a guided trail ride at Double J Stables, just outside the park's northeast corner, and spend from one to two hours seeing the park from a saddle.

Paddle . Go canoeing or kayaking on the Green and Nolin rivers, which run through the park. Even on hot summer days, the rivers’ spring-fed water stays cool — usually between 72 and 75 degrees — making for a refreshing swim if you take a paddling break, says Suzanne Ochoa, Cave Country Canoe manager. Paddling adventures offered by Ochoa's company and Green River Canoeing vary in length, from three hours to two-day excursions, with senior discounts available.

The Green River, a wide river without rapids, has lots of islands where you can stop and rest. The narrower Nolin has fewer stopping points. When its water level is high, you can do a round-trip paddle (heading back upstream). “We have a lot of seniors, people in their 50s to their 70s, come out for that reason,” says Ochoa.

Fish . Do some casting in either river in hopes of reeling in bass, bluegill, catfish or muskie. Many Cave City and Park City shops stock bait and basic gear. You don't need a fishing license in the park, but there are catch limits.

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Gateway Towns

The small towns of Cave City (10 miles southeast of the park) and Park City (9 miles south) support park goers with fun attractions for keeping grandkids entertained, finding essentials that you forgot to pack, buying souvenirs and connecting with outfitters for outdoor excursions. In Cave City, give the kiddos a thrill at Dinosaur World, with its life-sized replicas of the large reptiles; and buy rocks, fossils and minerals at Big Mike's Rock Shop.

Two larger cities with less kitsch and more culture lie just a bit farther away.

In Bowling Green, 23 miles southwest of the park, take in Broadway-style plays and national musical acts at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, a plush amphitheater. The space also houses visual-art galleries worth seeing when you're at the center for a show. Dine alongside locals at Mariah's, a downtown favorite for more than three decades. Try the bacon-wrapped salmon or a brick-oven pizza. For some shut-eye, check into one of the city's reliable chain hotels, such as Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton.

In Glasgow, 21 miles southeast of the park, spend an entertaining evening at the Plaza Theatre, a restored 1934 music venue with eye-popping Mediterranean architecture. Originally built for vaudeville acts, it now hosts Americana, folk and other musical acts.

Historic homes, several now operating as B&Bs, dot the town. Hall Place Bed and Breakfast does everything in style and is within walking distance of downtown and its quaint preserved streets, where you can eat at locally owned barbecue, Italian and Mexican restaurants.

If you're coming from the north, stop in Louisville. Its connections to the sports world (think horse racing, baseball-bat making and boxing) and bourbon-making define what you'll want to do here. At the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory , tour the facility that has been manufacturing baseball bats since 1884. Also, sample Kentucky's famed whiskey on a distillery tour. Leave the driving to someone else on a guided tour with Mint Julep Experiences. You'll make select stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a collection of distilleries throughout the state. If you want to stay overnight, settle into the Brown Hotel, a city landmark since 1923, for some boxing nostalgia — the property is chock-full of artifacts from hometown boxing legend Muhammad Ali, including a set of his prize-winning gloves. At the hotel's restaurant, sink your teeth into its signature dish, the Hot Brown, an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and cheese, a variation on Welsh rarebit. Visitor tip: To sound like a local, pronounce the city's name correctly: It's “Lou-ah-vul,” not “Louis-ville."

From the south, spend time in Nashville, catching a country-music show at the Grand Ole Opry and delving deep into the genre at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum . Or visit the Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museums, both jam-packed with artifacts but small enough to explore and learn without being overwhelmed. Stay at the Russell, an East Nashville boutique hotel in a renovated church with jaw-dropping stained-glass windows in the lobby. Hotel profits benefit local homeless advocacy groups, so your night's stay helps others find somewhere to sleep.

PHOTO BY: Wangkun Jia/Alamy Stock Photo

You'll find underground rock formations like this one throughout the park's spectacular cave system.

PHOTO BY: Pat & Chuck Blackley/Alamy Stock Photo

Visitors need to book a cave tour to explore this subterranean world.

PHOTO BY: zrfphoto/Getty Images

The pathways include some steep hills, but the park offers an Accessible Tour that includes elevator access.

PHOTO BY: Tom Uhlman/Alamy Stock Photo

The Green River, a wide river without rapids, has lots of islands where paddlers can stop and rest.

PHOTO BY: EUGENIO ROIG/Alamy Stock Photo

Give the kiddos a thrill at Dinosaur World, with its life-sized replicas of the large reptiles, in Cave City.

PHOTO BY: Joe Tabb/Alamy Stock Photo

A sandstone arch is among the park's many aboveground sights that can be viewed along nearly 85 miles of trails.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on October 23, 2020. It's been updated to reflect recent COVID-19 developments.

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World of Caves

UnderGround Cave Adventures Await

Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)

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Beginning to form more than 10 million years ago, Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world . There are more than 400 miles of caves running under Kentucky, and that is just what has been mapped.

Mammoth Cave is one of the Natural Wonders of the United States, alongside Niagara Falls, Hawaii Volcano Natural Park, Devil’s Tower, Old Faithful, Crater Lake, and Death Valley

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Mammoth Cave was created by limestone erosion, also known as karst topography . During this process, rain and rivers dissolve and shape soft limestone, creating a vast system of caves.

Fun fact: Karst Aquifers like Mammoth Cave provide drinking water for about 40% of the entire U.S. population.

How Big is Mammoth Cave?

While the surface of Mammoth Cave National Park covers nearly 80 square miles, no one knows how big the underside is. The cave system is five levels and more than 365 miles of it has been mapped, though new caves are always being discovered.

Mammoth Cave Tours

Over 2 million people visit Mammoth Cave National Park every year. About 1/4 of those people take a cave tour . 10 miles of passages are available for tours.

There are many different tour options to explore the caves at Mammoth Cave National Park, ranging in the time it takes (2-6 hours in length) as well as the difficulty of the tours. These tours are perfect to get out of the humid Kentucky heat. Park rangers lead these tours.

Frozen Niagara Tour is not only the most popular, but is the perfect tour for those with trouble walking, or just don’t like having to hike to see the caves. 

The Frozen Niagara tour is a very steep walk up and down a paved road, but it’s only a quarter of a mile and there are several benches along the way.

Mammoth Cave Accessibility Tour is another cave tour perfect for those who cannot climb stairs, or have difficulty walking. Drive your car to the elevator entrance, and take the elevator down to the cave.

The paths are concrete and fairly level for wheelchairs and scooters. Bring your own flashlight, as the path isn’t very well lit. This is a two-hour tour with a maximum distance of a quarter of a mile. 

The only downfall to this tour is that it caps at 14 people, and can be canceled at any time if the elevator malfunctions, as this is the sole mode of transportation into the cave for those with wheelchairs.

Historic Tour is a two-hour, two-mile tour that dives deep within the caves to show the beauty behind this National Park. This tour is paved, and you don’t see as many formations as on the other tours.

Although this is a moderate hike, it is not for the faint of heart, as there are 540 stairs and only one way through. In addition, if you’re tall you will need to duck quite a bit, and some sections are so narrow your knees will touch as you squeeze through.

Domes and Dripstones Tour is a route for the science lover. It goes down about 250 feet and is tight in some spots. At 2 hours and ¾ of a mile, this gives visitors the perfect opportunity to view stalactites and stalagmites. 

The only issue some may have with this route is the 540 stairs that it takes to get underground, but this tour is perfect in the summer, as it is cooler at this depth.

Violet City Lantern Tour is not for a family with children. This tour has an age restriction as it is longer, and more unsteady with no lights except the lanterns that are carried. 

The Violet City Lantern Tour is a 3 hour, 3-mile hike into a historical cave that has been around for centuries. Unfortunately, this cave does not have a restroom as it is still in its natural state, so go to the bathroom topside before you head down.

Great Onyx Lantern Tour, separate from the Violet City Lantern Tour, is a longer passage for the science lover as there are many unique rock formations in this cave. 

This cave tour is less than 2 and a half hours long, and is only a mile long, but does have an age restriction of 6 years old. 

Gothic Avenue Tour is for the historian in the group. This tour has many beautiful formations in a museum-like area, with artifacts left behind from those who have once traveled through this area. The Gothic Avenue tour is 2 hours, and a mile and a half long.

River Styx Tour is perfect for those who want to see the formation of the cave, and who don’t mind getting their feet a bit wet. In this tour, you can observe the many years of wear on the walls, and see what’s left of the water still in the cave. The River Styx Tour is geared towards those who love natural history. This tour is 2 and a half hours, and 2 miles long.

Mammoth Cave Tour Prices and Discounts  

Although the park itself is free to get into, there are many affordable tours to give a more in-depth look into the caves, as well as the opportunity to camp on site.

• The Frozen Niagara Tour is $14 for adults and $10 for children or $7 for pass holders
• The Historic Tour is $17 for adults and $12 for children or $8.50 for pass holders
• The Domes and Dripstones Tour is $17 for adults and $12 for children for $8.50 for pass holders
• The Gothic Avenue Tour is $15 for adults and $10 for children or $7.50 for pass holders.
• The Great Onyx Lantern Tour is $20 for adults and $15 for children or $10 for pass holders
• The Violet City Lantern Tour is $15 for adults and $10 for children or $10 for pass holders
• The River Styx Tour is $18 for adults and $13 for children or $9 for pass holders

Is Mammoth Cave Cold?

It’s a cool (or cold, if you’re from Arizona) 54 degrees year-round inside the cave. In the “variable temperature zones” close to the entrances, wind chills in winter can dip below freezing, or temperatures can rise to around 60°.

What to Wear

No matter which tour you take, be sure to wear hiking boots or good shoes with nonskid soles. Bring a jacket, because it’s chilly underground.

IMPORTANT: In an effort to prevent more deaths from White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), clothing, footwear, and handheld items that have previously been worn in caves or mines in certain areas may not be brought into Mammoth Cave .

White-Nose Syndrome is a disease in bats that is tragically killing bats by the millions. Read more about why bats are so vital to our lives here.

Mammoth Cave Hours

Hours vary by day and season; see a full list here . Reservations are strongly encouraged during the summer months and on holidays, including weekends in the Spring and Fall.

Mammoth Cave Kentucky is on Central time, so be sure to plan accordingly if you’re coming from another time zone!

What to do at Mammoth Cave (besides tours)

Don’t skip the tour, because you’ll definitely regret it, but there are other activities at Mammoth Cave National Park. You can hike and ride horses on more than 70 miles of trails. Much like at other National Parks, you can also fish, canoe, camp, and picnic.

Mammoth Cave Horse Riding

North of the Green River, you’ll find sixty miles of trails open for horseback riding. You may park your trailer at Lincoln Trailhead, Maple Springs Trailhead, or across the road from the Maple Springs Campground bulletin board. The trails at Mammoth Cave National Park are well-marked and well-maintained.

Download the free horseback riding trail map , courtesy of NPS.

Mammoth Cave Camping

Most campsites at Mammoth Caves National Park are $20 a site, and the VIP campsites that are a lot nicer are $50. If you are planning to bring your horses along, you can get an equestrian campsite for $25.

To reserve a campsite, go online or call the National Park Reservation Service at (877)444-6777.

More to do at Mammoth Cave National Park

This beautiful park features more than 52,000 acres, meaning the possibilities are endless when finding things to do:

• The Big Woods : get a glimpse of the uncut forest of Old Kentucky.
• Turnhole Bend : the “turnhole”, once used by riverboat pilots to turn around in the narrow river.
• Good Spring Church: A silent sanctuary that echoes memories of a past community.

No matter what you plan to do at Mammoth Cave, take a few days to explore… it’s worth it!

Best Time to Visit Mammoth Caves

The average temperature inside Mammoth Cave is 54 degrees year-round. Even with the air temps in Kentucky dropping into the lower 30’s during the winter, the temperatures in the cave only fluctuate slightly. This means that it is warmer in the cave than it is outside during the winter and cooler in the cave during the summer months.

Camping at Mammoth Caves National Park is open all year long. So plan your trip today and enjoy a tour of the most famous cave system in the world.

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How to Get to Mammoth Cave

The best way to describe how to get to Mammoth Cave is from their website .

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.

Do not rely exclusively on your GPS or Google Maps™ to get you to the park Visitor Center in time for your Cave Tour. Follow the directions above.

Hotels Near Mammoth Cave

Not a fan of camping? There are several hotels within a short drive of Mammoth Cave.

Places To Stay Nearby

History of mammoth cave.

The majority of the mapping at Mammoth Cave was done by slaves. Public tours of Mammoth Cave started in the early 1800s. Slaves led tours as early as 1830.

Stephen Bishop

Stephen Bishop, a freed slave, worked in Mammoth Cave from 1838 until 1856. Bishop crossed a frightening landmark now known as the Bottomless Pit , to discover unmapped areas of this cave system with nothing more than a flickering lard-oil lamp to guide his way.

During the War of 1812, slaves were used to mine saltpeter from the sediment in the cave. Saltpeter was used to create gunpowder.

Stephen Bishop was unquestionably one of the greatest explorers Mammoth Cave has ever known. He was in his late teens when he was brought to Mammoth Cave in 1838. He learned the toured routes from white guides Joe Shackelford and Archibald Miller Jr. However, Stephen Bishop ventured beyond the toured areas and discovered many miles of the Mammoth Cave no eye had ever seen. The gateway for modern exploration of the cave could be attributed to Stephen’s crossing of a deep vertical shaft known as the Bottomless Pit. (Source)

Bishop, who took the name of his previous master, is buried near the cave entrance in the Old Guide’s Cemetery, along with several of his family members.

Learn more: Journey to the Bottomless Pit, the Story of Stephen Bishop & Mammoth Cave

Underground Tuberculosis Hospital

The cemetery also holds the remains of several Tuberculosis patients that passed there. In the early 19th century, the owner of the cave, Dr. Croghan, established an underground tuberculosis hospital. He believed the steady temperature and humidity would heal their lungs. Patients lived in the small stone structures inside the cave, with canvas roofs.

Unfortunately, the experiment was a failure and that was evident within just a few months. A few years later, Dr. Croghan himself died of TB. You can view the structures where the patients lived if you take the Violet City Lantern Tour.

Stalactites  form when water containing dissolved calcium bicarbonate from the limestone rock drips from the ceiling of a cave. As the water comes into contact with the air, some of the calcium bicarbonate precipitates back into limestone to form a tiny ring, which gradually elongates to form a stalactite. (Source)

Geological Cave Formations in Mammoth Cave

There are several cave formations you will see when you visit this cave, most notably:

• stalactites
• stalagmites
• travertine dams
• gypsum formations

You could spend a week in Mammoth Cave National Park and see and learn more than you could ever imagine!

Wildlife in Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to over 70 threatened or endangered species, including birds, crustaceans, fish, insects, mammals, mussels, reptiles, and plants.

More than 130 species of animals live in the Mammoth Cave system. Currently, 12 species of bats live within the caves. Bats species include the Indiana Bat and the Eastern Pipistrelle Bat, both of which are endangered.

Mammoth Caves National Park is home to the largest colony of bats in the United States , but unfortunately, the numbers have been dwindling. There is a disease called the white-nose disease which is a fungus that grows on the skin of bats and has wiped out 90% of the bats at Mammoth Caves.

Aside from bats, it is also home to fish that have adapted to being underground. Some of the unique fish species found in the cave are Indiana Eyeless Crayfish, Southern Cave Fish, and Albino Shrimp.

Due to the lack of light, many species of fish have developed a white color, and many are being bred without eyes as a form of evolution. Because these fish cannot see, they have adapted to utilize their sense of smell and hearing to survive, rendering their eyes useless.

The Mammoth Caves National Park is a great place to explore a natural exhibit, go camping, and enjoy the outdoors. It’s cheap and a great way to sneak away from work and life for a week with family and friends.

Download our FREE Mammoth Cave Guide (Unofficial)

Is mammoth cave haunted.

One of the most frequently asked questions about Mammoth Cave is if it’s haunted or not. Many deaths have happened in this cave system, though the exact number of deaths is unknown.

Mummified remains have been found in different areas of the cave, along with pottery, primitive tools, and other remnants of the past .

In 1925, Floyd Collins became trapped (and died) while mapping out a previously unexplored area of Mammoth Cave (the “lonely sandstone cave”). Several slaves and TB patients also died in this cave.

Mammoth Cave is considered one of the most haunted places in the world! Many have claimed they sense spirits when visiting.

Visiting Mammoth Cave

Still, need more information before visiting? Call (270)758-2180 or email the NPS for an information packet.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

9 thoughts on “ Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (Tours, Pricing, History, Map) ”

[…] broken barbed wire, but you don’t even need to climb over it to get to the cave. There are no tours with this cave, as most likely there will be nobody in sight when you arrive. With that being said, if you do […]

[…] a week, the brewery is closed to allow for the owners to focus on the history of the caves, and give tours for $10 a person. Over the past 2 years, they have taken about 40,000 people on a […]

[…] it was not until a few years later that the cave was toured and discovered more in full. There was a newspaper ad searching for explorers, and five women […]

[…] process of the acid in the groundwater slowly breaking it down. We have talked about other Karst Caves like Mammoth Cave National Park, of […]

[…] Mammoth Cave […]

[…] is the historic candle-lit lantern tour through an undeveloped section of the cave on unpaved trails. If you are visually challenged, you need to know it might be too dim […]

[…] over 300 miles of underground trails, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the […]

This is a great guide! I’m from Kentucky and have been to Mammoth Cave a few times, but this will be my first time taking a tour. I’m excited to learn more!

Have fun! 🙂

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Alerts in effect, more than a cave.

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 Reserve.

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Mammoth Cave National Park is more than just the home to the longest cave system in the world. It is a place for hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, and camping on over 52,000 acres in south central Kentucky. Get inspired to plan your next vacation to Mammoth Cave National Park.

See all there is to do at Mammoth Cave!

Plan your Mammoth Cave experience

Learn about women's role at Mammoth Cave through the ages.

Join us for a ranger-led program on the surface.

Learn how to plan a trip to see the park in bloom!

Three campgrounds and over 13 backcountry sites await campers at Mammoth Cave.

Stay in comfort a short distance from the entrance to Mammoth Cave.

Description of Accessible Cave Tours, Ranger Walks & Talks, and Self-Guided Adventures

Explore over 80 miles of trails in the park.

Plan your trip along the Green and Nolin Rivers.

Hit the trails and experience the park on two wheels.

Half the park is after dark!

Fishing regulations and more.

Those who love to see the world from horseback are in luck! Explore 60 miles of backcountry trails suitable for many skills and ages.

Discover whats beneath your feet.

Join a park ranger as they take you on a audio tour of Mammoth Cave.

Last updated: March 27, 2024

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P.O. Box 7 Mammoth Cave, KY 42259-0007

270 758-2180

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Description

Ranger-led cave tours draw hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to the park each year. Participants on a cave tour will be treated to stunning geological formations and processes, as well as complex stories of human history dating back over 5,000 years, all inside the worlds longest cave system. 

Joining a guided cave tour is the only way to see inside Mammoth Cave and the other toured caves in the park, Great Onyx Cave and Wondering Woods Cave. 

For more information on cave tour descriptions, tour schedule, and ticket fees, visit the park website. 

Know Before You Go

Things to leave behind.

To ensure the safety of all visitors and the continued protection of Mammoth Cave the following items are not permitted on cave tours:

• Flash photography (photography is allowed if the flash is turned off)
• Child backpack carriers (front packs are permitted)
• Tripods/Monopods
• Walking sticks
• Metal framed backpacks and backpacks that are higher than the shoulder or that are of a length that extends below the hips (i.e. large trekking backpacks)
• Firearms or other weapons
• Pets (Day use kennels at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave are available for rent. Learn more about  pets in the park. )

Mammoth Cave is for Everyone

During the spring and fall seasons the park is a very popular destination for school trips and other parties. As a result, your tour may include other group(s) of various ages.

Dress Appropriately

You may wish to bring a light jacket during your tour. Cave temperatures can vary widely near entrances (especially in winter), deep cave temperature is 54ºF (12ºC) while surface temperatures in the summer can exceed 90ºF (32ºC).

Cave Tour Accessibility

Visitors with limited mobility may find some cave tours too strenuous. Please review cave tour descriptions and consider your limitations when choosing which tour to participate on.

For members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, assisted listening devices and sign language interpreter services are available with advanced arrangements.

The park is committed to providing accessible options for all visitors. Learn more about  accessibility in the park.

Getting Here

When traveling to the park for a cave tour, plan for adequate travel time to the visitor center to arrive around 30 minutes before the start of your scheduled tour. This will allow for time to find parking, pick up your physical paper tour tickets and time to use the restroom.

Do not rely on your mobile GPS or web based mapping applications. These services often lead visitors off track onto routes requiring river crossings via ferry or onto narrow winding roads not suitable for large vehicles. More information about  travel directions to the park  are available.

37.18724955210998, -86.1012530861735

Location Description

All cave tours start and end at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center.

Accessibility Information

The difficulty of cave tours vary from easy, moderate, or difficult. Most tours include paved walking trails. Many of the tours also include several hundred stair steps.    Service animals are welcome.   More information about accessibility in the park is available.  

Additional Information

• Age(s) Info Most cave tours accommodate all ages*. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. *Age limitations are in place on crawling cave tours: The Trog Tour, ages 8 to 12 years.  Introduction to Caving, ages 10 years and up. Wild Cave Tour, ages 16 years and up. 
• Duration 1-6 Hours
• Duration Info Tour lengths vary. More information about the tour duration and distance is available by visiting the cave tour description page. 
• Guided Tours
• Reservation Required
• No Pets Allowed
• Fee Required

Reservations Information

Reservations are highly recomended. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.

Fee(s) Information

Fees vary for each cave tour. Visit the park website for a full list of park fees. 

Season(s) Description

Tour schedule varies by seasons. Check the current cave tour schedule of tour offerings for the dates of your visit to the park. 

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DIAMOND CAVERNS

Discovered 1859 – rediscovered daily, cave – gift & rock shoppe – gem mining, 1900 mammoth cave parkway, park city, ky, 270-749-2233.

For over 160 years Historic Diamond Caverns has offered tours of Kentucky’s most beautiful cave. Intricate drapery deposits line the halls with thousands of stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone deposits throughout the entire tour. Knowledgeable guides explain the unique geology and fascinating history of the cave during the one hour long guided tour. The cave is presented by a state-of-the-art lighting system with modern concrete trails and safety hand railings throughout. Browse the caverns gift shop featuring Kentucky Collection crafts, rocks, minerals, fossils, souvenirs, books and more.

Open year-round. I-65 at Exit 48

http://diamondcaverns.com

ONYX CAVE & ROCK SHOP

93 huckleberry knob road, 270-773-2323, seasonal hours: march through december.

Onyx Cave offers 30-minute cave tours, your underground experience includes views of beautiful cave coral, a wall of cave bacon, and a 40′ tall column. Cave tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable guides that will point out the many cave formations. There are few stairs and the cave stays at a cool 60 degrees year-round! Photography is allowed and encouraged. Browse the Onyx Cave Rock Shop for a variety of minerals, rocks, fossils, jewelry, home décor and paintings by local artists. Don’t forget to purchase bag of gems for gem mining in our unique sluice.

www.onyxcave.com

OUTLAW CAVE

Jesse james riding stables & outlaw cave, 3057 mammoth cave rd, 270-773-2560.

OUTLAW CAVE offers a 35-minute non-strenuous, guided tour filled with beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and other breath taking formations. Area legend has it that famous outlaws such as Jesse James, hid out in OUTLAW CAVE and as well as other area caves. A tour in OUTLAW CAVE is perfect for the whole family, where its short length, few stairs, and affordability makes it easily accessible to all. OUTLAW CAVE offers a lantern tour daily as well as normal tours. Outlaw Cave is part of  Jesse James Riding Stables and Mini-Golf. Open Seasonally – For rates or reservations please call 270-773-2560.

CRYSTAL ONYX Cave

Show cave, gift/rock shop, gem panning, picnic area, 425 prewitt’s knob rd, 270-773-3377.

Crystal Onyx offers 2 separate 1 hour, 1/2 mile, unscripted guided tours of one of the regions most beautiful formation filled caves. Focusing on family, fun, education & entertainment. Crystal Onyx is family owned and operated with a unique ‘route 66’ above ground theme. Many photo ops are available with statues & oddities nestled in a secluded woodland setting, high atop the knob. The caves meandering trails have recently been renovated with groomed crushed limestone, new stairs, bridges, handrails and are exceptionally well lit. Reservations are available but not necessary. Crystal Onyx Cave is a seasonal attraction, Trip Advisor calls us Cave City’s #1 Tourist Attraction several years in a row!  I-65 exit 53, 3 miles east, come see us at CRYSTAL ONYX Cave, established in 1960. Open Seasonally –  call 270-773-3377.

www.crystalonyxcaveky.com

HIDDEN RIVER CAVE

Cave – american cave museum – gift shop – gem mining, 119 e main st, horse cave, ky, 270-786-1466.

Guided tours descend 150′ underground. View the remains of a turn of the century hydroelectric system, walk above the Hidden River and witness awe-inspiring chambers. Walk across the longest swinging bridge to see Sunset Dome!

Cave tours last 45-60 minutes and are scheduled upon visitation; roughly 45 minutes apart. Reservations not required. Visitors descend and climb 230 stairs and navigate an outside trail. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. The American Cave Museum is a self-guided museum with two floors of exhibits dealing with caves, groundwater and pollution. OPEN YEAR-ROUND

www.hiddenrivercave.com

MAMMOTH CAVE

World’s longest cave – over 400 miles, 270-758-2180.

Mammoth Cave National Park was established to preserve the cave system, including Mammoth Cave, the scenic river valleys of the Green and Nolin rivers, and and hilly karst terrain typical of south central Kentucky. Beneath the sandstone-capped ridges of Mammoth Cave National Park lies the most extensive cave system on earth, with over 400 miles of passageway mapped and surveyed. And yet after 5,000 years of intermittent exploration, the full extent of this water-formed labyrinth remains a mystery. Join us on this journey. You do need advance reservations for Cave Tours. Exit 48 off I-65. Open Year-Round.

http://www.nps.gov/maca

LOST RIVER CAVE

Kentucky’s only underground boat tour, 2818 nashville rd, bowling green, ky, 270-393-0077.

Lost River Cave has one of the largest cave openings in the Eastern United States. The cave has a long rich history including Native American Indians, Civil War encampment, power generation, milling and an “Underground Nite Club”.

A Tour of the Cave and Valley includes a 20-minute Historical River Walk to the Cave opening emphasizing history, geology/hydrology, and folklore; followed by a 20-to-25 minute Boat Tour into the cave. The boat tour enables the visitor to view the large rooms of the cave and its other interesting features. Open Year-Round – I-65 at Exit 22

www.lostrivercave.org

Carlsbad Caverns vs. Mammoth Cave: Which is Better?

When comparing Carlsbad Caverns to Mammoth Cave, it can be difficult to determine which of these national parks is better.

While both have incredible caves at the heart of the parks, each one has its own specific reasons why you should visit.

My family and I have explored both, so I’m breaking down everything you need to know about each park below, including highlights of what to see and do, which tours to take, and more.

With Mammoth Cave National Park located in Cave City, Kentucky, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, you’ve got options on both sides of the United States!

Let’s dive into what these cave-based parks have in common, and what makes each of them stand out.

Highlights in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Located in southeastern New Mexico—just a few miles from the Texas border—Carlsbad Caverns offers up incredible hiking above ground in the Chihuahuan Desert and miles of pathways 600 feet below the ground.

While your Carlsbad Caverns itinerary needs a full 2 days to truly appreciate the entire national park, the heart of this property is in its intricate caverns.

NOTE: You will need a reservation to enter the caverns, a process that comes with a $1 fee per person. This fee is in addition to your entrance fee and any tours you choose to go on.

Desert Beauty in an Ancient Seabed

It’s hard to believe now, but this area of New Mexico was once covered in water.

Back when the continents were squished together in Pangea, that sea was somewhere near the equator.

The salty, warm sea ultimately created a massive reef, which eventually fossilized, leaving behind the incredible formations that we can now tour inside Carlsbad Caverns.

While the cave was officially discovered by Jim White in the late 1890s, this expanse of desert had been occupied for more than 14,000 years by local Native American tribes, meaning that the park has a rich history .

White, who was a teenager at the time of his discovery, was a pioneer in New Mexico caving, and is largely responsible for bringing tourism to this cave.

Even today, that spirit of exploration continues for visitors who choose to walk the same route as White’s first journey into the cave.

That walk into the Natural Entrance of the cave provides some scale as to the vastness of this place, and it is an excellent way to start your visit to the caverns.

Exploring the Park

Carlsbad Caverns has plenty to do above and below ground, so plan to spend 1-2 full days here.

If you’re just interested in the caves, you should do the self-guided tour of the Big Room and the Natural Entrance.

These tours provide a great overview of the layout of the caverns and allow you to see the gorgeous and intricate cave formations here.

I’d also highly recommend the Carlsbad Caverns King’s Palace Tour , which (at the time of this writing) was the only ranger-led tour available at the national park.

This 1.5 hour tour gives you access to areas off-limits to the self-guided tour folks, and you’ll have an experienced and knowledgeable ranger to share fascinating details about the cave’s history, biology, geology and more.

There are several excellent surface hikes, the Bat Flight program, and the Junior Ranger program.

The closest town is Carlsbad, New Mexico, which offers up a variety of restaurants, shops, and big box stores.

If you have another day or two, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is just across the Texas-New Mexico border!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Kids

While both Carlsbad Caverns and Mammoth Cave are both fascinating for kids, we found that Carlsbad Caverns had a bit more of a wow factor to it.

This is largely because of the sheer number of stalactites and stalagmites that decorate every inch of this cave.

The Big Room in particular is stunning in its vastness and rock formations: this room alone has a 1.5 mile loop trail, where you’ll see cave pools, rock formations, draperies, and more.

Yet, this cave is incredibly accessible, meaning that families with small children and those with disabilities can still explore fully.

The entire self-guided tour has a wide, paved path with clearly marked handrails and signage.

I found this tour to be one of the most accessible in all of the national parks that we’ve toured so far.

To get to the Big Room, you have 2 choices:

You can choose to go down elevators through several hundred feet of bedrock, which is an adventure of its own for younger kids, or

You can walk the 1.25 miles down through the Natural Entrance. For older kids who don’t mind the extra walking, this is the way to go thanks to the awe-inspiring (and huge!) entrance into the side of the cliff face.

Other kid-friendly things to do here include the excellent ranger program, the interactive visitors center exhibits, and the short surface walks.

Best of all, we found many other things to do in and near Carlsbad, New Mexico, for my family when we were outside of the park.

One of our favorites was exploring Lake Brantley State Park, which has one of the best campgrounds in New Mexico !

Highlights in Mammoth Cave National Park

Over on the other side of the United States is Mammoth Cave National Park, which is hidden away in pine-covered hills just off of I-65.

Located about halfway between Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, this beautiful national park is a great road trip stop or a long weekend destination from either city.

Mammoth Cave National Park is such an important site that it was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, providing further protections for this national park.

Much like Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll need 2 days to full appreciate this area, but Mammoth Cave can be done in 1 day if you’re in a rush.

NOTE: You do NOT need a reservation time for this national park at the time of this writing. You will need to pay the entrance fee and for any tours you plan to go on.

You’ll need to book those tours ahead of time to ensure that you get the time, date, and tour that’s best for your family.

History in the Rolling Hills of Kentucky

Unlike Carlsbad Caverns which was never used directly for human habitation, Mammoth Cave National Park has been in use by humans since at least 5,000 BCE.

During that time, native tribes used it for shelter, for mining, and for food preservation.

When the first Europeans made contact with the cave, they continued to explore the massive underground caverns and to seek out new ways to use the resources they found within.

Today, visitors can walk in the footsteps of all of these explorers on the self-guided tour or one of the many ranger-led tours.

While this cave doesn’t have the massive entrance that Carlsbad Caverns has, the descent down into the dark cave mouth is still fascinating.

All of the tours begin here and require visitors to walk down several sets of steep stone stairs.

Unlike Carlsbad Caverns, Mammoth Cave has many areas that aren’t great for very young children or those with mobility issues.

The stairs at the entrance and exit points are both steep (and numerous!), and several passages, including the Fat Man’s Misery, are impassable for those who can’t manuever their way through tight passages.

Visiting during the spring and fall are the best times as the crowds are lighter and the weather is perfect for those surface hikes.

October visits also have the added bonus of gorgeous fall foliage through this area of Kentucky.

The closest town to Mammoth Cave National Park is Cave City, Kentucky. While it is small, it offers up several chain hotels, a few restaurants, and the historic Wigwam Village motel , which is our choice for where to stay.

Kids will also enjoy the nearby Dinosaur World, which is kitschy in the best way.

Mammoth Cave National Park with Kids

Instead of—or in addition to—the self-guided tour, you’re going to want to take a ranger-led tour while at Mammoth Cave.

We love doing these walks with the rangers at national parks because the experience provides so much history, science, and culture that just isn’t possible with a brochure and signage.

The best Mammoth Cave tour for kids is the Historic Tour, which my family and I loved.

On this tour, your ranger guide will show you many fascinating features of the cave, including the Bottomless Pit, the old saltpeter mining equipment, the treacherous path taken by the earliest European explorers, and Fat Man’s Misery.

The 2 hour tour allows families to go in depth within the cave’s history without letting kids get too fidgety.

Elsewhere in the park, kids should complete the free Junior Ranger program to earn a badge—a favorite of the Camping Kiddos!

We also enjoyed the beautifully done interpretive exhibits in the visitors center, which is well worth a half an hour or so.

If the weather is nice, head out onto one of the many surface trails that crisscross the park to get a feel for what this area is like above and below ground.

Final Thoughts: Carlsbad Caverns vs. Mammoth Cave

Since both national parks are incredible, much of your decision will come down to your choice of location. Would you rather explore an otherworldly, remote desert location or a more conveniently located forested location?

Of the two cave systems, Carlsbad Caverns is the more visually stunning, thanks to the vast number of intricate rock formations.

Carlsbad Caverns also wins for the best cave entrance, thanks to the massive Natural Entrance.

Plus, Carlsbad Caverns has the Bat Flight program , which is unique. While Mammoth Cave has more than a dozen types of bats that live there, you’ll only find the nightly bat flight at Carlsbad Caverns during the late spring and summer.

Mammoth Cave, however, truly lives up to its name, particularly in areas like the Rotunda Room, which could easily fit several houses inside of it with room to spare.

Mammoth Cave has fewer stalactites and stalagmites than Carlsbad Caverns, but the rock features—and the sheer vastness of the caves—more than makes up for that lack of decoration.

Mammoth Cave also has a longer human history timeline, which could be a consideration for those more interested in the historical over the geological.

I appreciated that Mammoth Cave had more ranger-led tours available, but I’m also hoping that Carlsbad Caverns will reinstate more of their programs in the coming years.

We loved the difference experience we had at both of these incredible national parks, and I hope that you’ll be able to visit one—or both—of these with your family soon!

Discovery Self-Guided

Mammoth Cave National Park Tours

Please note that tour is NOT always offered. This tour is typically offered Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please call the visitor center at 270-758-2180 on the day of your visit to check its availability. Many people visiting Mammoth Cave ask, “May we visit the cave without a guided tour?” The answer is yes! This self-guided tour requires a ticket, and proceeds into the Historic Entrance. Focusing on early history and prehistory of the cave, this section of cave houses many great artifacts. This tour is ideal for people wanting to move at their own pace or are looking for a cave experience without much time commitment. This tour is the self-guided version of the guided Mammoth Passage Tour. 

Tour will be offered daily between 10:00 and 2:00 for the months of June and July only. These are unlimited tickets only sold the day of.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

All tours begin at the Visitor Center. When tickets are sold, the time on the tickets will be the last time you can enter the cave. This tour has designated multiple hours that you can enter the cave, between the time you bought the ticket and the last time being the one displayed on your ticket. Please do not wait until the last minute to use the ticket.

No advanced reservations accepted for the Discovery Self-Guided. Offered as visitation warrants. Call the Park at 270-758-2180 the day of your visit to check availability.

Includes a steep outdoor hillside trail to and from the cave’s Historic Entrance.

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the central time zone and observes daylight savings time.

Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Google Maps, or similar automated navigation systems to get to the park Visitor Center in time for your cave tour. Routes can be misleading and incorrect. Directions 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. Directions 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.

Children 5 and under do not require a reservation or ticket. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older on all tours. Interagency Senior and Interagency Access ticket pricing applies to Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Pass holders only. The Interagency Annual Pass is NOT accepted for tours or camping.

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