Hi there! Are you ready to plan a phenomenal trip to Mammoth Cave National Park?! Explore the massive underground terrain of the world’s largest known cave system! You are sure to find something here that everyone in your group will LOVE.
Mammoth Cave is a place unlike any other — and likely somewhere you will talk about for years to come. Known as a “grand, gloomy, and peculiar place,” this mysterious system of rooms and passageways is sure to peak your imagination and sense of adventure!
There is so much to do. You may have already looked at a map and been a little overwhelmed — and eager — to make sure that you don’t miss the best sights.
I’m a former park ranger, and I’ll help you plan your vacation down to the details. I’ve extensively explored Mammoth Cave National Park and am here to help! Whether this is your first time to the cave, or if you are returning after many years and would like to be reintroduced to the park, this list of 8 things is for you.
What You Need to Know About Mammoth Cave National Park
- Mammoth Cave is massive! In fact, with 400 miles explored and more to be discovered, it’s the world’s largest known cave system. Ranger-led tours are offered year-round so anytime is a good time to go. For more information on the park’s operating hours and seasons, click here.
- Unfortunately, a devastating disease called white-nose syndrome has been found in the Mammoth Cave bat population. To prevent it from spreading, your shoes will be cleaned at the end of each tour. The clothes/shoes you wear in Mammoth Cave should not be worn in any other caves in the future.
- There is one lodge, two restaurants, and three campgrounds in the park. To make lodging reservations or to learn more about your options, click here.
- To preserve the cave, a few things are not permitted on the cave tours. A tripod, a metal-framed backpack, a child backpack carrier, or any of these items cannot be brought inside the cave.
- People often miss cave tours because a GPS doesn’t give reliable directions to the visitor center! Follow these directions to avoid taking backroads or having to cross the river on a ferry.
I’ll make sure that you don’t miss the most popular sights, but I also want to provide a few treasures that are off the beaten path as well. Let the adventure begin!
Click NEXT to see this awesome list of 8 things you can’t miss on your first visit to Mammoth Cave National Park!
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(2) Q’s. Is there an illuminated underground kayak tour you would recommend ?
March travel: how much snow is on the ground and what should we expect for conditions to hinder the planned hiking ? (mid-march, 16th thru 22nd) thanks,
I’m an expert on the national parks, not really the surrounding areas. They don’t run tours like that in the national park, so I don’t have any recs for that, sorry! Spring gets a lot of rain, but not necessarily snow (though it can happen on occasion). I hope you have fun!
I see you have said no child backpack carriers, is that any child carrier or just metal framed ones? I have an all cloth soft structured carrier that can be worn on the front or the back, would that be aloud?
You can wear on the front, but not on the back :)
I’m planning to visit the Cave in early July. I really want to see the Frozen Niagara, but the spots for the shorter Niagara Tour are sold out on the website. Can you tell me if the Historic Tour include the Frozen Niagara? Or possibly Extended Historic Tour include this? Thank you!
No, you’ll need the Domes and Dripstones or Grand Avenue!
I’m a amputee I can hike for miles but stairs are a little difficult . I can do them just rather slow and wouldn’t want to slow up a group. What trips should I avoid.
If you go to this site and scroll down to the photos of the cave tours, you’ll see underneath each photo it says how many stairs are on each tour. There are a few with 200 stairs or less, like Gothic Avenue, Mammoth Passage, Discovery, Frozen Niagara, etc. I would avoid the tours with many stairs (500+), but the tours with 200 or less should be ok for you!
Do I need special shoes for the mammoth passage tour?
No, just comfy shoes that are good for hiking will work just fine!
When visiting mammoth cave and after a 4 hour tour what do you suggest is the best plan for lunch?
We like to either eat at the lodge, bring a picnic, or head out to Cave City and eat at Bucky Bees!
I would like to know the Mammoth Cave tour with the most light and space. My friends all want to tour, but I hate the dark and am claustrophobic…I know they won’t go if I don’t go…thanks for your help!
The Mammoth Passage or Discovery Tour are good options for that!
Are there any cave tours that are toddler (2yr old) friendly? We are scheduled to visit Labor Day Weekend in 2023.
I’ve found for little kids, it’s better to keep to the shorter tours such as the Discovery or Mammoth Passage. If you think your toddler can handle being in the cave a little longer, I suggest the Historic or Frozen Niagara!
We went to Mammoth Cave in March 2023 and had a great time! We forgot that it was around the time of lots of spring breaks, and we didn’t purchase tour tickets in time. In fact, they were all sold out for a solid two weeks. Gah! We went anyway, and we learned that sometimes a tour is added day-of. The Visitor’s Center opens at 9am, and we were able to easily get spots on the Historic Tour day since they’d just added some times. (I don’t recommend banking on this strategy! We lucked out!) The Wondering Woods Cave Tour was also super fun and had some rock formations that we didn’t see in the main cave. Highly recommend!
Thanks for the tip — I’m so glad you were able to get in the cave!!
Is there a way to print this article so I can take it with me? I don’t want to rely on internet when in the park.
thx
You can contact me here to get a printable version.
Thanks for the interesting article. I was a seasonal interpreter at Carlsbad Caverns a very long time ago and know that rangers have the best inside information.
Very cool!
A hike to Cedar Sink is a MUST. It’s an easy trail, to a viewing area for an enormous sinkhole containing several cave entrances. It’s a geology lesson in a short walk and is lovely any time of year.
That’s a great one too! So many cool things to do in this park!
We are thinking about visiting this summer. Are there any CCC Lodges or sites in the area?
The CCC was definitely in this area, but I don’t think there are any lodges you can stay in. You can read more about the CCC at Mammoth Cave here. Have a great trip!
Just curious, I’m an avid hiker and have recently been told of a ghost town accessible from mammoth state park. I can’t find anything about Edmondson online. Is it a myth?
I’ve not heard about that! If you find it, you’ll have to let me know!
There use to be an abandoned amusement park called Gun Town Mountain that was a wild west town. It had a sky lift that ran up the side of the “mountain”. A couple of years ago someone bought it and opened it back up.
Edmondson is not in mammoth cave.. its in Smoky Mountains..
Our trip to see mammoth cave is in Aug. Ever since Covid, my energy and strength level has diminished quite a bit. Could you recommend the best tour for us to see that doesn’t require miles of hiling?
I believe that the Frozen Niagara has the least amount of stairs. Have a great visit!
My friend and I are planning on coming in June from Michigan for a day and half maybe then heading to Grayson Kentucky. What do you recommend and where to stay
I’d try to take a few different tours through the cave and stay in Park City or Cave City. Have fun!
How many days does it take to complete all the items on the itinerary? Love the blog, it’s my go to for all my national Park Trips!
Thanks Caroline! If you can get on multiple cave tours, I’d plan a day for the tours and then another half day or full day for the hiking trails. Have a great time!
How did you become a park ranger? I’m interested in this profession..
I was hired while I was in college under a program called STEP. That program went away, but I recommend volunteering somewhere near you to get your foot in the door. They like to hire people that they know if possible!
How is this park in December?
They run cave tours year-round! You may not be able to complete some of the hiking trails due to weather, but the cave is open. Enjoy your trip!