Mammoth Cave National Park Guide
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in Kentucky. It is the largest cave system in the world, stretching over 400 miles long! It’s so big that most of it hasn’t even been explored yet! This Mammoth Cave Guide gives you tips to planning ahead and making your trip a memorable one!
Because the inside of the cave is constantly around 54 degrees, this park is open year round! There are many different tours available to explore different parts and learn about different aspects of the cave system. There is no wrong choice in tours, but you must book in advance as they do fill up! If you’re going to be in the area for more than 1 day, look into doing multiple Mammoth Cave tours in different areas of the cave.
Note: Mammoth Cave is in Central Daylight Time (GMT-5). If you are traveling from a distance, factor in the time change to make sure you get to your tour on time!
Read More about some recommended tours of Mammoth Cave in our guide below:
Frozen Niagara Tour
This is a nice short and sweet tour that shows you the beauty of the cave. It is rich in stalagmites, which is what people normally imagine when they think of caves. You will take a short bus ride over to another part of the park to go into another entrance of the park for this tour.
River Styx Cave Tour
This tour covers the entire Historic Tour Route, but instead of history, it focuses on the geology and the rocks in the cave. The tour also takes you to an underground river that can only be seen with flashlights and lanterns (they provide). This tour is great for someone interested in geology!
Historic Tour
The Historic Tour is a classic tour takes you through the tunnels and areas of the cave that have been travelled for thousands of years. This tour is great for someone who is interested in history. That being said, this can be a large tour with up to 110 people, so if you want a smaller experience, check out some of the other tours!
Tickets for Mammoth Cave Tours
Book your tickets here: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234640?tab=tours
Tickets are available up to 6 months in advance, and tours do change for the seasons.
Green River Ferry
The Green River Ferry is the last remaining active ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park. It shuttles cars, bikers, and hikers across the river and is open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas). If you plan to use the ferry to get to the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center, check the status of the Ferry on https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/cave-tours.htm. Due to low water level, the ferry may not be able to run.
Things to Leave at Home
Some of the sections of Mammoth Cave National Park are narrow, and the cave is also home to bats. Due to this, the follow items are NOT permitted, so leave these items at home or in your car: flash photography, child backpack carriers (front carriers permitted), strollers, firearms, and tripods.