Mammoth Cave
FOREST · KY

Mammoth Cave

National Park
RANKED #49 OF 64 · COMPOSITE RANKING

The Details

The world's longest known cave system — over 400 miles of passages — beneath the rolling Kentucky karst hills.

STATE
KY
ESTABLISHED
1941
AREA
54k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Forest

When To Visit

Best Time To Visit

MONTH BY MONTH
BEST TIME TO GO

The cave stays about 54°F all year, so any season works. Spring and fall are the most pleasant above ground, and winter tours are quieter.

J
F
M
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M
J
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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS

Summer and holiday weekends sell out cave tours — reserve ahead.

WEATHER

Above ground, summers are hot and humid and winter ice can close trails. Heavy spring rains can flood the Green River.

General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.

How Far

Park Entrances

SET YOUR LOCATION
Every entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →

Nearest Airports

ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARK
BWG
Bowling Green–Warren CountyNEAREST
≈ 29 mi · ~35 min drive to Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →
SDF
Louisville Muhammad Ali Intl
≈ 89 mi · ~1.8 hr drive to Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →
BNA
Nashville Intl
≈ 100 mi · ~2 hr drive to Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →

Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.

What To Do

Top Things To Do

◆Take a ranger-led cave tour (book ahead)
◆Hike the Green River Bluffs trail
◆Paddle the Green River
◆Look for cave-adapted wildlife on the tour

Where To Stay

Camping

Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.

FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗

Lodging & Nearby Towns

INSIDE THE PARK
Mammoth Cave Hotel
GATEWAY TOWNS
Cave CityPark CityBrownsville

Cool Facts & Figures

By The Numbers

#48
LARGEST OF 64
#27
OLDEST OF 64
54,012
ACRES
85
YEARS PROTECTED
◆At more than 400 surveyed miles, it is the longest known cave system in the world.
◆It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Links

Plan Your Visit

OFFICIAL & TRUSTED SITES
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