mammoth cave which tour is best

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Mammoth Cave National Park: How to Pick the Best Tour

Julie Last updated: April 6, 2024 United States 22 Comments

Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest cave system, with over 400 miles of explored caves and passageways. On a visit to Mammoth Cave, explore this subterranean world of immense rooms, long canyons, and tight passageways and learn why it is called a “grand, gloomy, and peculiar place” by Stephen Bishop, Mammoth Cave’s most famous guide and explorer.

In order to explore Mammoth Cave, you will have to join a tour, of which there are many. If this is your first visit to the cave, picking the right tour can feel overwhelming. In this guide, we list your various options and give you some recommendations based on your travel style and time available.Touring the cave is the main attraction, but there are also miles of above ground trails that wind through the hills and forests in the area.

With one day, you can take one or two tours of the cave and walk the nature trails. Two days allows you to spend more time in the underground world of Mammoth Cave.

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Interesting Facts about Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest cave system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mammoth Cave was established as a national park on July 1, 1941 although people have been touring the caves since the 1800’s.

Currently, over 400 miles of the cave system have been explored and mapped, with new discoveries being made all of the time.

It is a constant 54°F year-round inside of Mammoth Cave.

Bats dwell inside of the cave. However, a disease called White-Nose Syndrome has drastically reduced their numbers. At the conclusion of the tour, you will walk across medicated mats to help avoid the spread of this disease (this disease does not affect humans).

Geology of Mammoth Cave

Many caves are famous for their stunning array of rocky formations, stalactites that defy gravity and the stalagmites that have slowly been rising up from the cave floor for millennia.

Mammoth Cave is different.

Yes, you can see stalactites and stalagmites here, but they are not the main attraction. And there’s a reason for that.

A giant roof of shale and sandstone form the upper cap of the cave system in Mammoth Cave. This rocky layer acts as an umbrella, preventing the slow dripping of water into the cave. It is the action of water that forms stalactites and stalagmites. Without the water, you don’t get these formations.

Instead, Mammoth Cave is long series of subterranean rooms and passageways. They twist and turn like strands of spaghetti, weaving their way through the Earth’s crust. Some rooms are enormous and some passageways are just large enough for a small person to squeeze through.

The fun of visiting Mammoth Cave comes in exploring these passageways and seeing the sheer size of the rooms. If you really want to see stalactites and stalagmites, take the Frozen Niagara or Domes and Dripstones tour.

Tour Options at Mammoth Cave

Summer and winter season.

There are two seasons of operation at Mammoth Cave: winter and summer.

Summer is the most popular time to visit, so more tours are available during this time of year.

Winter is quieter. Fewer tours are offered, but there are also a lot fewer visitors, so this just may be the best time of year to visit. And with temperatures a constant 54°F inside of the cave, you can still have a very pleasant visit during mid-winter.

I recommend checking the National Park Service website for updated hours and available tours during each of these seasons.

Make your tour reservations in advance because they do sell out.

Important! The tours listed below are not all offered year round, either because they are offered on a seasonal basis or because of construction projects in the cave. I do my best to keep this post updated, but tour offerings can change at any time and I recommend that you get updates on the National Park service website.

Tour Options

You can only visit the cave system of Mammoth Cave on a tour. Take your pick from 15 different tours. Here is an overview of each tour.

It can be overwhelming trying to choose from such a long list. At the end of this section, I will give you our recommendations, based on our experience and with talking with several park rangers at Mammoth Cave (or skip ahead now).

Below is a map of the cave. The caves and tunnels are color-coded by tour. Note, there are several different entrances into the cave and the tours and tour times include you transportation to and from these entrances.

Historic Tour

Duration: 2 hours Distance: 2 miles Total Stairs: 440 Tour Limit: 110 people

The Historic Tour is one of the most popular tours at Mammoth Cave. This tour starts at the “main entrance,” also called the Historic entrance, into Mammoth Cave. Follow in the footsteps of other visitors who have been touring the cave for the past 200 years. On this tour, you will learn about the history of the cave (it’s surprisingly fascinating), see the Bottomless Pit, Mammoth Dome, squeeze through Fat Man’s Misery, crouch through Tall Man’s Misery, and see the old saltpeter mines.

Photos from the Historic Tour

Historic entrance

Tim in Fat Man’s Misery

Tim in Tall Man’s Misery

Frozen Niagara Tour

Duration: 1.25 hours Distance: 0.25 miles Total Stairs: 12, plus an optional 98 Tour Limit: 30

If you want to see stalactites and stalagmites and don’t want to go on a long tour or do a lot of walking, this is a great option for you. The 1.25 hour tour time includes 30 minutes on a shuttle bus (included with the tour) to and from the entrance, with roughly 45 minutes spent inside of Mammoth Cave. The highlight is seeing Mammoth Cave’s best display of decorative formations in Frozen Niagara and the Drapery Room.

Domes and Dripstones

Duration: 2 hours Distance: 0.75 miles Total Stairs: 500 Tour Limit: 110

This is very similar to Frozen Niagara, only on this tour you get to journey farther into the cave. You start off descending down into the depths of the cave on a series of steel staircases. All the while, you are walking through drippy, moist caverns. Finally, you emerge at Frozen Niagara and the Drapery Room, also featured on the Frozen Niagara tour.

Photos from the Domes and Dripstones Tour

Cleaveland Avenue Tour

Duration: 2 hours Distance: 1 mile Total Steps: 200 Tour Limit: 38

On this small tour, you will descend down into gypsum-encrusted Cleaveland Avenue, see the Snowball room, and then take an elevator ride back to the surface.

Grand Avenue Tour

Duration: 4 hours Distance: 4 miles Total Stairs: 700 Tour Limit: 78

This is longest standard tour at Mammoth Cave. It’s so long that they offer bathrooms stops (yes, there are restrooms inside of the cave). On this tour, walk down Cleaveland Avenue, Boone Avenue, and Kentucky Avenue, and a high point in the cave referred to as Mt. McKinley. This tour ends with a visit to Frozen Niagara and the Drapery Room.

If you like the idea of going on a “hike” in a cave and seeing some “less touristy” parts of the cave, this is a good option for you. However, four hours underground will feel like a very long time for some people.

Accessible Tour

Duration: 2 hours Distance: 0.5 miles Total Stairs: none Tour Limit: 14

This tour is for those people with mobility issues or a physical disability. An elevator eliminates the need to climb or descend stairs. On this tour, you will visit sections of the Grand Avenue Tour route.

Gothic Avenue Tour

Duration: 2 hours Distance: 1 mile Total Stairs: 230 Tour Limit: 40

Enter through the Historic entrance, pass through the Rotunda, and enter Gothic Avenue. In this section of the cave you get to see “historical graffiti,” candle-written signatures and artifacts left behind from the nineteenth century.

Discovery Self-Guided Tour

Duration: 30 minutes Distance: 0.75 miles Total Stairs: 160 Tour Limit: none

This tour is offered during the busy summer months for visitors who just want a quick visit to Mammoth Cave. Enter through the Historic Entrance, see the Rotunda and explore a canyon passageway on this fast, self-guided tour.

Mammoth Passage Tour

Duration: 1.25 hours Distance: 0.75 miles Total Stairs: 160 Tour Limit: 70

This tour is a combination of the Discovery Self-Guided tour with several elements of the Historic Tour. See the Rotunda, the saltpeter mine, and Indian artifacts. Enter and exit through the Historic Entrance.

Violet City Tour

Duration: 3 hours Distance: 3 miles Total Stairs: 160 Tour Limit: 38

Travel by hand-held lantern light through some of the most popular and oldest sections of Mammoth Cave. This tour features parts of the Historic Tour, Gothic Avenue, Star Chamber, and Mammoth Passage tours.

River Styx Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours Distance: 2.5 miles Total Stairs: 540

Hike down to into the depths of Mammoth Cave and see the underground flowing water of the Dead Sea, River Styx, and Lake Lethe.

Star Chamber Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours Distance: 1.5 miles Total Stairs: 260 Tour Limit: 40

This tour is very similar to the Violet City Tour, in that you tour the cave by hand-held lantern and see similar sights. However, this is a shorter tour with less walking so it makes a nice option for those who do not want a long tour.

Duration: 3 hours Distance: 1.5 miles Total Stairs: 200 Tour Limit: 12

You have to be between the ages of 8 and 12 to join this tour. This is an introduction to caving where kids can worm their way through narrow passageways and tight spaces. Highlights include the Rambo Crawl and the Duck Room.

Introduction to Caving

Duration: 3.5 hours Distance: 1 mile Total Stairs: 300 Tour Limit: 20

This tour is an introduction to caving for those who are 10 years and older. Enter the world of spelunking and expect to climb through tight passageways that may involve army-crawls and scrambling. You will get dirty on this tour.

Wild Cave Tour

Duration: 6 hours Distance: 6 miles Total Stairs: 500 Tour Limit: 12

This is by far the most adventurous and the most strenuous tour on this list. On this tour, you get to learn what it is like to be cave explorer. You will belly crawl through tight spaces less than one foot high, scramble over rocks and climb up cave walls, and squeeze yourself through narrow spaces. On this tour, you will wear kneepads, a miner’s headlamp, and a hard hat. Obviously, this tour should be avoided if you suffer from claustrophobia.

This tour is very popular and should be booked well in advance of your travel dates if this is on your list of things to do.

So, How Do You Decide on a Tour?

That’s a long list, right? Well, it’s a massive cave system so it’s only fitting that there are a lot of different ways to see it.

Tim and I took two tours, the Historic tour in the morning and the Domes and Dripstones tour in the afternoon.

Both were great tours but Tim and I both agree that our favorite was the Historic Tour. Learning the history about Mammoth Cave is surprisingly interesting. Mammoth Cave served a lot of important functions before it became a tourist attraction and it is fascinating learning about this on the tour. Plus, you get to see the largest section of the cavern, squeeze through tight spots, and see one of the deepest sections, as well.

Domes and Dripstones was good, but it didn’t “wow” us. There is one small section of impressive stalactites and stalagmites, but it’s nothing like the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico or the Luray Caverns in Virginia. What amazed me the most on this tour was the huge number of metal staircases that were added to this section of the cave. It’s a feat of engineering to add the steps and catwalks. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to explore or tour this part of Mammoth Cave before these steps were added.

Our Recommendations

The Historic Tour. Perfect if you want a 2-hour tour to learn the history about Mammoth Cave, stand in the immense Rotunda, and see one of the oldest sections of the cave.

Frozen Niagara Tour. The quickest, easiest way to see the decorative cave formations.

Domes and Dripstones Tour. See the stalactites and stalagmites in the Frozen Niagara and Drapery Rooms, plus, spend more time in the cave, descending on a long series of staircases through wet canyons.

Wild Cave Tour. The Wild Cave Tour is the ultimate adventure in Mammoth Cave. This sounds like a ton of fun, if you don’t mind dirty clothes, 6 hours in the dark, and dragging yourself through tight spaces. The Wild Cave Tour was not offered during our visit. If it had been, Tim and I would have strongly considered it.

Violet City Tour. This is another one that sounds fascinating. To tour Mammoth Cave only by lantern just like they did in the 1800’s…how cool would that be?

Gothic Avenue Tour. We considered this one but chose Domes and Dripstones instead. This is another way to experience the history of Mammoth Cave, and with its small group size, it sounds wonderful.

Park Ranger Recommendations

We also asked several park rangers about their picks for first-time visitors to Mammoth Cave. They told us that our choice of the Historic Tour and Domes and Dripstones was a great combination, because we got to see both ends of the cave system.

One guide told us that his favorite tour is Violet City. The small group size and lanterns make this a special way to tour Mammoth Cave.

And if you are looking for adventure, do the Wild Cave Tour!

Booking Your Tours

If you will be visiting Mammoth Cave during peak season (the summer months and holiday weekends) book your tickets in advance. Some tours only offer a small number of spots so they can sell out ahead of time.

The Wild Cave Tour is the tour that is most likely to sell out in advance, from what we were told.

We visited Mammoth Cave in mid-February on a Saturday and there were lots of open spots on each tour.

You can book your tickets online in advance. I suggest you start on the National Park website. They will list available tours for the season you plan to visit. For each available tour, they provide you a link that will take you to recreation.gov, the website you will book your tickets. Or, you can go directly to recreation.gov to look at the available tours.

More Things to do at Mammoth Cave

Crisscrossing through the park is a series of hiking and nature trails. You can do much more at Mammoth Cave than just explore a subterranean world.

We walked the Heritage Trail , a 0.5-mile flat trail that starts near the Visitor Center. It takes you to Sunset Viewpoint for a so-so view over the hilly landscape. It’s not so pretty on a rainy day in February, but I would imagine that it’s a lot nicer most other months of the year.

There are many more trails to explore at Mammoth Cave, as well as backcountry hiking. Click here to learn more.

How to Get Here

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in Kentucky. It is located roughly halfway between Nashville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky. You can visit Mammoth Cave on a day trip from either of these cities, if you only plan to do a cave tour and walk a nature trail.

To get here, we entered “Mammoth Cave Visitor Center” into Google Maps and had no issues getting to the park. However, there are numerous warning on the NPS website that Google and other navigation systems have directed visitors to the wrong place. To view their recommended directions, click here and scroll to the bottom of the screen.

Items Not Allowed on Cave Tours

Flash photography
Child Carrier Backpacks
Walking sticks

Where to Eat at Mammoth Cave

There is an onsite restaurant at Mammoth Cave. Located next to the Visitor Center is the Spelunkers Café, a small restaurant that serves salad, burgers, chicken burgers, and more. We ate lunch here in between tours.

Where to Stay at Mammoth Cave

There is lodging right inside the park, called The Lodge at Mammoth Park.

You can also drive outside of the park to Cave City, a small town with a bunch of hotel and restaurants to choose from.

What We Did

We visited Mammoth Cave in mid-February. It was a rainy, dreary, cold day, but since our visit took us underground, the weather did not matter much. It is always 54°F inside of Mammoth Cave.

Tim and I visited Mammoth Cave as part of a mini-road trip. We spent two days in St. Louis, visited Gateway Arch National Park , and then drove to Owensboro, Kentucky. We spent the night in Owensboro, woke up early and drove to Mammoth Cave, spent a day at the cave, and then drove to Nashville . After spending one day in Nashville we flew home.

If you have any questions about touring Mammoth Cave, or if you want to share your experience (we would love to hear what your favorite tour is), comment below!

More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky

LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For information on how to plan your visit, don’t miss our Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary.

NEARBY DESTINATIONS: Asheville, North Carolina makes a great weekend destination. You can also spend a few days in Nashville or visit nearby New River Gorge National Park.

NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks , get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist.

Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide.

Comments 22

Very informative blog. Thank you! Helped make my decision on which tour to take.

Hi, thank you for your great review of Mammoth cave tours. Could you advise if the istoric tour is suitabke to someone tha t is a bit claustrophobic….? going into narrow,low aras might be a problem… or should we chise the domes tour? or another tour? thank you iris

If you are claustrophobic, the Historic Tour is not recommended because there are some tight spots to squeeze through. The Domes and Dripstones tour is better because there aren’t any tight spots that I recall. Plus, you get to see a lot of interesting formations so this is a great tour. Cheers, Julie

Hi there, in your post you referred to your road trip through St. Louis, Kentucky and ending in Nashville, but I couldn’t find any link to that trip (sorry if I am just missing it). We are actually doing the same journey, but just backwards and I would be very interested to hear about the places you may have stopped along the way and how long you spent. We were really only planning a short 2 day journey, but could extend it slightly. Many thanks for all the information you have already provided; great Blog!

Hello Ken. You didn’t miss anything…I haven’t written about the road trip on our website. We spent about a day and a half in St. Louis to see the Arch. In the afternoon of the second day, we drove to Owensboro and spent the night here. A good thing to do here is to visit the Green River Distillery, if you get here early enough (it’s on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail). Then we woke up early, drove to and visited Mammoth Cave, and in the late afternoon, drove to Nashville. Cheers, Julie

Thank you so much for this article (and frequent updates)! I was definitely looking at the NPS website going…. how to choose a tour? There is very little description on their website and yet they say you should book them in advance of your trip (we are 3 weeks out from ours and there are not tours posted yet for that week). Anyway, I appreciate all your comments and would request that you add (if possible) more photos of the tours and a description of how tight the 2 sections are in the Historic tour – is the Fat Man’s Misery section really so narrow that an overweight person would have difficulty getting through? How long are the Fat Man’s Misery and Tall Man’s Misery sections for those of us with anxiety about tight spaces? Your photos of these areas were really helpful but wondering how long the sections are…. Thanks!

All of my photos that I have are in this post. As far as the length of each of these sections, they aren’t very long. It’s been several years since we have been here but from my memory both are around 100 feet long. Fat Man’s Misery just had a few tight spots. Tall Man’s Misery was harder to get through since you have to walk crouched over. Cheers, Julie

Thank you Julie this was so incredibly helpful! I’ll take a Xanax just in case but should be able to navigate short tight spots. Once more question – the website says the Historic Tour has 540 stairs, but doesn’t specify if these are all “up” (although it says “Moderate” difficulty). I have to imagine it can’t be that bad if it is their main tour. Do you recall it being difficult or if there were an equal number of “up” and “down” stairs?

I can’t recall how many stairs went up and down, but I don’t recall it being difficult. It’s not like you have to do all of the stairs in one go, rather they are spaced out over the 2 hour tour, so it’s not too bad. Any adult of average fitness should be just fine on this tour, other than if they have a moderate to severe claustrophobia. Have fun!! Cheers, Julie

HI Julie, enjoyed reading your experience visiting Mammoth Cave very much. We just booked the following cave tours for a 2-day trip in October:

Day 1 — Gothic Ave Tour in the morning and Great Onyx Tour (not in Mammoth) in the afternoon; Day 2 — Grand Ave Tour at 9:45 am and trail after 2 pm.

It is important to know, as you noted, that Grand Ave Tour does not include any part of the Historic Tour. I wonder whether we should book Historic Tour and cancel Gothic Ave Tour. I spent several hours to “dig” information online yesterday and did not see your helpful post until this morning.

Inspired by you and your post, we are interested in visiting St. Louis and Nashville. Thank you again.

Hello Mia. We really liked the Historic Tour. You will see most of the sights on the Gothic Ave Tour but then go deeper into the cave. It might be worth changing your tour if you want to see more of Mammoth Cave. There is a rehabilitation project going on for part of the Grand Ave Tour route. The NPS is still offering the tour, and it is still 4 hours, but I don’t know what the changes to this route will be. Regardless, it sounds like a great tour for those who really like caves. I hope you have a great time in Nashville and Louisville, those cities are so much fun. And I apologize for the wacky appearance of our website…we are having some technical issues and hope to get those resolved soon. Cheers, Julie

Thank you for the constant updates

You’re welcome! I do my best but it’s a good idea to always double check the NPS website, especially this year since things are changing so frequently. Cheers, Julie

so if you are claustrophobic it is probably not a good idea to do the historic tour…any other ones to avoid if you are clastrophobic?

Definitely skip the Wild Cave Tour. If you have issues in an elevator, skip the Cleveland Avenue Tour and the Accessible Tour. There might also be an elevator on the Grand Avenue Tour and Violet City Tour. And yes, there are some tight spaces in the Historic Tour. Cheers, Julie

I am stiff confused with the multiple tours but these answers might help untangle my confusion,

Are the Historic Entrance and Frozen Niagara distinct sections of Mammoth Cave? Do all tours take place in either of the above sections or is there a third, forth or fifth section as well? Does Grand Avenue or other long tours connect two or more of those sections?

Thanks once again for so many good advice!

There are multiple entrances into the cave. It’s a long series of interconnected tubes and tunnels. The Historic Entrance is at one end and the Frozen Niagara section is at the other end. There are other entrances as well. The Grand Avenue Tour goes from the Carmichael Entrance to the Frozen Niagara entrance and does not cover any of the Historic Tour. However, I just saw on the NPS website that Grand Tour will not be offered for the next 18 months due to cave rehabilitation. I found a map online that I will attach to this post for more clarity. I hope this helps! Cheers, Julie

Most helpfull addition, thank you 😉

Hi I love reading about your adventures. My name is Joan from the UK, my adult son and I are planning a road trip from Chicago to Dallas over 14 nights next October, and I wondered if you would be so kind as to advise me where is best to go. We very much like the sound of Mammoth Caves, are there any other national parks worth visiting ? We thought about spending 4 or 5 nights in both Chicago and Dallas but not sure.

Thank you in kind anticipation Joan Armstrong

Hello Joan. This could be a very nice road trip. Would you believe that I have never been to Chicago? It’s crazy! That’s because it’s not a great place to visit (because it is), just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I hear that the restaurants and the food is fantastic. 4 to 5 nights would be fine. I have been to Dallas. It’s a good city, I just wonder if 4 to 5 nights is too much time here. 2 to 3 nights might be enough. But here are some ideas for your road trip.

From Chicago, you could drive down to Louisville , spend one or two nights here. You might be able to watch a horse race at Churchill Downs if they are racing in October. The restaurants are great here too. If you like whiskey, consider spending a day or two on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail . From Louisville, spend a day at Mammoth Cave and get to Nashville that night. Two to three nights in Nashville is so much fun. This is one of our favorite cities in the USA. You could drive through Memphis and visit Graceland. In Arkansas, you could visit Hot Springs National Park (we haven’t been here yet) and then go to Dallas. OR, from Memphis, go to New Orleans for 2 nights and then drive to Texas (this would be more driving).

Another option is to add in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. It just recently became a national park. You just need to take a look at your options, pick out what you want to do, and then map it out. But you have lots to choose from!

Have fun planning your road trip and let us know if you have any more questions.

Cheers, Julie

I happened across this post as I also love reading this blog! So much great information. I referred back to it a lot when I planned my hike to Half Dome. 🙂

Anyway, I live in Northwest Indiana and you may want to check out Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s on the way from Chicago to Kentucky. We’re about 45 minutes out side of Chicago and about 15-20 minutes from the major highway that takes you down to Kentucky. Beautiful sand dunes and lots of hiking, right on Lake Michigan. It’s on the way, so just thought you may like it! 🙂

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 .

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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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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 in Mammoth

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.

-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 ! For a wonderful autumn destination, check out Acadia National Park in Maine .

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.

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!

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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

tall, dark moody photo from one of the longest Mammoth Cave tours

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

mass of people walking in and out of the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave along The Mammoth Passage 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!!!

What are you looking for?

Atlas Obsession

Mammoth Cave National Park – Which Tour Should You Do?

“My God… That’s spectacular.” On our final tour at Mammoth Cave National Park, the man directly in front of us said this exact line every single time we turned a corner. No, I’m not exaggerating. While I didn’t share his same enthusiasm, I will say that Mammoth Cave is pretty cool. Some of these rock formations are incredible and it’s worth a visit to tour this cave system.

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About Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the worlds largest cave system, with over 400 miles of cave discovered and mapped so far (and still many miles of cave that still need to be explored). The cave is massive and until you visit, it can be difficult to really understand how the true scale of these caves.

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in central Kentucky, just outside of Cave City. A visit here is a little different than most of your national park experiences. Rather than just jumping in your car and exploring on your own, you must sign up for guided tours of the cave. There is a self guided tour option for those who don’t like the idea of a group tour. However, a ranger led tour will give you so much more information about the area you’re exploring.

We took three tours: The Star Chamber Tour, The Historic Tour, and the Domes and Dripstones Tour. All three were great and all taught us something new about the cave system. But there are still several others to choose from.

Mammoth Cave Tours

The star chamber tour.

This tour at Mammoth Cave is a bit different than most. The cave is filled with artificial lights which are turned on during most tours so everyone can see where they are going. But during this tour, these artificial lights are turned off. You follow your guide through the cave by oil lantern, just like the early tourists who visited here. Because of the limited light, it can be difficult to truly grasp how big the cave really is. Still, it is a great experience. You’ll travel down through the main entrance and down Gothic Avenue before reaching the Star Chamber, at which point you’ll turn around and retrace your steps.

If you’re going to do this tour, I recommend making this your first tour. It’s a great introduction to the cave. The cave feels big, but the lanterns don’t really let you see the true scale. The next day, when we took the Historic Tour, my mom and I were in awe of how big the cave really was. I don’t think you’ll get that same experience if you do the Star Chamber Tour at the end.

It’s such a unique experience that I have to recommend doing this tour.

Total Distance: 2 miles Length of Tour: 2.5 hours Number of Stairs: 160 Cost: $25 per adult

Historic Tour

This tour is a classic and leads you down into Mammoth Cave. You’ll enter through the main entrance and retrace some of the steps you made on the Star Chamber tour. However, now you have the artificial lights turned on and you can really get a sense for how massive this cave system is. It’s amazing how much different and bigger the cave feels with those artificial lights.

There are two big things to be aware of before signing up for this tour. There can be low ceilings and narrow passage ways. At a few points in the tour, you may need to crouch down and walk along the passage way for an extended period. For reference, I’m 5 feet 4 inches and I occasionally had to crouch down, while my mom at 5 feet 7 inches had to duck more often.

My mom was a little nervous about this, but said that the rangers over exaggerated how bad it was going to be. Still, you know your limits. If you are concerned, talk to rangers before you book your tickets. They will also reiterate all of this information at the safety briefing before starting your tour.

Total Distance: 2 miles Length of Tour: 2 hours Number of Stairs: 540 Cost: $20 per adult

Domes and Dripstones

This is the tour that I think of when I think of Mammoth Cave. It was on this tour that we heard “My God… That’s incredible!” at least 25 times in the course of the two hour tour.

From the visitor center, you’ll board a bus and travel to another entrance to the cave. At this second entrance, you’ll descend a narrow staircase down into the cave. Once you’re down here, the rangers will lead you to some of the most incredible rock formations of the cave system. The highlight for me was the Frozen Niagra area toward the end of the tour.

This tour had more narrow spaces than the Historic Tour, but I found myself having to duck less on this tour than on the Historic Tour. You will get a safety briefing before your tour that will outline exactly what you’re going to go through.

Total Distance: 1 miles Length of Tour: 2 hours Number of Stairs: 500 Cost: $21 per adult

More Tour Options

The above three tours are the tours that I have first hand experience with. But those aren’t the only tours available at Mammoth Cave.

Accessible Tour – For those with limited mobility, take a look at this tour. This is 2 hours, 0.5 miles, and has no stairs. Cost: $22 per adult.

Cleveland Avenue – This focuses on Cleveland Avenue and the Snowball Room and you’ll see unique passages and gypsum covered walls. This is 2 hours, 1 mile, and 200 stairs. Cost: $22 per adult.

Discovery (Self Guided) – This is the only self-guided option to explore Mammoth Cave. This is 1.25 hours, 0.75 miles, and 125 stairs. Cost: $8 per adult.

Extended Historic – Unsurprisingly, this the Historic Tour with an extension (to the 1840s Cave Experiment). This is 2.25 hours, 2 mile, and 540 stairs. Cost: $23 per adult.

Frozen Niagara – If you only want to see Frozen Niagara and skip the rest of the Domes and Dripstones tour, look at this tour. This is 1.25 hours, 0.25 mile, and 110 stairs (98 are optional). Cost: $18 per adult.

Gothic Avenue – This focuses on more in depth on Gothic Avenue, which is also seen on Star Chamber, Historic Tour, and Violet City Lantern Tour. This is 2 hours, 1 mile, and 160 stairs. Cost: $19 per adult.

Great Onyx Lantern Tour – This is another lantern tour, but it should be noted that this cave is not known to be part of the Mammoth Cave system. Remember that the cave system is still being mapped and explored, so one day, they may be able to connect it with the Mammoth Cave system. This is 2.25 hours, 1 mile, and 40 stairs. Cost: $23 per adult.

Grand Avenue – This is another in depth tour, but it does a deeper dive on the Domes and Dripstones tour. This is 4 hours, 4 mile, and 1313 stairs. Cost: $35 per adult.

Grand Historic – This is one of the most in depth tours and you’ll visit many of the iconic sites that are also seen on the Historic, Extended Historic, Gothic Avenue, Star Chamber, River Styx, Mammoth Passage, and Violet City tours. This is 4 hours, 4 mile, and 640 stairs. Cost: $35 per adult.

Mammoth Passage – This is an introduction to the Historic Tour and is a guided version of the Discovery (Self Guided tour). This is 1.25 hours, 0.75 mile, and 125 stairs. Cost: $11 per adult.

River Styx Lantern Tour – You’ll follow the Historic Tour, but also detour to the underground water level. This is 2.5 hours, 2.5 mile, and 600 stairs. Cost: $22 per adult.

Violet City Lantern Tour – This is another lantern tour option, but is slightly longer than the Star Chamber tour. This is 3 hours, 3 mile, and 160 stairs. Cost: $25 per adult.

Wondering Woods – This is more focusing on the surrounding forests, but does feature a short visit to the cave. This is 1.5 hours, 1 mile, and 194 stairs. Cost: $18 per adult.

Which Tour Should You Do?

The choice of tours is entirely up to you and you should take your own preferences into account, particularly if you love geology. But for the average person, I think the three tours I did (Star Chamber, Historic, and Domes and Dripstones) is a really good combination. Many tours overlap (at least partially) with another tour and I feel like we really got to see a lot of the cave.

On our trip, we arrived into Cave City at around 3:00pm. We got an early dinner in Cave City and then drove to Mammoth Cave National Park We took the Star Chamber Tour at 6:15 that evening. The next day we took the 10:00am Historic Tour and the 2:15 Domes and Dripstones Tour.

If you’re doing both the Historic Tour and Domes and Dripstones on the same day, I think this spacing (10am Historic and 2:15 Domes and Dripstones) works well. The Historic Tour finishes at 12:00, so you have plenty of time for lunch (there’s a Camp Store that serves sandwiches just down the road from the visitor center) and time to relax. If you take an earlier tour, you may be rushed during lunch.

Also note, that tour times change based on the season. We were here in early August when there were numerous tours available, but in winter fewer tours are offered. Always look ahead on the NPS website to see what tours are available for your dates.

It’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance. We booked our tours online approximately six weeks in advance for a visit in August. At that time, there were still plenty of tickets available. However, by the time we arrived in Cave City, nearly everything was sold out. If there’s a tour you really want to do, buy your ticket in advance.

Additional Helpful Tour Information

Each tour at Mammoth Cave (except the Accessible Tour) contains a lot of stairs. Both the Historic Tour and Domes and Dripstones state that you will do over 500 stairs. That said, the stairs are not all at once and are spread out throughout the tour, which is anywhere from .75 to 2 miles in length.

Tour groups can get big. The Star Chamber Tour has limited spots since they have limited lanterns. Our group for this tour had approximately 30 people. However, our groups for the Historic Tour and Domes and Dripstones were at least 100 people. To get the most out of your tour (and to maximize your time for photos), stick to the front of the group. We were at the back of the group for the Star Chamber Tour, but I don’t think we missed much. For the other two tours, had we stayed at the back, we would have gotten the essential information, but we would have missed some more of the “fun facts” and other random tidbits from our ranger. He’d typically give these facts to the front of the group while we waited for the back part of the group to file in.

There are no facilities on your tour. Use the bathroom before you depart and carry anything you might need (although you really shouldn’t need much as food and drinks other than water are not allowed in the cave).

Getting to Mammoth Cave

Look at the map before you go. There is no service and the National Park Service strongly recommends avoiding Google Maps to navigate you to the visitor center. We used Google Maps and had no problems, but it’s something you should be aware of.

When to Visit Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave is 52 degrees all year round, so they can be visited at any point. The biggest thing to note is that tour offerings change throughout the year. Summer will have more tours offered than winter.

We visited in early August, so while it was hot and humid outside (with temperatures in the upper 80s), the inside of the cave was cool. I wore leggings and had a light sweatshirt (I only used my sweatshirt on two of the three tours).

Where to Stay

The nearest town to Mammoth Cave is Cave City. It’s a small town with not a lot of options, but you will find a few choices for hotels and restaurants.

Final Thoughts

I’ve visited other caves, but nothing was quite like Mammoth Cave. The sheer scale is hard to imagine and when you’re standing in the cave, you can really feel small. It’s definitely worth a visit to Mammoth Cave National Park just to experience it.

Continue Your Adventure

Similar National Parks : For a similar, but also different, cave experience, check out New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park .

Nearby National Parks : Nearby is relative, but if you’re chasing national parks, there’s a few to look into. You have Indiana Dunes National Park to the north, Gateway Arch National Park to the west, and New River Gorge National Park to the east. All are between a five to six hour drive from Mammoth Cave.

Best Mammoth Cave Tour for Families

With so many cave tours to choose from, how do you know which one is best for your family we break it down in this article with our recommendations for the best mammoth cave tour for your family..

On the road home from Mammoth Cave National Park, our grandsons were on the phone trying to talk their mom (who stayed home) into a second trip to the caves. Yes, they had that much fun! So we wanted to share the best Mammoth Cave tour for families with you.

But we almost messed up. There are over a dozen cave tours, and we discovered that not all are kid-friendly or even interesting to kids. Based only on the description on the NPS website, our tour selection could have resulted in a boring trip for the boys (age 10 and 12). Due to a combination of luck and extensive research, we ended up with amazing tours they loved.

Here are our thoughts on the best and the worst tours for families in Mammoth Cave National Park.

Best Mammoth Cave Tours Based on Your Family

Let’s be realistic; what works for a 2-year-old might not be the best cave tour for your teen. So we’ve broken the tours into categories based on age and mobility to help you choose the Mammoth Cave tours that are best for your family.

Best Overall Mammoth Cave Tour for Families: Domes and Dripstones

Our recommendation is the Domes and Dripstones Tour for a family tour. It’s an interesting tour that will entertain family members of all ages. Our family is still talking about this one.

About the Domes and Dripstones Tour

There are just enough tight squeezes between the rocks that our grandsons felt like they were on a big cave adventure. And the youngest (10) was the only one to go through some tunnels without ducking.

The Domes and Dripstones Tour also features a collection of stalactites and stalagmites that we all found interesting. The most famous is the dripstone Frozen Niagra, which is stunning. You won’t find the extensive stalactites and stalagmites in Mammoth Caves that we saw in Carlsbad Caverns National Park .

The tour guides share a lot of history along this tour with stories that all ages will enjoy. These sections of Mammoth Cave have been a tourist destination for over 100 years. They also explain the science of the natural formation of the caves in a family-friendly way.

You will get a workout on the Domes and Dripstones Tour as you climb up and down 540 steps. The good news is that the 2-hour tour moves at a meandering pace so that you can take your time on the stairs

Large open cavern on the best mammoth cave tour for families - Domes and Dripstones

Domes and Dripstones might not be good for families with:

Independent toddlers who demand exploring on their own. (You know if this is your child.) The narrow passages, deep drops and hundreds of stairs require a tight rein on toddlers.
Anyone with health issues, those 540 stairs will give you a good workout.
Someone with extreme claustrophobia might not enjoy it. The tight spaces are not extensive and usually open up to a larger area quickly, so most folks don’t even think about it. But they do exist and should be considered if you have concerns.

Best Challenging Tour for Your Family: Grand Avenue Tour

The Grand Avenue Tour might be the best tour for your family if your kids are pre-teen to teen and love an adventure. On this 4-hour tour, you cover everything in the Domes and Dripstones Tour plus a lot more!

According to the NPS description : You’ll be “going through slot canyons, tubular passageways, tall canyons, and tunnels sparkled with gypsum”… and you’ll cover “a wide variety of the history and geology of Mammoth Cave”.

We did not take this extended tour because I was concerned the boys couldn’t stay engaged for 4 hours. In hindsight, that was a good call. A 2-hour tour was the limit for the 10-year-old. When evaluating if your kids could handle this 4-hour tour, remember that there is no free exploring; you must stay with and follow the ranger guide. It’s a bit like being in school for 4 hours without a recess, except maybe more interesting than learning how to conjugate verbs.

There is a minimum age of 6 for this tour because of its 4-hour length and the 1300 stairs you will climb. The park rangers have designated this a difficult hike because of all those stairs. However, the tour travels at a comfortable pace, so don’t be frightened by those stairs unless you have a health issue.

Best Easy and Short Tour: Frozen Niagara Tour

The highlight of the Domes and Dripstones Tour is the finale at the Frozen Niagara section of the cave. It’s a beautiful section discovered in 1923. The large draping flowstone appears as a frozen waterfall. This tour is the way to shortcut right to that fantastic site.

The Frozen Niagara Tour lasts a little over an hour, including the short bus ride to and from the entrance. You’ll descend into the cave with only 12 stair steps and a walking distance of ¼ mile.

Although the caving experience is minimal on the Frozen Niagara Tour, it is an easy way to see one of the most famous sites in Mammoth Cave National Park if you have an active toddler or health restrictions.

Ranger standing outside Mammoth Cave Historic Tour with our grandsons. Boys have thumbs up

Ready for a Second Tour? Family Friendly Cave Tours that Round Out Your Visit

We’d encourage you to take a second tour with your kids while at Mammoth Cave to experience all the park offers. And the best second tour explores the original historical sections of the cave. You have several choices, listed from easiest to most challenging:

Easy: Discovery Self Guided Tour
Easy to Moderate: Gothic Avenue Tour
Moderate: Historic Tour
Moderate with extra features: Extended Historic Tour

All of these tours focus on the history of Mammoth Cave. The most impressive part of the tour is the massive open rooms that gave the caves their name. Did you think the caves were named after the animal? Nope… they were named because the early explored sections of the cave were “Mammothly” big.

The tours explore periods when the caves were mined for saltpeter, which was used in gunpowder. Much of the mining equipment was abandoned in the cave. The guides also have abundant stories to tell about early explorers and the first tourists.

The biggest difference between these 4 tours is primarily in how far they travel into the cave system. I recommend only planning to take one tour from this group, choosing the level best suited for your family.

Best History Tour of Mammoth Cave for Families: The Historic Tour

Want to walk through the tunnels that “humans have used for thousands of years”? Then the Historic Tour is for you as you tour many of the originally opened sections of Mammoth Cave. Your guide will regal you with past stories, talking about early explorers and visitors plus the mining operations.

The 2-hour tour travels about 2 miles, first through the large open rooms that made the cave famous. And then you’ll explore deeper into the cave, including tighter spaces. Some might find the steeper inclines and the 540 steps a bit challenging on this tour. But just like our favorite Domes and Dripstones Tour above, it moves at a slow enough pace that visitors in good health should be able to keep up.

We wish we had been able to get tickets for this very popular tour instead of the Gothic Avenue Tour listed below. I think we all would have really enjoyed walking through the deeper caverns.

Best Cave Tour for History Buffs: Extended Historic Tour

For a little more historical information, grab a ticket for the extended Historic Tour, which is the same tour as above with a bonus side trip “to one of the sites of the famous 1840s Mammoth Cave experiment to treat consumption”.

If you have a few history buffs in your family, it’s worth adding this extra 15 minutes to your tour. But our grandkids would have been happy to skip this section. Know your audience.

Best Quick Tour: Discovery Self-Guided Tour

The Self Guided Tour is only offered when the park is super busy. It’s the option for many people who didn’t realize you needed to order your tour tickets online and in advance. So on busy days, the park opens up the Self Guided Tour with same-day ticket sales only.

Although I think it’s very thoughtful that the park has this overflow option for visitors, I also think the 30-minute Self-Guided Tour is a great option for people who can’t easily participate in a two-hour tour. For that reason, I wish they offered it all the time.

The Self-Guided Tour focuses on the history of the cave. You’ll find signage throughout the trail explaining the artifacts and geology of the cave. You can move at your own pace, but most people complete the tour in less than ½ hour. Rangers are available to answer questions as you travel along the ¾-mile trail. Although rated an easy trail, keep in mind there are 125 stair steps required, and the walk back to the visitor center is a fairly steep graded walkway.

2 boys standing next to cave structure that looks like a throne. From the Gothic Avenue Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park

Best Easy Guided Tour: Gothic Avenue Tour

We embarked on the Gothic Avenue Tour on our second morning at Mammoth Cave National Park. The size of the rooms is astounding. The large open rooms just keep going in this section of the cave. No wonder early visitors were impressed.

The guides shared many stories about the early visitors, explaining the historical graffiti and the early mining operations in great detail. Overall it was an interesting experience.

In hindsight, I would choose the Historic or Extended Historic Tour for our family’s tour. The Gothic Avenue Tour moved too slow for two energetic boys, and they were ready to move on after the first hour.

Gothic Avenue Tour is Good for:

Families with small children because the walkways are wide and there are no steep drops. They can easily walk holding hands with their parents.
Family members who wanted to move at a slower pace.
People with claustrophobia might be able to handle this tour since this cave section is very open.

Best Mammoth Cave Tours for the Adventurous Family

These 4 tours are restricted to children at least 6 years old. The tours are a bit more challenging and your kids need to be able to listen to and follow instructions for their safety.

These tours are smaller groups and have a very limited schedule, so make sure you order your tickets as soon as possible. When we ordered our tickets, about 2 weeks prior to our visit to Mammoth Cave, all these were sold out. The information I’m sharing is from the NPS website and Facebook Page since we didn’t have an opportunity to try any of them.

All except the Great Onyx Lantern Tour cover a lot of the sections included in the historic tours so would be a great substitute for families with older children.

Great Onyx Lantern Tour

Great Onyx Cave is not believed to be connected to the Mammoth Cave system, it sits in an area of the park by itself. But because it is unique, tours are offered with only a short bus ride from the visitor’s center. You’ll tour the cave by lamplight, recreating the experience of early visitors.

According to the NPS website description : “Great Onyx Cave houses an abundance of beautiful geologic formations that sparkle in the lantern light of this tour. Visitors on this tour can see many stalactites, stalagmites, gypsum crystals, and helictites.”

Tour walkway along the underground river styx.

River Styx Tour

The River Styx Tour is the same as the Historic Tour with a really cool side trip down to the underground water level. The tour is 2 ½ hours long, covering 2.5 miles.

River Styx flows through and under the Mammoth Cave system, eventually emptying into the Green River. Early visitors to the cave were able to tour this section in a small boat. Because human interaction was affecting the little creatures that live in the river, you can now only walk along the river on a raised platform.

Star Chamber Tour

The rangers describe the Star Chamber Tour as an experience rather than site seeing. It’s “an evening tour in Mammoth Cave by lantern light, this winding its way to historic Star Chamber.” The tour is by lantern light to get the feel of what it felt like to be an early explorer walking through the caverns.

The 2 ½ hour tour travels through some of the same areas as the Gothic Avenue and Historic Tour and is only offered in the evening.

Violet City Lantern Tour

“A truly historic way to experience Mammoth Cave, this tour travels exclusively by lantern light.”

For a longer, 3-hour and 3-mile exploration by lantern light, the Violet City Lantern Tour is quite the experience. Although there are only 160 steps, you’ll find several steep walking grades that make this a difficult tour.

Best Mammoth Cave Tour for Families by Age

Here’s a quick recap of which tours are probably best for families of different age groups. Of course, you know your kids best so take into account their unique abilities when selecting your tour.

Best Tour for Families with Babies

Since babies are allowed on most tours if you carry them on your chest, you are then only limited by your own level of fitness. If you can carry your baby for 2 hours going up and down stairs, then the Domes and Dripstones Tour is our top choice.

It’s important to know that the only way to include a baby on a Mammoth Cave NP tour is to carry the baby in a chest harness or chest carrier. Strollers and backpack carriers are not allowed on the tours. Babies are also not allowed on the tours with a 6+ age restriction.

Check the list below for the number of steps and the difficulty level to help you choose.

Best Tour for Families with Toddlers

Families with toddlers have a unique buddle of energy to accommodate. The basic Historic Tour is a good choice. The wider walkways will allow your toddler to walk holding hands with you. The tour often stops at benches for stories which will give you a break.

Be prepared to carry your toddler for some of this tour, 2 hours of walking is a lot for many little ones.

Best Tour for Families with Grade Schoolers

The best tour for school-aged kids is the Domes and Dripstones Tour, which is also our top recommendation for families. The tour has enough variety that kids will love exploring the cave.

Best Tour for Families with Pre-Teens and Teens

Teens will also love the Domes and Dripstones Tour. However, try to add in a second tour for them from the Lanterns tours that take them into parts of Mammoth Cave that few visitors see. They will appreciate the extra side trips that make those tours unique.

List of Mammoth Cave Tours at a Glance

The tours offered at Mammoth Cave can vary based on the season and demand. This is the current list of offerings. Tours may vary seasonally.

Why You Should Trust Us When Planning your Mammoth Cave Trip

Brad and I are on a mission to explore all of the US National Parks. Mammoth Cave National Park was the 33rd park we’ve visited! Before visiting a park like Mammoth Cave, we research like crazy to ensure we are ready to explore, have fun and create great memories. Then we go and do!

This article summarizes our personal experiences in the park, additional research, and all of our pre-visit research.

The advice you read here is exactly what we’d tell our best friends if they plan a trip to Mammoth Cave! We hope you enjoy your visit to Mammoth Cave National Park.

About Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is in rural Southern Kentucky. Rolling green hills, dotted with farms and ranches, define the landscape. The aptly named Green River cuts through the park.

Underneath all of this serene beauty, there is a whole other world of caves. The Mammoth Cave system runs over 450 miles. That makes it the world’s longest cave. The cave is a collection of caverns and tunnels connected by passageways. Over thousands of years, underground rivers and seeping rain have eroded the limestone creating the cave.

It’s estimated that Mammoth Cave might be over 600 miles long, with new passageways yet to be discovered. To be considered part of the same cave, a passageway must exist that a human can pass through. The most recent 50-mile addition was found when water levels dropped in one of the caverns exposing an opening that led to more miles of the cave. Rangers shared that they often join together to explore more of the cave system on their day off… that’s their entertainment!

Boy in cave tunnel in the Mammoth Cave Museum, demonstrates size of some connecting tunnels between caves.

Arrive Early to Explore the Museum

The museum in the Mammoth Cave National Park visitor center is extremely well designed to engage visitors of all ages. Our youngest (10) climbed through the mock cave tunnel repeatedly while our older grandson (12) explored independently. There are many hands-on activities to engage your kids while teaching them about the science and history of the caves.

As always, we had to drag Grandpa Brad out of the museum because he loved the abundance of explainer displays and videos. Mammoth Cave’s museum is one of the best we’ve experienced during our National Park Adventures.

Junior Ranger Program

When we picked up our Junior Ranger booklets in the gift shop, the clerk gave us a tip that all the answers could be found in the museum. Of course, that encourages your kids to search through all the displays.

I’d suggest you spend 30 minutes in the Museum before your tour to plant a few seeds of knowledge about caves with your kids. Then another 30 minutes after your tour explore and finish their Jr Ranger books.

What to Expect Inside Mammoth Cave

Temperatures.

The temperature in the caves is a constant 54 degrees so you might want to bring along a light jacket. Temperatures on the top will vary with the season from cold winters to hot summers.

Formations in the Caves

Stalactites and Stalagmites make their home in many caves. These are the formations you anticipate seeing in caves that result from water dripping over limestone. However, most of the cave is open caverns. You won’t find as many of the beautiful cave structures as you can experience in the caves of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Size of Tour Groups

Tour size varies from a couple of dozen to over 100 people. The more popular tours will have bigger groups. However, even though our Domes and Dripstones tour comprised of about 110 visitors, we surprisingly didn’t feel crowded.

Bathrooms on Mammoth Cave Tours

Bathrooms on the tours are non-existent. You’ll find beautiful bathrooms at the visitor center so go before you head out.

Tour Guides

The tour guides are excellent. They come prepared with a variety of stories to tell to illustrate the history and geography of the caves. Our first guide was a college student and our second guide was a retired teacher. Both exhibited a passion for the caves during the tours.

There is no free exploring. You must stay on the paths following the tour guides. They will remind you to not touch the rocks. Some additional rules for your cave tours:

Photography is encouraged although you can’t use a flash. Tripods and monopods are not allowed as they will slow up the tour. If you are a professional photographer, you can apply for a special tour, although not many are granted.
Child backpack carriers and strollers are not allowed. Feel free to use a front pack for babies.
Large backpacks are not allowed. They defined that as “Metal framed backpacks and backpacks that are higher than the shoulder or that are of a length that extends below the hips”
Firearms or other weapons
Pets (You can kennel for a small fee nearby.)

What to Bring on Your Cave Tour

Light Jacket
Bottle of water
Small snacks are allowed, especially for longer hikes or if you have health concerns.
A camera that can be used without flash
Closed-toed shoes are best for the metal stairs and extensive walking.
Your tickets – they will be checked as you board the buses or enter the caves.

More Information for Planning Your Family’s Mammoth Cave Tours

How to get tickets for your mammoth cave tour.

While tour tickets are available at the visitor center, it is better to purchase your tickets in advance online through Recreation.gov . During our visit, tickets for almost all tours were sold out for same-day purchase. So waiting means you may not get in.

You should order your tickets as soon as you are confident in your tour dates. Two weeks prior to our visit there were a lot of tours available, but by the week of our trip, the selection was limited.

How Many Mammoth Cave Tours Should You Plan to Take?

If you can fit it into your schedule, I’d recommend you take at least 2 tours that explore a different section of Mammoth Cave. We scheduled one each morning and then left our afternoon free to explore outside the caves.

How to Mix and Match Your Cave Tours

There are over a dozen different cave tours. Most tours are not completely unique, many overlap with the ground covered by other tours to capture the highlights of Mammoth Cave. For example, the Gothic Avenue Tour is primarily a subset of the Historic Tour. And the Frozen Niagara Tour is a short tour of the ending point for the Domes and Dripstones Tour.

Is There an Accessible Tour of Mammoth Cave?

Currently, the accessible tour is unavailable due to elevator issues and there is no clear date on when it will be reopened.

What’s the Best Time of Day to Take a Cave Tour?

The biggest consideration in planning your family trip into the caves is that you and your kids will be a captive audience for the length of the tour. There are no bathrooms and there is no exit mid-tour. Once you start, you have to finish along with the rest of the group.

So the best time to take your tour will be different for every family. Consider when your kids are most able to focus. For example, your 4-year-old that takes afternoon naps is probably better on a morning tour. While a 15-year-old who sleeps in during the summer months might be more engaged right after lunch.

Pets in Mammoth Cave National Park

We were excited to learn that pets are welcome on the outdoor hiking trails in Mammoth Cave National Park. Most National Parks severely restrict pet access. So we originally planned to bring Charlie along on our trip. However, temperatures soared into the high 90s the week of our road trip so we left her with a friend to enjoy the air conditioning. That dog just plain hates hot weather!

While dogs are not allowed on the cave tours, you’ll find shaded outdoor kennels available for your use at the Mammoth Cave Kennels just a short walk from the visitor’s center for a very low fee. There are some restrictions so make sure you read about pets in Mammoth Cave NP before you head out on your road trip.

Where to Stay When Visiting Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave National Park is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. You’ll want a lodging plan before you head that way. Luckily there are great options for both camping and hotels.

Hotels, Motels and More

Inside the park, you can relax at the historic Lodge at Mammoth Cave . It is located directly next to the visitor center and features a mix of modern hotel rooms as well as historic cottages nestled in a woodland setting. All are within walking distance of cave tours and park trails.

Cave City is the nearest town, only about a 15 minute drive. You’ll find a variety of more traditional motels here. You can check Cave City motel availability here.

Campgrounds in Mammoth Cave National Park and Nearby

There are 3 beautiful campgrounds in Mammoth Cave National Park. We camped in the main campground and loved the large well shaded campsite. Make sure you get camping reservations because this park can fill up fast.

Re-capping the Best Mammoth Cave Tour for Families

The best Mammoth Cave tour for families is the Domes and Dripstones tour. We recommend that you combine this tour with one of the historical tours for a fully rounded trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. We’ve also included tips to adjust your tour plans based on your unique family. I hope you have a great time!

Planning to visit all National Parks? Here’s other Trips You Might Want to Read:

Colorado National Park Road Trip
Utah Might 5 Road Trip
West Texas and New Mexico National Park Road Trip

The Authors: Hey, we are Ladona and Brad, avid campers and hikers. We are crazy about getting outdoors at every possible moment and have decades of experience exploring nature. Our current goal is to visit all 63 US National Parks and just completed #42. WooHoo! Our mission is to help you plan your own adventures and create memories beyond your imagination!

The Adventures of Trail & Hitch

Two geeks, two cats in an airstream., best cave tours of mammoth cave.

Travel Adventures , Washington DC - Trail (Anne) - July 10, 2021

After writing a lengthy article on “ How to Visit Mammoth Cave National Park ,” I feel that I should make suggestions as to which cave tours to go on. We spent two weeks in the Mammoth Cave area and got to go on many of the major tours.

Historic Tour or River Styx Tour

I enjoyed the Historic Tour the most, out of all that we attended. We started at the Lodge Rotunda for a quick orientation before hiking down to the Historic Entrance. Our rangers guided us at an even pace, stopping every so often to tell a story or to point out a classic Mammoth Cave landmarks, which were visited by historical figures of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Highlights include crossing bridges over both Sidesaddle Pit and Bottomless Pit, squeezing through Fat Man’s Misery, crouching down into Tall Man’s Agony, and finally climbing up The Tower to view Ruins of Karnack and the great Mammoth Dome. Overall a fantastic tour featuring both history and cave decoration viewing.

At the time, I really wanted to take the River Styx Tour, which also includes the Historic Tour but then takes a side path down to an underground river. As much as I love history, I would have also enjoyed learning about the geology of Mammoth Cave. Sadly during our visit NPS closed the River Styx area due to a recent flood.

Up The Tower to Mammoth Dome

Violet City Lantern Tour

If you love history and wish to explore Mammoth Cave as they did in the past, then Violet City Lantern Tour is perfect.

A German mining engineer by the name of Max Kämper discovered a passage in 1918, along with his cave guide, Edwin Bishop. Together they crawled through a narrow passageway connecting Ultima Thule and Kämper’s Hall, which he named after himself. Today that passage area is known as Violet City, named after the cave owner’s wife, Violet Blair Janin.

From the shelters outside the visitor center, our ranger gave out lanterns before hiking down to the Historic Entrance. We passed landmarks we’ve seen on other shorter tours, such as the Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, and Giant’s Coffin.

Along the Main Cave just past Giant’s Coffin, we ventured into new territory. We saw the remains of old underground huts which housed Turburciolsis patients. Further down, we enter an underground canyon known as the Star Chamber, where the roof seems to rise about 20 or 30 feet above the ground and mimics a starry night. At a place called the Cataracts, we passed a subterranean waterfall pouring out of a hole in the ceiling.

Violet City Lantern Tours

At one point, after passing a 2000-year-old petroglyph, we end up at a spot where a 1935 work crew found the mummified remains of a Palio-Indian. Nicknamed “Lost John,” the National Park Service considered the 5-foot-3-inch man a major archaeological find and exhibited his body until 1976 when federal law prohibited the display of Indian human remains. The Rangers re-interred Lost John in a hidden location near where he was found.

Violet CIty

Near Ultima Thule, we climbed up and through the Grand Portal, a 60-foot wide and 50-foot high passage leading to Kämper’s Hall and Violet City. Sadly our lamps lacked sufficiency to illuminate the huge hall, but we saw dripstone formations, stalactites hanging down from the dark, and curtains of calcite. If you ask nicely, maybe your ranger will let you shine a flashlight on the Marble Temple, which is a flowstone wall decorated by stalactites on either side. We also passed several domes and Bishop’s Pit before climbing up and out a man-made tunnel to Violet City’s Exit.

Important Cave Touring Tip: Do not tailgate the person before. Since the cave path is dark and only lit by lanterns, keep an eye out for when the person before you stops or slows down. If you are a fast walker, I suggest going to the back of the group. That way you can pause longer, and catch-up quickly. If you are slow, move up front with the ranger who sets the pace for the group.

We pause for a rest and a history lesson

Grand Avenue Tour

Grand Avenue demands endurance from any hiker, but you’ll be rewarded with fascinating cave decorations and a wealth of stories as told by your ranger. Thankfully, our rangers were kind enough to go at an even pace and provide frequent stops along the way. We enjoyed this tour for its exceptional overview of the size and intricacy of the Mammoth Cave System.

After our orientation at the visitor center shelters, we took a short bus trip to the Carmicheal Entrance. This man-made passageway goes downward and into an area known as Cleaveland Avenue. The low ceiling tunnel felt long and unending, especially in low light. Here the walls showed evidence of an underground river now long gone.

Snowball room in Mammoth Cave – courtesy of NPS.gov

Snowballs & Grapes

After about a mile, we ended up in the Snowball Room. In this cavern, the ceiling is dotted with mineral lumps similar to snowballs in shape. These gypsum “blisters” formed as the mineral pushed outward into the cave by more gypsum forming in a layer just behind the surface. Beneath the faux snow roof, rows of tables stand ready to serve those who need a break. Our ranger tells us during certain times of the year, the Snowball room serves food. Just passed the Snowball Room, we entered an area called Mary’s Vineyard. Here the cave displays grapelike formations in the limestone deposits on the cave ceiling. As water carrying calcium carbonite drops downward, the water precipitates clusters of minerals, suspended in grape-like formations from the ceiling.

Gypsum Flowers & Flowstones

Our ranger then lead us to steep-walled Boone’s Avenue, a good example of one of the cave passages formed by water. Along the walls, there is past evidence of fast moving water, working its way down along a mild slope into deeper portions the cave. Through the winding channels, we arrived at Kentucky Avenue where the most fantastic gypsum crystals and needles can be found. Then at Grand Central Station, where at least five passages converge, we pause for our ranger to explain how this intersection of joints came to be. Our group then moved into the upper cave levels, where we finally got to see a fascinating variety of dripstone and flowstone formations such as the Frozen Niagara, Drapery Room, and Onyx Colonnade. All of it made a fine reward for the longest trip in Mammoth Cave.

Gypsum Flowers on Kentucky Avenue

Great Onyx Cave Lantern Tour

In 1915, Edmund Turner discovered Great Onyx Cave just after agreeing to be a shareowner with Flint Ridge landowner L. P. Edwards. As soon as Edwards agreed, Turner showed him where to dig, and resulted in the Great Onyx Cave, so named because of its cave onyx formations. Together, Turner continued to explore the cave while Edwards rushed to commercialize it.

At first, the owners of Great Onyx Cave refused to sell their land when the federal government in the 1930s, when it was making land purchases for the formation of Mammoth Cave National Park. When the National Park was established in 1941, Great Onyx Cave remained a privately held “island” within the Park’s borders. In January 1961, the owners finally sold Great Onyx Cave to the National Park Service. Today, you can take tours to the Great Onyx Cave depending on the season.

Great Onyx Cave Entrance

Despite search efforts, cave explorers have yet to find a connection between Great Onyx Cave to the rest of the Flint Ridge Cave System and Mammoth Cave. In fact, passages in the Flint Ridge Cave System pass beneath surveyed passages of Great Onyx Cave. During the cave’s commercialization, the owners most likely piled rocks and sand against the walls during their trail construction. During construction, it’s possible that they blocked off passages which might have connected to Mammoth Cave.

Although there are 8 mapped miles of Great Onyx Cave, you’ll only see a fraction of it. For those who love cave decorations, Great Onyx Cave is the tour you’ll want. Sadly, you’ll have to examine this geologic attraction by lantern light, putting a shadowy backdrop for an amazing yet abundant volume of dripstone gypsum, helictite formations, and travertine flowstones.

Great Onyx Cave

Mammoth Self-Guided Discovery Tour

If you have only time for a short visit to Mammoth Caves, I suggest the self-paced Discovery Tour. They usually offer this tour during the summer months and on weekends during spring and fall. You’ll visit the Rotunda, one of the largest rooms in the cave, and explore a Houchins Narrows and Audobon Avenue. Visitors will learn about 19th-century saltpeter mining operations and the geologic origins of Mammoth Cave from one of the many rangers stationed about the cave. Sadly you cannot reserve this tour online, the NPS only sells tickets daily and on a first-come-first-served base.

Saltpeter Sites

Wild Cave Tour

If you are up for an adventure, take the “extremely strenuous” Wild Cave Tour. They offer this tour daily in the summertime for adults only. After you pass the “42-inch-diameter-narrow-fit” test, they go through a detailed orientation on gear and safety. You’ll get overalls, gloves, and a hardhat with a headlamp. You’ll be crawling a majority of the 5-miles that this tour covers, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. At one section, you must traverse a slippery ledge while leaning across the chasm to put your hands on the far wall to balance yourself, then sidestep down the slope. Important: If you’re don’t like heights, super enclosed spaces or darkness, do not go on the Wild Cave Tour! Those who are relatively fit, and little to no fears of such things, will thoroughly enjoy this amazing experience.

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About author / trail (anne).

An attentive wife, lover of geekish things, avid blogger, amateur photographer, and a freelance web developer & desktop publisher for hire who is seeking wisdom through the passions of adventure.

Colorado’s san luis valley, devils tower national monument, spectacular views of death valley national park.

We’re planning a trip to Mammoth Cave in early April. We love the idea of the violet city lantern tour. However I’m a little claustrophobic and wanted to ensure that the trails, paths, etc had plenty of overhead headspace. Please advise. Thanks

I would advise against it. There are a few places where we had to duck and squeeze through passages. If you want a cave tour that has plenty of overhead space I suggest visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.

You can’t help NOT love the park & caves! Enjoy them both & treat them with respect- for all our families& friends-You won’t regret it! Thanks-A Friend From Michigan! You all are GREAT!

I know! You’re totally right: respect nature — especially if you wish them to last through the generations to come. National parks are a fantastic legacy that America has to offer.

Amazing pictures and wonderful overview of the tours.

Thanks! Spending two weeks at Mammoth allowed us to take nearly all the tours. With the exception of a few tours only run certain seasons.

Very, very cool. I love that the NPS reinterred Lost John, too. I think they’ve done a pretty good job handling things like that.

I think everyone can learn a thing or two about the graceful way rangers respect historical artifacts and nature. I really admire them for that.

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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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These Tours Of Kentucky's Mammoth Cave Are Worth Taking, Ranked By Difficulty

Mammoth Cave is home to one of the biggest cave systems in the world, and these tours take you through the best parts.

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These Tours Of Kentucky's Mammoth Cave Are Worth Taking, Ranked By Difficulty

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Frozen niagara tour, domes & dripstones tour: very easy to moderate, historic tour: easy, grand avenue tour: moderate to difficult, violet city tour & star chamber tour: moderate, river styx tour: moderate, wild cave tour: difficult, accessible cave tour.

Mammoth Cave is one of the most well-known landmark features in Kentucky. The cave has a long history within the state and has kept many travelers intrigued by its slightly unusual and captivating caverns, which span 400 miles underground. It's also known as the world's largest cave system , and this, alone, spurs a fascination that is rarely seen with other, smaller caves.

Related: Krubera Cave Is The World's Deepest, And Getting To The Bottom Isn't Even The Half Of It

What's perhaps even more peculiar about this cave system is that its above-ground surroundings are just as intriguing. Some tours allow visitors to wind their way through one of many hiking trails that wind through the woodland forests in the region, making for a very full-on adventure. Visitors must sign up for a tour in order to see the caves and trust us when we say it's worth it. Not only will guests be able to navigate the caverns with a pro leading the way, but they'll also gain an interesting insight into the history of Mammoth Cave.

UPDATE: 2022/05/26 12:21 EST BY LIANNA TEDESCO

Mammoth Cave continues to be one of the most fascinating underground cavern systems in the world. While tours are ongoing throughout the year and change according to cave conditions and availability, one thing remains the same: It's entirely worth visiting. We've updated this feature to include relevant information such as tour prices, detailed difficulty levels, walking distance, and any other details one might need to know prior to choosing one. The hope is that this will make planning a future trip easier, and will provide visitors with an idea of what to expect whenever they do.

Both of these tours are ranked as being fairly easy since they don't encompass as many steps as the others. The Frozen Niagara Tour is great for those who are still unsure about how deep they want to go into Mammoth Cave, and it's only a quarter-mile tour. Additionally, this tour is much shorter than the others, taking only about an hour and 15 minutes to complete. Visitors have the option to complete the full 98 steps but are only required to take 12. The shuttle bus takes roughly a half-hour to the site of the tour, and visitors have the chance to see formations in the Frozen Niagara section of the cave as well as the Drapery Room.

Similarly, Domes & Dripstones takes visitors on a limited tour, but this one goes a bit deeper, with a total length of three-quarters of a mile and a time span of two hours. Visitors will see the same cavern sections with the addition of unique formations they'll be walking past as opposed to taking the shuttle straight to Frozen Niagara.

Frozen Niagara Tour Details

Duration: 1.25 hours
Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km)
Total Stairs: 12, plus an optional 98
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: No
Fees: $18 Adults, $14 Youth, $9 Senior Pass Holder, $9 Access Pass Holder.

Domes & Dripstones Tour Details

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
Total Stairs: 500, including 280 on the initial staircase descent
Difficulty: Moderate
Fees: $21 Adults, $16 Youth, $10.50 Senior Pass Holder, $10.50 Access Pass Holder.

When choosing any tour, one that includes a ton of history is always the best bet. The Mammoth Cave Historic Tour is by far the most popular and one of the mid-length tours (some take up to six hours!), with a length of two hours covering a span of two miles. This is a great tour for newcomers to cave systems as well as Mammoth Cave; starting at the main entrance of the cave, guests will take 440 steps down into the cave itself to explore several major features.

Included are stops at Mammoth Dome, Bottomless Pit, Fat Man's Misery (squeezing in tight spaces required), Tall Man's Misery (crouching required), and some saltpeter mines. A 200-year history will be discussed throughout the tour, and it's by far one of the most beginner-friendly treks offered by the cave.

The Grand Avenue Tour comes in at a moderate ranking because it is four hours long, and covers a distance of four miles. There are bathroom stops included on this tour, and, along the way, visitors will see Cleveland Avenue, Boone Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, and Mt. McKinley before ending in Frozen Niagara and the Drapery room. This is a great option for those who want to see the lesser-explored parts of the cave.

Grand Avenue Tour Details

Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Total Stairs: 1313
Difficulty: Strenuous
Ages: 6 years and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: Yes
Fees: $35 Adults, $27 Youth, $17.50 Senior Pass Holder, $17.50 Access Pass Holder.

The Violet City Tour takes travelers down into the cave by lantern light to see some of the most famous and notable signatures that have been left on the walls throughout history. Along the way, the tour overlaps parts of Gothic Avenue, the Historic Tour, Star Chamber, and Mammoth Passage Tours. The tour lasts about three hours over a span of three miles.

Alternatively, the Star Chamber Tour covers many of the same features, but it is shorter at a length of two and a half hours, covering a distance of one and a half miles.

Violet City Tour Details

Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km)
Total Stairs: 160 and numerous hills with no handrails.
Tickets available for each tour time: 38
Fees: $25 Adults, $20 Youth, $12.50 Senior Pass Holder, $12.50 Access Pass Holder.

Star Chamber Tour Details

Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)
Total Stairs: 160
Tickets available for each tour time: 40

For anyone interested in the cave's water features, the River Styx Tour is the way to go. This tour takes two and a half hours, covering two and a half miles through the cavern's most impressive lakes and flowing waters.

The Dead Sea, Lake Lethe, and River Styx are all included.

River Styx Tour Details

Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km)
Total Stairs: Approximately 600, including 155 at Mammoth Dome.
Restrooms: No, restrooms are temporarily unavailable on this tour.
Tickets available for each tour time: 30
Fees: $22 Adults, $16 Youth, $11 Senior Pass Holder, $11 Access Pass Holder.

The longest and most strenuous hike is the Wild Cave Tour which takes visitors through the experience as though they were cave explorers, themselves.

The tour is six hours long and traverses a distance of six miles, feeling much more like an underground hike. Belly crawling, rock scrambling, climbing, and narrow passageways are all part of this tour for the truly adventurous. Visitors receive knee pads and a hard hat, and it should be booked in advance to avoid choosing a sold-out date.

This tour is open to anyone who has mobility issues and features elevators rather than stairs throughout the tour. Guests will see the Grand Avenue route of the cave over the span of two hours, covering a total distance of half a mile.

No matter which tour one chooses when visiting Kentucky's famous Mammoth Cave, it's certain to be an experience that they'll remember. As one of the most unique cave systems on earth, it's worth the price of a tour - and worth the effort it takes to get there.

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The Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

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The Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

Where Is Mammoth Cave National Park?

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Mammoth Cave National Park stretches over more than 52,000 acres of rolling hills, open fields, deciduous trees, rushing rivers, and, as you guessed, a massive cave system extending below the ground. This national park is filled with cultural, natural, and geologic history that amazes and astonishes you.

Each year, over 550,000 tourists stand in awe of this phenomenal park and explore the longest-known cave system on planet Earth. Come and see all there is to discover at Mammoth Cave National Park.

How To Get to Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the countryside of south-central Kentucky in the Green River Valley. Several small cities surround this national park, such as Park City, Horse Cave, and Cave City. It is within a short driving distance of many larger cities such as Bowling Green and Louisville.

There are 2 airports that are used for visitors flying to the area for a Mammoth Cave National Park vacation. Both options require about an hour and a half drive to the park. Take a look at the closest airport options if you are traveling by air for your national park vacation.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is 85 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park.

This airport offers countless nonstop and 1-connection flights to many major cities across the U.S., including Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, and New Orleans. Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport services many well-known airlines, including Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, and United.

This airport is an excellent choice for visitors who want to land in the Bluegrass State and see some of the major attractions in Kentucky along the drive to Mammoth Cave National Park.

Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Nashville International Airport is 99 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park.

Nashville International Airport offers nonstop flights to an endless list of major U.S. and international cities . Many airlines are serviced by Nashville International Airport, including Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, and Southwest.

This is the airport for those who want to get a glimpse of Music City on their way to Mammoth Cave National Park. You may even catch a glimpse of a famous musician while there.

A personal vehicle is the most common way to arrive at Mammoth Cave National Park. Visitors arriving from the west will take KY-70E into the park. Those coming from the north or south will use I-65 and then enter the park via KY-70/255 as it becomes Mammoth Cave Parkway. Each of these routes will bring guests to the visitor center.

A lot of visitors will cycle to Mammoth Cave National Park as a way to stay active and keep the environment clean. There are numerous roads that visitors can bike on while in the park , and several are included in the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

Hot Tip: The Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail is a 9-mile scenic thoroughfare for entering the park from Park City, which cyclists immensely enjoy.

Most visitors explore Mammoth Cave National Park by hiking or cycling. While it is acceptable to drive into the park, most visitors will park at the visitor center and take off from there.

There are over 18 miles of hiking trails on the park’s south side and more than 60 miles on the north side. Let’s not forget about the exploration available under your feet in the cave system. Walking and hiking are your best bet for exploring the park.

Several visitors also enjoy riding their bikes through the park trails. There are many miles of cycle-friendly roads for those who prefer cycling.

The National Park Service offers printable and interactive maps to help you plan your visit.

What To See and Do in Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is a park bursting with adventure and excitement that is just waiting to be explored. There’s never a dull moment at this magnificent park. Check out some of the top activities at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Boating is a popular activity at Mammoth Cave National Park, with its easy access to the Green and Nolin Rivers.

Many guests enjoy canoeing, kayaking, and boating while visiting this park . There are 36 miles of waterways waiting to be navigated in the Mammoth Cave National Park area. There are several points where guests can access the river, including Dennison Ferry, Houchin Ferry, and Green River Ferry.

A cave tour while visiting Mammoth Cave National Park is a must. This national park has various tour options, including walking tours of different lengths and difficulties, lantern tours, and even crawling tours.

Popular tours include the Historic Tour, the Extended Historic Tour, River Styx Tour, Gothic Avenue, and the Frozen Niagra Tour. Each of these tours wonderfully showcases the mesmerizing features of the caves and shares a wealth of information about the natural and cultural history of the park.

Hot Tip: Reservations for these tours must be obtained before visiting. Be sure to check out the National Park Service’s cave tour website to learn what to bring along with you and how to best prepare for these incredible tours.

Fishing is a popular activity in Mammoth Cave National Park. There are several incredible fishing opportunities in the park boundaries.

This park is home to over 80 species of fish, making this park a paradise for anglers. Some fish in the park include the channel catfish, the flathead catfish, the banded sculpin, and carp. Fishermen are welcome to cast out and fish in park waters. Still, they must adhere to the regulations on fishing in the park that are outlined on the National Park Service website.

Before Mammoth Cave became a national park, the area was home to nearly 600 families divided into 30 communities. Visitors can see historic churches and the cemeteries that remain near these communities.

The churches are filled with history and stories of the culture of Mammoth Cave. These 4 areas include:

Good Spring Baptist Church and Cemetery
Joppa Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery
Mammoth Cave Baptist Church and Cemetery
Old Guide’s Cemetery

These churches offer park guests a glimpse into the lives of the early settlers of the Mammoth Cave National Park area.

Horse enthusiasts love visiting Mammoth Cave National Park. This park is perfect for horseback riding on the wooded backcountry trails.

Mammoth Cave National Park is extremely accommodating to horse owners and has 60 miles of trails open for horseback riding , campgrounds where horses are welcome, and several parking areas for trailers.

Commercially guided horseback riding is offered at Mammoth Cave National Park for those who want to experience the park on horseback but want to avoid bringing their own horse. This activity is perfect for beginners and those new to riding.

Several overlooks in Mammoth Cave National Park will simply take your breath away. Some of the most popular areas the stop and admire the views include:

Doyel Valley Overlook
Green River Bluffs Overlook
Sunset Point
Turnhole Bend Overlook

Most of the overlook areas have incredible hiking trails and picnic tables nearby. Spending a day hiking, picnicking, and enjoying the views is an excellent way to spend a day at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Mammoth Cave National Park offers multiple ranger-led programs . Participating in these ranger-led programs is an excellent way to learn about the park and its history. Some of the programs offered at the park include cave tours, talks, walks, and junior ranger activities. Any program offered above the cave is free, but any tour inside the cave has a fee.

The Green River is one of the most prominent features of Mammoth Cave National Park. There are 3 river access areas in the park, each with trailheads, camping areas, and picnic areas nearby.

Green River Ferry

The Green River Ferry is an incredible experience at Mammoth Cave National Park. Guests can use the ferry to shuttle cars, bikes, and individuals from one side of the river to the other. This area is also an excellent place for fishing.

Houchin Ferry

The Houchin Ferry is a gorgeous area of Mammoth Cave National Park. This area also has an incredible campground with 12 campsites showcasing beautiful views of the Green River. Houchin Ferry is perfect for fishing and picnicking on the Green River. During the summer, Houchin Ferry is used for canoe launching and removing. While the ferry is no longer active, this still makes a beautiful area for exploration at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Dennison Ferry Day Use

Dennison Ferry Day Use area is about 20 minutes northeast of the visitor center. This is an incredible place for fishing and boating. This area is another wonderful place to set up a picnic lunch at one of the nearby picnic tables. The ferry is no longer active in this location.

Stargazing is a popular activity for visitors to enjoy at Mammoth Cave National Park. There are many areas around the park where a spectacular sky view is accessible, including grassy fields and parking lots near the visitor center.

Many planets and constellations can be seen, as well as hundreds of twinkling stars. One impressive site that is often seen is the International Space Station. There’s no need to bring a telescope, but a pair of binoculars may add to your stargazing experience.

Ranger-led stargazing programs are offered many times during the year. Kids can become Junior Ranger Night Explorers through one of the offered programs at the park.

The visitor center is a main attraction at Mammoth Cave National Park. This center helps visitors learn about the cave system and the land above the cave. The center is located a short distance from the cave’s Historic Entrance.

This visitor center is where all cave tours begin. There are lots of exhibits for learning and preparing to discover the park. Rangers are stationed at the visitor center and are happy to answer any questions or lead a group on a hike or in a talk. Restrooms, souvenirs, and park information are also available at this visitor center.

Best Times To Visit Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is a wonderful experience no matter which time of year you come to visit. If you are hoping to enjoy a particular event or activity, there are better times than others to plan a trip. Explore some of the best times to visit Mammoth Cave National Park.

Winter in Mammoth Cave is an excellent time for guests to plan a trip. Winter is the least visited time at Mammoth Cave National Park.

The temperature of the cave is constant year-round measuring 54 degrees. The warmest winter month is February. If you are hoping to explore the park above the cave, the best winter month is February. Winter is a magical time at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Hot Tip: Typically snow falls mainly in January and February, which means there’s the possibility of seeing this gorgeous park blanketed in snow during your winter vacation.

Mammoth Cave National Park is bustling with visitors most months of the year. If you want to visit this park and avoid crowds, the best month is December. December is the least visited month of the entire year.

The spring months make excellent months for camping in Mammoth Cave National Park. The best month to camp at this park is in April. April has pleasant temperatures and is the least visited month during spring.

December is the least visited month at Mammoth Cave National Park. Many nearby accommodations have lower rates in the winter, making December a perfect time to plan a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. This would be a great time to visit not only to avoid crowds but also to save money.

Mammoth Cave National Park hosts a variety of events each year . Whether you are interested in learning about wildlife, cultural history, or musical events, you can find something to enjoy at Mammoth Cave National Park. Let’s take a look at some of the popular events that take place in this park.

Bat Night is a free event in Mammoth Cave National Park each August. This event comprises of numerous activities, including junior ranger activities, bat time stories at the park amphitheater, and learning about the different ways bats are researched , including using night vision goggles, bat detectors, and thermal infrared cameras.

Bats are one of the fascinating flying mammals in Mammoth Cave National Park. If you want to learn more about these mesmerizing creatures, plan your Mammoth Cave vacation in August.

Mammoth Cave National Park has been hosting Cave Sing for 43 years. This contemporary music event celebrates a historic holiday tradition that began long ago in the 1800s.

This free event features live music performances by many local singing groups. Some choirs perform a repertoire from many different eras in history. Cave Sing is held inside the cave and is an unforgettable experience.

Wildflower Day

Wildflower Day happens twice a month on Saturdays in April. The event celebrates the changing seasons and the beauty of the wildflowers that grow in the park. This free event begins at sunrise and is led by Mammoth Cave rangers and volunteers. If you love nature and wildflowers, you should ensure your visit coincides with this beautiful event.

Where To Stay in Mammoth Cave National Park

When planning a vacation, most people first want to sort out where to stay during their trip. Thankfully, at Mammoth Cave National Park, an assortment of lodging is available inside the park and in the towns surrounding the park.

There is a wide variety of places for lodging at Mammoth Cave National Park. Whether you prefer to spend your nights in the great outdoors or a rustic lodge or quaint hotel, you can find exactly what you are looking for at this national park.

Backcountry and Riverside Camping

There are 13 designated backcountry campsites in Mammoth Cave National Park. These campsites are primitive but offer a fire ring and horse-hitching posts. Backcountry camping also includes setting up camp for the night along floodplains and on islands along the Nolin River and Green River.

A permit is required if guests camp in the backcountry or near the river. Backcountry maps are available at the visitor center or the Mammoth Cave Campground information kiosk to help you plan where to set up for the night.

Houchin Ferry Campground

Houchin Ferry Campground is the furthest developed campground from the visitor center. This campground is 15 miles from the visitor center and is perfect for guests seeking a quiet stay on the park property.

This campground has 12 sites exclusively for tent camping. These primitive sites feature picnic tables and fire rings. Houchins Ferry Campground is ideal for a simple stay in the great outdoors.

The Lodge at Mammoth Cave

The Lodge at Mammoth Cave makes an excellent option for guests who want to stay on the park property. This lodge is comprised of historic cottages and modern hotel-style rooms. This facility is tucked away in a wooded area next to the visitor center.

With gorgeous views of the park, lovely accommodations, and convenience to the adventure, this makes an excellent choice for families, couples, or individuals looking to set up a base camp in the park.

Mammoth Cave Campground

Mammoth Cave Campground offers visitors an option for lodging under the stars. There are 111 campsites for both RVs and tent campers.

This campground is just a quarter mile from the visitor center and within a short walk to plenty of amenities and activities throughout the park. Rangers stationed at this campground are there to help visitors with any questions they may have about the park or help them plan their itinerary.

This campground is the perfect place to experience the beauty of this national park and keep the adventure going, even after the sun goes down.

Maple Springs Campground

Maple Springs Campground is 6 miles from the visitor center on the park’s north side. This campground is ideal for visitors wanting to enjoy a secluded stay while visiting Mammoth Cave National Park. This campground has 7 sites with water and electric hookups and accommodations for tents, RVs, large groups, and even visitors with horses.

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the heart of South Central Kentucky. Several towns surround this park, which is excellent for those who prefer staying outside the park’s boundaries. The towns surrounding Mammoth Cave National Park have an abundance of lodging, dining, and recreational activities available to make your national park vacation one that won’t easily be forgotten.

Bowing Green, Kentucky

From fast cars to historic trains, cave systems to military aircraft, there’s something for everyone in Bowling Green. Bowling Green is a happening city just 40 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. This city has been voted one of “The South’s Best Cities on the Rise 2022” by Southern Living.

Bowling Green has over 3,300 hotel rooms and 150 vacation rentals for visitors to choose from. Accommodations include historic hotels, luxury high-rises, charming bed and breakfasts, and themed private rentals.

Food enthusiasts find themselves in paradise when staying in Bowling Green. This town has dozens of locally-owned restaurants and countless chain restaurants just waiting for you. From authentic Greek cuisine to hand-tossed gourmet pizzas and classic down-home diners to elegant restaurants, there’s something for everyone’s palate in Bowling Green.

This city has an endless list of activities for guests to enjoy. Lost River Cave is a popular attraction where visitors can explore and take a boat tour of the cave. This city is home to the Corvette, so visiting the GM Corvette Assembly Plant and National Corvette Museum are big draws for visitors.

Bottom Line: Setting up a base camp in Bowling Green is an excellent idea for those who don’t want the adventure to end during their Mammoth Cave National Park experience.

Cave City, Kentucky

Cave City is only 5 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. Many people choose to stay in this town during their national park trip since it is so close to the park. This city has several lodging options, many restaurants, and many outdoor adventures.

There are over 20 different places to stay, including budget-friendly hotels and motels, RV parks, and campgrounds. One of the unique options for lodging is a village of wigwams , where guests can have an authentic Native American experience of a lifetime.

There’s no shortage of restaurants in Cave City. Most of the dining options in Cave City are small, locally-owned restaurants that have menus that feature incredible home-cooked favorites. There are authentic Mexican restaurants, mom-and-pop diners, barbecue joints, and even gourmet hot dog restaurants.

True to its name, Cave City has some remarkable caves to explore, but other kinds of adventure exist. Dinosaur World and many different museums and parks are a big draw to this town. With its proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park and its numerous activities, Cave City would make an excellent choice for those wanting to stay close to the park.

Horse Cave, Kentucky

Horse Cave is located about 15 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. This small town has something for everyone as it is nicknamed “a little bit of Smithsonian in rural Kentucky.” There is much to be discovered in Horse Cave with options for lodging and dining.

Whether you prefer staying in a budget-friendly motel, a well-known chain hotel, a private vacation rental, or a campground, a lodging solution will match your needs. Even covered wagons and treehouses can be booked for an unforgettable stay.

The dining scene in Horse Cave is filled with locally-owned diners serving home-cooked favorites, barbecue restaurants, and pizza parlors. Feel a part of the South with a delicious dish of soul food from the South.

Horse Cave is a family-friendly city with adventure and excitement around every corner. If you are looking for a place to make a home away from home, settling in Horse Cave would be an excellent choice.

Where To Eat in Mammoth Cave National Park

There are dozens of restaurants in the towns and cities nearby. You can rest assured that you will find something for everyone’s palate in or near Mammoth Cave National Park.

Hot Tip: There are 2 great options for dining inside the park at The Lodge. However, these are currently closed for renovations.

Bucky Bee’s BBQ is located just 8 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. This barbecue joint is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

This restaurant serves an excellent menu of platters, house specials, and appetizers. Customer favorites include the fried green tomatoes, the loaded baked potato, the chopped beef brisket, and made-from-scratch chocolate pie.

Bottom Line: This family-owned restaurant happily serves lunch and dinner 6 days a week. You won’t regret stopping by for a smoked barbecue before or after park outings.

El Mazatlan is an authentic Mexican restaurant located 8 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. This locally-owned restaurant brings visitors and locals in time and time again.

The lengthy menu features favorite dishes like sizzling fajitas, massive burritos, and other unique dishes. The house-made guacamole, chips and salsa, margaritas, and creative cocktails add a fun flair to every meal.

Porky Pig Diner is a favorite of Mammoth Cave National Park visitors and locals who live nearby. This restaurant is located 5 miles from the park in Smiths Grove, Kentucky.

This ’60s-style diner has excellent food, great prices, and outstanding service. Favorite meals include the fried catfish, the cheeseburger, the pulled pork barbecue, and the fresh, thick-cut french fries.

Porky Pig Diner is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a hearty meal at a great cost while visiting Mammoth Cave National Park.

1. A New Park Established

Mammoth Cave National Park was established on July 1, 1941. Before the establishment of the park in 1925, there was a group of private citizens who formed the Mammoth Cave National Park Association in hopes of protecting the park and having it established as a U.S. National Park. This association is still active today.

2. World Heritage Site

Mammoth Cave National Park was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Mammoth Cave was recognized as the most extensive cave system in the world by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

3. International Dark Sky Park

The International Dark Sky Association deemed Mammoth Cave National Park an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. This special honor means that Mammoth Cave National Park is committed to preserving the dark skies, protecting nocturnal habitats, and demonstrating environmental leadership to the public.

4. A Massive Cave System

Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world. There have been over 400 miles of the cave that have been explored, and park experts predict there are another 600 miles continuing in the system.

5. An Ancient Cave

Research by geologists shows that the main cave parts were formed 10 to 15 million years ago. This historic cave was formed by rivers and streams carving out the limestone and creating a labyrinth of underground passages.

6. A Surprise Discovery

Mammoth Cave was discovered in 1798 by John Houchins. Houchins was a homesteader in Kentucky. He shot and wounded a bear and followed it to the cave. The entrance Houchins used when following the bear is used today as the cave entrance.

7. Signs of Life

There are many signs of human life in Mammoth Cave National Park, especially in the cave. Mummies and petroglyphs have been found in the cave. The petroglyphs are expected to be thousands of years old and can still be viewed today. The Violet City Lantern Tour gives visitors an up-close view of the petroglyphs in the cave. These drawings resemble a snake or possibly a lightning bolt, human figures, and a map of passages in the cave.

8. Cave Animals

A wide variety of animals have unique adaptations to survive the conditions of living in a cave. These incredible animals include cave salamanders, eyeless fish, and albino cave shrimp. These animals are called troglobites, and many make their home in the park.

9. Floyd Collins

Floyd Collins was a local caver as well as a cave business operator. In January 1925, Collins was trapped under a fallen rock in Sand Cave near Cave City. He was searching for a new entrance to Mammoth Cave but became trapped by a 27-pound rock and couldn’t get out.

Rescuers tried to save him, but after 18 days, Collins was pronounced dead from exposure. Sand Cave was sealed at that point, and his body was removed later. He was buried at Mammoth Cave Baptist Church Cemetery.

10. Tuberculosis Clinic

In 1842 a doctor named John Croghan purchased the cave to use it as a colony for tubercular patients. He believed the cave air had healing qualities, but it made his patients even sicker from the smoke of the torches and cookfires. His patients died within a year of seeking his treatment, and Dr. Croghan also died of the disease. These huts can be seen today on the Violet City Lantern Tour.

11. Endangered Animals

Three species of endangered animals make their home in Mammoth Cave National Park. These animals include the Kentucky cave shrimp, the Indiana bat, and the gray bat.

The National Park Service works with federal and state agencies to protect and preserve these species and improve their habitats. Ongoing research and conservation efforts are in place to help these endangered animals survive.

12. What’s in a Name?

Mammoth Cave National Park got its name in the early 1800s. The word “mammoth” was initially used to describe the cave long ago and refers to the size of the chambers in the cave and the avenues. Some people think it was named after the prehistoric mammal, but this is not true.

13. Boat Tours

Boat tours used to be offered in Mammoth Cave National Park, but this was discontinued in the early 1990s due to human traffic causing harm to the water animals. The boat tour was also costly for the park, and river flooding made it difficult to keep the passages open to the public.

The Echo Tour was the tour’s name with a boat ride, but this is no longer an option when touring Mammoth Cave National Park. The River Styx Tour offers a glimpse of this impressive feature for visitors who want to see the underground rivers inside the cave today.

Mammoth Cave National Park is a remarkable place to visit when planning a national park vacation. From excellent hiking trails, historic buildings, and of course, the longest cave system on the planet, there is plenty to explore at this incredible park. Plan a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park and discover what draws many tourists to this natural wonder.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should i plan a visit to mammoth cave national park.

A full day to 2 days is recommended when visiting Mammoth Cave National Park. This allows for touring, hikes, taking in the exhibits, and other activities.

What does it cost to enter Mammoth Cave National Park?

It is free to enter Mammoth Cave National Park. Cave tours, camping, and lodging require fees.

How much do cave tours cost at Mammoth Cave National Park?

Cave tours range in price from $6 to $60, depending on which tour you want to experience.

Can I tour the cave in Mammoth Cave National Park on my own?

There is no way to explore the cave alone. You must explore the cave on a cave tour, whether it is ranger-led or self-guided.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Mammoth Cave National Park – 5 Best Cave Tours for Families

Ready for a family adventure that takes you through the woods and then UNDERNEATH it? If you answered yes, it’s time to start planning a trip to Kentucky to explore the world’s longest cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Recently, friend and fellow family travel writer Mike Baron with FivePax.com , his wife Brittany, and three children (ages 6, 4, and 1) embarked on a road trip to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. They had a great time and since Mike know how much we love getting kids outdoors, he wanted to share their trip with y’all here. Mammoth Cave is known for their cave tours.

This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Mike offers some great insight to help you plan your next family trip including the 5 best cave tours for families. These tours range from the super short Frozen Niagara tour, to the park’s only accessibility tour for those with limited mobility, and the Wild Cave Tour for super adventurous teens. He also shares tips on nearby attractions, caves outside the park, the trail system, and lodging options when you are here. Everything you’ll need to plan your trip is here!

Mammoth Cave National Park

The sensational Mammoth Cave National Park holds the world’s longest known cave system and is one of the real gems of the US National Park service. The land surface above the cave covers over 80 square miles, but underneath is a limestone and sandstone labyrinth of roughly 400 miles of a five layer cave system. The park sees over 2 million visitors each year, with nearly 500,000 taking a cave tour.

Around Mammoth Cave National Park, visitors can enjoy nearly 84 miles of trails that span backcountry, front country, and near the visitor center. In the summertime, visitors can also canoe down the green river through Mammoth Cave National Park. Canoe trips range from 3 hours to 2 nights or more with great opportunities to see wildlife such as turkey, deer, beaver, birds and reptiles along the shoreline. The main attraction, however, is the cave itself.

PIN THIS FOR LATER…..

Hotels and Airbnbs near Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Start with a visit to the park’s visitor center.

The visitor center is the obvious place to start upon arrival at Mammoth Cave. Families can stop at the ranger kiosk at the center of the visitor center to learn more about the trail system and the various cave tour options. There is also a gift shop and a museum where visitors can learn more about the caves, or in our case, hype your kids up for some time underground.

Junior Ranger Program

One popular activity at any National Park, but something especially fun at Mammoth Cave is participating in the Junior Ranger Program . At no cost, you can pick up a booklet of educational activities for the kids at the ranger kiosk in the visitor center. You will definitely want to pick this up BEFORE you head out into the park and especially before you begin touring the caves. The Mammoth Cave booklet may be a little basic for kids over the age of 12, but was a huge hit with our city slicker New Yorkers.

NOTE: Did you know that adults can participate in the Junior Ranger Program? It’s fun for ALL ages! You can do the activities as a family, solo, or make it a competition – Kids versus adults.

The Junior Ranger program at Mammoth Cave covers topics such as the types of animals living in the caves, plant life outside the cave, and important lessons such as the Leave No Trace principles. Once the kids complete the requisite number of activities in the book based on their age bracket, a ranger reviews the work and awards a badge after a swearing in ceremony.

Future Junior Rangers are seen here learning about moss that covers the rocks near Mammoth Cave Kentucky.

If the educational value of the program is not the highlight, watching the attention kids get when they walk around with mini park ranger badges certainly is.

First of all, he’s cute. Also, he’s left handed, so the ranger let the little guy slide for raising his left hand. He still got the official Junior Ranger badge.

Mammoth Cave Tours

The National Park Service offers multiple cave tours at various levels of adventurous spirit. Several tours covered below are lit tours great for families with young children or grandparents. More adventurous alternatives are lit only by paraffin lamps carried by guests. Finally, for those looking for the ultimate adventure, Mammoth Cave offers a few “wild” tours that descend into the depths of the caves, away from the developed sections and into muddy and dusty crawl spaces.

Narrowing down the 18 offered tours is quite a task. While some of the more popular tours are offered multiple times per day even in the winter, many tours have very little availability outside of the summer months. If your time at the cave is limited or you are traveling in the late fall, winter or early spring, start by searching which tours are being offered during the time your family has available. We highlighted the top 5 tours for families below, but the best place to find all tours listed in one place is oddly the recreation.gov website and not the Mammoth Cave NPS site, which only lists tours for the current season.

Know before you go

Before ducking into the caves, it is important to do a self-assessment about what a cave tour actually means. Claustrophobic individuals may want to consider one of the well-lit tours, and even those include climbing through narrow passageways. Stairs down into the cave areas are also steep and occasionally wind through spiral metal staircase above several hundred feet of drop off. Finally, visitors should be aware that most tours require moderate physical activity and are completely cut off from the outside world.

All that said, our 4-year-old had no trouble on the Domes and Dripstones guided tour. He ran out of gas and only needed to be carried up a few stairs near the end, even with the optional additional 100 stairs, we tackled to get up close with stalactites and stalagmites. We also carried a baby in a front carrier and although tricky in a few spots, we were able to maneuver through without any problems.

Logistically, tickets can be purchased online ahead of time or on-site. Ensure you check-in at the Welcome Center to receive your printed tickets at least 30-minutes prior to the start of your tour, even if you booked online. The tours start right on time. Unless noted, tours are not accessible by wheelchair or stroller.

Cave Tour Rules

Other things to note are items that are not permitted:

Flash photography
Metal framed backpacks
Child backpack carriers (you can carry on the front)
Walking sticks
Firearms or weapons of any kind

Best guided cave tours for families

There are a few low and/or tight passages in the Domes and Dripstones tour, but well worth the crouching and twisting.

Domes and Dripstones Tour

Duration: 120 minutes

Distance: 0.75 miles, Steps: 500

This is the tour for families who are okay with a bit of adventure, hundreds of stairs and steep passageways with a few narrow squeezes. The viewing prize are the stalactites and stalagmites at the end! We chose this trail and our 4 and 6-year-olds handled the tour just fine with our one-year-old tucked into a front carrier. The payoff truly is fantastic.

Historic Tour

Distance: 2 miles, Steps: 540

A tour for history buffs and adventure seekers, visitors of the historic tour will walk the same paths used by area residents for thousands of years. You will need to squeeze through Fat Man’s Misery and duck down for Tall Man’s Misery on this tour, which will be to the great amusement of small children who glide through with ease. The reward is quite worth the temporary discomfort as you will soon be standing among the massive rooms that gave Mammoth Cave its name.

Frozen Niagara Tour

Duration: 75 minutes

Distance: 0.25 miles, Steps: 12

The shortest tour on the list, a great choice for families of very small children or anyone with limited mobility who may have difficulty with stairs or a longer hike through the cave system. The Frozen Niagara begins where many tours end with a stunning view of stalactites and stalagmites.

Mammoth Cave Accessible Tour

Distance: ½ mile maximum, no stairs

This tour is the only accessible tour offered at Mammoth Cave but offers visitors who require assistance with the ability to enjoy the caves via an elevator entrance. The tour is ideal for visitors who require wheelchairs, scooters, or other special assistance devices. Due to demand, the park requests guests who do not require an accessible tour to book other tours. Keep in mind during the late fall and winter months this tour has limited offerings so you will need to plan ahead.

Wild Cave Tour

Duration: 6 hours

Distance: 6 miles, 500 steps

OK, this tour is probably not the most family-friendly tour, but we have to mention it. For the most adventurous travelers who are at least 16 years of age with a chest and waist measurement not exceeding 42 inches, this tour might be for you. The Wild Cave tour is an all-day underground crawling adventure and is very physically demanding. If you want to physically challenge yourself in a unique environment, the Wild Cave tours answer the call.

What’s more awesome than making scary shadows in the depths of a super cool cave?

Mammoth Cave National Park Trails

The trail system around the visitor center is well cleared, some areas are paved and well-traveled, but none are especially well marked. Hiking is generally easy for all ages. The views are good, but not spectacular. If you are in the park for a trip to the caves, the trails are worth a hike simply for the wildlife. One rather amusing observation is the fact that the deer in the park have no fear of humans. Hunting is strictly forbidden in the National Park, so deer have no reason to run when people approach. We also saw wild turkey and a lot of squirrels. The trails further off the paved walkway are a bit less traveled and more scenic.

Related: Get our hiking with kids tips & printable nature scavenger hunt .

As we approached this buck, I informed our boys that his tail would shoot up indicating he was afraid of us and he would run away. I was wrong. He continued munching and ignored us.

Exploring the Surrounding Area

Nearby Nolin Lake State Park offers a great camping getaway and the area also offers attractions such as Chaney’s Dairy Barn . Also nearby are smaller, but equally dynamic caves in Kentucky such as Diamond Caverns or the Crystal Onyx Caves where you can see actual stalactites dripping mineral water. The smaller caves outside the park are not nearly as large as Mammoth Cave, but the rock formations and lighting are better suited for photos. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park are two other nearby national parks in Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave Lodging

The Lodge at Mammoth Cave is located at the heart of the park with rather nice rooms and full amenities such as dining, shopping, and even on-site dog and cat kenneling.

Mammoth Cave offers a number of very reasonably priced campgrounds, however, of all the campgrounds only two sites have electricity. RV’s with a maximum length of 38 feet are allowed at some sites.

As mentioned previously, Nolin Lake State Park also offers camping, with 32 sites that have both water and electricity.

Outside of the National Park, hotels in the cities of Horse Cave, Cave City, and Park City are closest to the park entrance and attractions with a few chain hotel options. A little further out, within 30 miles are the towns of Bowling Green and Elizabethtown. Both offer slightly larger metro areas with more lodging and restaurant options.

In any case, it is advisable to book reservations well in advance during the summer months. In the summer, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky will see over 5,000 visitors per day.

The National Park system really is a national treasure and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky lives up to the hype. While it does not get the attention of Zion, Yellowstone, or Yosemite, Mammoth Cave delivers a fascinating ecosystem and a one of a kind experience. What is your favorite hidden gem of a National Park?

Interested in other National Parks? Take a look at:

Joshua Tree National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Mesa Verde National Park

Guest Author Bio: Mike is a software engineer and father of three young boys. He works closely with a study abroad program at a large university in New York City, so he gets a healthy dose of culture at home and gets to travel to amazing places for work. When he’s not staring at a screen trying to figure out why a semicolon is causing an entire system to malfunction, he enjoys spending time with his family outdoors immersed in culture and nature. You can find more of his and his wife’s travel tips on their website FivePax Family Travel .

Reader Interactions

July 2, 2020 at 12:13 pm

Great information! We are taking vacation in August to Pigeon Forge and wanted to stop at Mammoth with our 6 year old but wanted to make sure we picked an appropriate tour for her. Thanks so much!

Venture Deep Underground in This Breathtaking National Park

With over 400 miles of explored caverns and passages, Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park has plenty to offer the adventurous visitor.

Location: Kentucky Established: July 1, 1941 Size: 52,830 acres

Under a swath of Kentucky hills and hollows is a limestone labyrinth that became the heartland of a national park . The surface of Mammoth Cave National Park encompasses about 80 square miles. No one knows how big the underside is. More than 365 miles of the five-level cave system have been mapped, and new caves are continually being discovered.

Two layers of stone underlie Mammoth's hilly woodlands. A sandstone and shale cap, as thick as 50 feet in places, acts as an umbrella over limestone ridges. The umbrella leaks at places called sinkholes, from which surface water makes its way underground, eroding the limestone into a honeycomb of caverns.

Mammoth, the world's longest known cave system, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the core area of an international biosphere reserve, still is as "grand, gloomy, and peculiar" as it was when Stephen Bishop , a young slave and early guide, described it. By a flickering lard-oil lamp he found and mapped some of Mammoth's passages. Bishop died in 1857. His grave, like his life, is part of Mammoth; it lies in the Old Guide's Cemetery near the entrance.

Most visitors see the eerie beauty of the caverns on some of the 10 miles of passages available for tours. Rangers dispense geological lore and tell tales about real and imagined happenings 200 or 300 feet down. The tours are hikes inside the Earth; uphill stretches can be hard going for some visitors. Few seem frightened; people terrified by darkness or tight spots naturally avoid caves. Rangers say they rarely have problems guiding the 390,000 men, women, and children who venture below yearly.

Mammoth does not glamorize the underworld with garish lighting. You never forget that you are deep in the Earth. And nowhere else can you get a better lesson in the totality of darkness and the miracle of light. Usually on a tour a ranger gathers everyone and, after a warning, switches off the lights. The darkness is sudden, absolute. Then the ranger lights a match and the tiny dot of light magically spreads, illuminating a circle of astonished faces.

How to Get There

Mammoth Cave , nine miles northwest of I-65, is nearly equidistant (about 85 miles) between Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. From the south, take the exit at Park City and head northwest on Ky. 255 to the park; from the north, take the exit at Cave City and head northwest on Ky. 70 to the park. Airports: Nashville, Tenn. and Louisville, Ky.

Year-round. Underground, all days are about the same; temperatures in interior passages fluctuate from the mid-50s to the low 60s. Summer brings the most people, and frequent tours are offered. Though there are fewer tours the rest of the year, they are less crowded.

Nat Geo Expeditions

How to Visit

The tours vary greatly; pick ones to fit your time and stamina. All require you to purchase a ticket. Reservations are strongly advised in summer, on holidays, and on spring and fall weekends. For a half-day visit, you might take the Historic Tour, which combines geology with Mammoth's rich history, or the challenging Introduction to Caving Tour. If you plan to stay longer, consider the fairly strenuous four-mile Grand Avenue Tour (there are three steep hills, each nearly 90 feet high). To enjoy the caves safely and comfortably, wear shoes with nonskid soles and take a jacket. Complete your underground trips with a river trip or a walk on the River Styx Spring Trail. The least arduous cave tour (0.25 mile, 75 minutes) is the Frozen Niagara Tour. A modified version of the tour has only six steps each way (plus an optional 49) and is designed for visitors who want a short and easy trip. The toughest challenge is the five-mile, six-hour, belly-crawling Wild Cave Tour, offered daily in summer and weekends year-round. By reservation.

Mammoth Cave National Park is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored.

For Hungry Minds

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

10 Important Ranger Tips For Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park

Activities and Interests
Destinations
Mammoth Cave
National Parks
United States
United States National Parks

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest known cave system. Although more than 400 miles of the limestone labyrinth have been explored, park officials estimate there could be another 600 miles in the cave system.

The park, which is a world heritage site , is also very accessible. For instance, Mammoth Cave National Park is less than 100 miles from Louisville , Kentucky , or Nashville , Tennessee .

If you’re planning a trip to Mammoth Cave, the National Park Service (NPS) wants to help. In fact, the NPS recently released its “Top Ten Tips for Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park” as part of its “Plan Your Vacation Like a Park Ranger” series. The tips are even written by the rangers who work at Mammoth Cave, so you know they’ll be insightful.

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

So, let’s get right to it. Here’s what the rangers want you to know before you visit Mammoth Cave National Park.

1. Make Reservations

“Cave tours are our most popular activity and they often sell out,” rangers explain. Purchasing cave tour tickets in advance “will ensure you can get the tour you want, on the day you want, at the time you want. It’s is a win-win-win!”

While you’re planning your trip, rangers explain that they also know you “don’t want to miss your chance to roast s’mores around the campfire.” That’s why they also recommend making campsite reservations.

You can learn more about the park’s three campgrounds here and make reservations here .

2. Pick The Right Tour

Mammoth Cave offers a variety of cave tours for visitors of all abilities and interests. “This allows you to select the adventure that best fits your group’s needs,” rangers explain. “From a 2.5-mile, 2.5-hour dirt trail hike to see an underground river, to a 0.25-mile, 1.25-hour walk to see hundreds of dripstone formations, there’s a tour that’s right for everyone.”

You can learn about all of the different tours here . When you’re ready, you can purchase tickets for cave tours here .

3. Visit The “Sunny Side” Of The Park

Mammoth Cave is known for its extensive labyrinth of underground cave passages, but the park also has more than 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,” rangers suggest.

You can learn about hiking at Mammoth Cave here , biking here , and horseback riding here .

4. Hang Out With A Ranger

“If you’re 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,” the rangers suggest. “The programs are the perfect activity to complement your cave tour.”

You can learn more about ranger-led programs — including evening programs — here .

5. Paddle Away On A Weekday

Many people don’t know it, but Mammoth Cave National Park is also home to more than 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers, which are perfect for paddling or fishing, the rangers explain.

Keep in mind that the river can get very busy during weekends. To avoid the crowds at river access points, rangers recommend planning your canoeing, kayaking, and fishing for weekdays.

You can learn more about canoeing, kayaking, and boating on the Green and Nolin Rivers here .

Pro Tip: Don’t worry if you don’t have a canoe or kayak. Several private canoe and kayak rental businesses operate inside the park. You can learn more about those outfitters here .

6. Remember Your Jacket

In the summer, it can be humid and the temperature can be 90 degrees or hotter outside the cave. Deep inside the cave, however, the temperature is always 54 degrees.

Rangers recommend being prepared for your cave tour by bringing extra clothing or a light jacket so you stay comfortable inside the cave.

“Mammoth Cave is a place for fun, not folly!” rangers explain. “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.”

Rangers explain that following concepts such as keeping a safe distance from wildlife, never feeding wildlife, staying on boardwalks and trails, and never parking in the road or blocking traffic will help you avoid the most common accidents. Also, by following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, you’ll help protect the park as well, they continue.

You can learn how to “Protect Your Park, Protect Yourself” by staying safe here .

8. Watch The Clock

Mammoth Cave National Park sits on the far eastern side of the Central Time Zone. This can be confusing to visitors arriving from the north or from locations in the Eastern Time Zone, the rangers note.

It’s important to pay attention to local time so you don’t arrive too late — or too early — for your cave tour, rangers explain.

9. Don’t Let Technology Lead You Astray

Rangers warn visitors not to trust their vehicle’s navigation system or GPS units when traveling to Mammoth Cave because they can provide inaccurate information. Instead, rangers recommend checking your route and reviewing directions on the park’s website so you can avoid unintended delays. That’s especially important when you need to arrive at the park in time for your scheduled cave tour.

You can find directions to the park here .

Pro Tip: Rangers also point out that while public Wi-Fi is available at the park visitor center, cell service throughout the park can be spotty.

10. Visit South-Central Kentucky

Rangers know that there’s a lot you can do at Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area.

“Feel like you’re cramming a lot of Mammoth Cave into a day trip?” they ask. “Stick around and avoid the rush! You might even check another National Park Service site off your list by visiting Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky — which is right up the road.”

The good news is that if you do want to stay, the park has three developed campgrounds and several backcountry campsites — in addition to the Lodge at Mammoth Cave. You can learn more about where you can spend the night here and make reservations for those places here .

You can also learn more about the nearby local communities and their attractions here .

While you’re on the topic, be sure to read our other Mammoth Cave National Park coverage. Also, since they are nearby, be sure to read our Louisville , Kentucky , Nashville , and Tennessee coverage.

Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.

Backpacking America. Outdoor travel destinations in the US. USA. United States. US outdoor vacation ideas.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Mammoth Cave tours + tickets 🦇 What’s the best Mammoth Cave National Park tour?! 🦇 Kentucky travel blog

The specific cave tours that are offered at Mammoth Cave National Park when you are there will depend on when you go.

There may be over 10 Mammoth Cave National Park tours that you can choose from!

It is worth it to do at least one Mammoth Cave tour.

And park rangers will also say that doing 2 or more cave tours can be worth it to give you a different experience in Mammoth Cave.

So if you want to do a lot of exploring of Mammoth Cave, it’s possible to mix and match to get a more well-rounded experience to see different aspects of Mammoth Cave!

There is also some overlap of the offered cave tours, so they are not all 10 completely unique tours.

But it’s possible to take more than one cave tour without feeling like you are seeing the same thing you saw in a previous tour.

If you want to do more than one cave tour, you will just want to be sure to read the cave descriptions carefully, because they do note the overlap that there may be.

And no matter which Mammoth Cave tour you choose, you will likely get a tour guide with great passion for Mammoth Cave!

Best Mammoth Cave tours

According to a Mammoth Cave park ranger, if you want a well-rounded Mammoth Cave experience, there are 4 types of Mammoth Cave tours you can do.

Here are the basic types of Mammoth Cave tours:

Historic tour
Formations tour (think stalagmites and stalactites)
Geology tour
Lantern tour

So these are the kinds of things you can look out for as you read through the descriptions of the cave tours.

If you want to do 2 solid cave hikes in Mammoth Cave National Park, then I would have said to check to see if there is availability for the River Styx Tour and Domes and Dripstones Tour .

These are the 2 Mammoth Cave tours I did, and I thought it was a perfect combination.

I didn’t feel like I was doing the same tours at all.

But unfortunately… neither are offered in summer 2023!! 😒

As of spring 2022, the River Styx Tour is listed as not being available at all in 2023, and the Domes and Dripstones Tour is listed as being available only in fall 2023.

So if you do see these Mammoth Cave tours offered, book tickets sooner rather than later since apparently they are rare!

So if you can’t do the River Styx Tour or Domes and Dripstones Tour… what then?!

1. Mammoth Cave historic tour

Is a historic tour is best Mammoth Cave tour?!

Best Mammoth Cave tours: historic tour. kentucky travel blog

I was at the shelter waiting for a later departing tour when the Historic Tour was gathering around.

The park ranger leading that tour said that the historic tour was his favorite and went on to say that you haven’t really been to Mammoth Cave if you haven’t been on a historic tour!

If anything, this says that you will at least want to go inside Mammoth Cave through the historic entrance , whether that’s through a tour or on your own !

mammoth cave tours or mammoth cave without a tour. mammoth cave entrance without a tour. kentucky travel blog

There are Mammoth Cave historic tours:

The Historic Tour is $20 per person. (2 hours, 2 miles, 540 steps, moderate)
The Extended Historic Tour is $23 per person. (2 hours 15 minutes, 2.25 miles, 540 steps, moderate)

There are other cave tours that start from the historic entrance, but these are the basic historic tours of Mammoth Cave.

If your cave tour does not enter through the historic entrance, then you can go inside Mammoth Cave on your own through the historic cave entrance by doing the self-guided Discovery Tour .

2. Frozen Niagara of Mammoth Cave

Is a cave formations tour the best Mammoth Cave tour?!

Best Mammoth Cave tours: frozen niagara mammoth cave. frozen niagara tour. domes and dripstones tour. grand avenue tour. kentucky travel blog

One of the most popular underground sections of Mammoth Cave is an area called the Frozen Niagara.

While most of Mammoth Cave is wide open passageways (which is why you should experience the cave from the historic entrance!), the section of the cave called the Frozen Niagara is where you can go to see more classic cave formations that you learn about in school. (aka stalagmites and stalactites .)

Best Mammoth Cave tours: frozen niagara tour. domes and dripstones tour. grand avenue tour. frozen niagara, mammoth cave. kentucky travel blog

When you get to the Frozen Niagara of Mammoth Cave, you can see it without taking any stairs.

But you do also have the option of taking the stairs down into the Drapery Room, which is very much worth it to see more cave formations!

Best Mammoth Cave tours: drapery room. frozen niagara tour. domes and dripstones tour. grand avenue tour. frozen niagara, mammoth cave. kentucky travel blog

There are several Mammoth Cave tours that pass through the Frozen Niagara area:

Frozen Niagara Tour (1 hour 15 minutes, 0.25 miles, 12 steps, easy)
Domes and Dripstones Tour (2 hours, 0.75 miles, 500 steps, moderate)
Grand Avenue Tour (4 hours, 4 miles, 1313 steps, difficult)

The Frozen Niagara Tour is the shortest and easiest way to see the “Frozen Niagara” of the Mammoth Cave.

The Domes and Dripstones Tour starts off by going down down down the stairs!

There are a lot of stairs to go down as soon as you enter the cave.

This part is fun!

There are parts where you’ll be going down narrow stairs with the cave walls literally right next to you.

And then you continue walking along a cave trail, and towards the end is where you’ll see the Frozen Niagara.

mammoth cave tour group: domes and dripstones tour. mammoth cave trail. mammoth cave hike. kentucky trail blog.

3. Mammoth Cave geology tour

Is a geology tour the best Mammoth Cave tour?!

mammoth cave tour group: river styx tour. mammoth cave trail. mammoth cave hike. kentucky trail blog.

When my River Styx tour started gathering around, the park ranger leading my tour said that the River Styx tour was her favorite because of the geology aspect.

She is a geologist and likes talking about rocks and water, which is what the River Styx tour was about.

River Styx: Underground water in Mammoth Cave

This is described as a “geology” tour, with a focus on learning more about the geology of Mammoth Cave.

One of the highlights is also seeing an underground river in Mammoth Cave.

Best Mammoth Cave tours: mammoth cave tour to see underground river. river styx tour. lantern tour. kentucky travel blog

You also have a chance to see eyeless cave fish , although they didn’t show themselves during my tour.

Fat Man’s Misery of Mammoth Cave

Best Mammoth Cave tours: geology tour. fat man's misery, mammoth cave. kentucky travel blog

The River Styx tour goes through a section of Mammoth Cave called Fat Man’s Misery .

And while it is called this, the park ranger did indicate that a “fat man” can get through just fine.

No matter what size you are, you might be side stepping at times as you walk through this section of Mammoth Cave.

It’s fun!

It was also noted that all the paths we went through were naturally made.

So even the Fat Man’s Misery section, while it may seem like it was carved out, it was all naturally formed.

4. Mammoth Cave lantern tour

Is a lantern tour the best Mammoth Cave tour?!

Best Mammoth Cave tours: lantern tour. kentucky travel blog

There was yet another park ranger who said the lantern tour is one of his favorite ways to explore Mammoth Cave!

This park ranger was hesitant to specify any individual cave tour as his favorite.

But he basically said that he likes any of the lantern tours because he likes the experience of walking through the cave by the light of a lantern only.

There are several Mammoth Cave lantern tours:

The Violet City Lantern Tour is $25 per person. (3 hours, 3 miles, 160 steps, difficult)
The Star Chamber Tour is $25 per person. (evening lantern tour, 2.5 hours, 1.5 miles 160 steps, moderate)
The Great Onyx Lantern Tour is $23 per person. (2 hours 15 minutes, 1 mile, 82 steps, moderate)

While the Great Onyx Lantern Tour is offered by Mammoth Cave National Park, the tour does not take place in Mammoth Cave itself. You will be exploring another Kentucky cave called the Great Onyx Cave.

And while you won’t be walking most of Mammoth Cave by lantern, the River Styx Tour has a small portion in which you will use only a lantern to light your way too.

I did a full “lantern tour” at Jewel Cave National Monument , and it was fun! See about my Jewel Cave lantern tour .

What is the most popular Mammoth Cave tour?

Among the most popular Mammoth Cave tours are the Historic Tour and the Extended Historic Tour .

A historic tour takes you through the wide open Mammoth Cave passages that Mammoth Cave is known for!

It is worth noting that the Frozen Niagara Tour is also very popular, but unfortunately this is also not offered until fall 2023. (The Domes and Dripstones Tour goes to the same exact spot as the Frozen Niagara Tour, and then some.)

If you are going to Mammoth Cave National Park in the fall 2023, then you can do a historic tour and Frozen Niagara Tour in one day.

And although not as popular, I would also recommend considering the Violet City Lantern Tour .

You get to walk through Mammoth Cave with the light of a lantern only ! So fun!

At 3 hours long though, the Violet City Lantern Tour is on the longer side, so you will want to consider that.

Another less popular tour that you should consider is the Cleaveland Avenue Tour so that you can learn about the geology and history of the Mammoth Cave! This is another tour on the longer side at 2.5 hours.

Mammoth Cave tours not offered for some or all of this year.

According to the National Park Service as of spring 2023:

The River Styx Tour and Star Chamber Lantern tour are “not currently available.”

The Frozen Niagara Tour and the Domes and Dripstones Tour, which both go to the Frozen Niagara section of Mammoth Cave , will not be offered until fall 2023.

The Grand Avenue Tour will not be offered until fall 2023 or summer 2024.

See currently offered tours.

How much does it cost to go on a Mammoth Cave tour?

The cost of a Mammoth Cave tour will depend on which tour you decide on.

The cost of tickets for the regular Mammoth Cave tours is around $20 per person.

The adult prices are listed below, and there is a discounted rate for kids.

Number of reviews are at the time I updated this list, also indicating the most popular tours.

Here are the best Mammoth Cave tours based on popularity:

The Historic Tour is $20 per person. (2 hours, 2 miles, 540 steps, moderate, 1,955 reviews)
The Extended Historic Tour is $23 per person. (2 hours 15 minutes, 2.25 miles, 540 steps, moderate, 1,109 reviews)
The Domes and Dripstones Tour is $21 per person. (2 hours, 0.75 miles, 500 steps, moderate, 774 reviews)*
The Frozen Niagara Tour is $18 per person. (1 hour 15 minutes, 0.25 miles, 12 steps, easy, 330 reviews)*
The Gothic Avenue Tour is $19 per person. (2 hours, 1 mile, 160 steps, moderate, 245 reviews)
The River Styx Tour is $22 per person. (2.5 hours, 2.5 miles, 574 steps, moderate, 225 reviews)
The Cleaveland Avenue Tour is $22 per person. (2.5 hours, 2 miles, 400 steps, moderate, 223 reviews)
The Grand Avenue Tour is $35 per person. (4 hours, 4 miles, 1313 steps, difficult, 197 reviews)*
The Mammoth Passage Tour is $11 per person. (1 hour 15 minutes, 0.75 miles, 125 steps, easy, 163 reviews)
The Great Onyx Lantern Tour is $23 per person. (2 hours 15 minutes, 1 mile, 82 steps, moderate, 144 reviews)
The Violet City Lantern Tour is $25 per person. (3 hours, 3 miles, 160 steps, difficult, 105 reviews)
The Wondering Woods Tour is (1.5 hours, 1 mile, 194 steps, moderate, 46 reviews)
The Star Chamber Tour is $25 per person. (evening “experience” lantern tour, 2.5 hours, 1.5 miles 160 steps, moderate, 37 reviews)
The Grand Historic Tour is $35 per person. (4 hours, 4 miles, 640 steps, difficult, 36 reviews)

*At the time of this update, these tours were unlisted so information is based on last year. Hopefully they will be added back!

See the current list of tours and fees.

How to buy tickets for a Mammoth Cave tour

The important thing to know is that Mammoth Cave tours do sell out.

So planning may be required!

The best way to book your ticket for Mammoth Cave tours is through the official National Park Service reservation website .

When you are on the national park reservations website for the individual tours, you can go to the calendar availability.

If you click on a certain date, it will tell you how many tickets are left for each tour time. So this can let you know how soon you should book.

If there is still availability of the cave tours, then you can also buy tickets to the Mammoth Cave tours when you show up at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center.

In 2022, the only way to buy Mammoth Cave tickets to walk inside Mammoth Cave on your own is to show up at the Mammoth Cave visitor center.

But this can always change, so it’s important to check for updated Mammoth Cave ticket info from the National Park Service website .

You may also try calling the Mammoth Cave visitor center to speak with a park ranger to ask about how the availability of any of the cave tours for the day is looking.

The listed phone number for the Mammoth Cave visitor center is 270-758-2180.

If you buy your Mammoth Cave tour ticket online, screenshot your ticket.

Once you buy your ticket for a Mammoth Cave tour, a ticket will be emailed to you.

You will want to screenshot this e-ticket, as this will be what you will show to go on the tour!

You likely won’t have service in most of Mammoth Cave National Park, but there is wifi at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center if you forget to screenshot the ticket.

How long does the Mammoth Cave tour take?

Most of the Mammoth Cave tours are 2 hours long.

Where do Mammoth Cave tours start?

All things to do with Mammoth Cave tours will begin at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center.

The starting point of the cave tours is at a shelter located right outside the visitor center.

There is Shelter A and Shelter B. There is a sign posted at the shelter with the cave tours that start at each location.

There is no separate “check-in” area. You can just show up here.

where do mammoth cave tours start? meet at mammoth cave visitor center for cave tours. kentucky travel blog

From the meeting area, there are some tours (like the Frozen Niagara Tour) that will shuttle you by bus to another area of the park to enter Mammoth Cave.

Mammoth cave tour bus. kentucky travel blog

The National Park Service tells you not to rely on GPS or google maps to get to Mammoth Cave National Park.

I believe the problem may be if you just click on a random “Mammoth Cave National Park” on google maps, as it may not be a specific location within the park.

But if you navigate specifically to Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center then you should be fine. ( map )

I navigated to Mammoth Cave Campground (which is near the visitor center), and it took me to the right place. ( map )

Still, if you want the National Park Service directions for confirmation, these are the directions to get to Mammoth Cave National Park.

The directions to the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center will be emailed to you if you book a cave tour.

How to get to Mammoth Cave National Park 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.

How to get to Mammoth Cave National Park 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.

Other than that, you may be driving through rural areas, so it’s best to download offline google maps for Kentucky before you go!

Mammoth Cave National Park is in central time zone!

Well, the good news is that if you are not already in the central time zone, then if you mess up the time, it just means you will be an hour early for your tour! Better than being an hour late!

Some of Kentucky is in central time zone, and some of Kentucky is in eastern time zone.

What to wear in Mammoth Cave

How should you dress for Mammoth Cave?

You will want to dress for cooler temperatures for Mammoth Cave.

It is said that inside Mammoth Cave is consistently in the mid-50s.

You will also want to wear shoes good for walking so your feet can be comfortable as you walk through the Mammoth Cave!

So, you will likely want to wear a sweatshirt or light jacket inside Mammoth Cave.

Also because you will be walking a lot, you will want to wear good walking shoes inside Mammoth Cave.

Also while we are talking about what to wear, we will also talk about what not to wear on your next cave trip after Mammoth Cave!

Take a full-body picture of yourself when you are inside Mammoth Cave!

This way, you will know what NOT to wear the next time you go inside a cave!

There’s a disease that’s deadly to bats that is known to exist in Mammoth Cave called white-nose syndrome. (This doesn’t affect humans at all.)

White-nose syndrome is thought to have been mostly spread from cave to cave by humans who have entered a cave with the fungus and then tracked it into another cave.

This is why it’s best not to wear the same shoes (or even clothes) that you wore into Mammoth Cave into any other cave in the world.

The most serious park I went to, Craters of the Moon National Monument , didn’t want you wearing ANYTHING into the Craters of the Moon caves that you wore into any cave in the last 15 years!

It was literally a question that was asked upon entry to the park!

So, by taking a picture of yourself, you’ll know what you wore into Mammoth Cave so you’ll know what not to wear to another cave!

Save the bats!

Why save the bats?!

And that’s a little bit about doing a Mammoth Cave tour!

I did Mammoth Cave tours in May 2022. Your experience may vary!

Above ground: Things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park

HAPPY DOING A CAVE TOUR IN MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK!

Best Mammoth Cave tours: fat man's misery. mammoth cave hikes. Best Mammoth Cave National Park tours. things to do in mammoth cave national park. one day in mammoth cave national park. kentucky cave tours. kentucky travel blog

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Domes and Dripstones Tour

Mammoth Cave National Park Tours

This classic tour visits areas of Mammoth Cave that have been used for nearly 100 years. This tour begins in a sinkhole, passes through huge domes, amazing breakdown, and ends in the dripstone section known as Frozen Niagara. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. Focusing on the natural formation of the cave, this tour is ideal for people interested in science and wanting to see stalactites and stalagmites. 96 of the 734 stair steps is optional.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

All tours begin at the Visitor Center. Tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to tour time. No refunds for no shows or late arrivals.

If you have a fear of heights or suffer from claustrophobia, this tour is not the best choice for you. Visitors with known heart or respiratory conditions, poor circulation or difficulty walking long distances and negotiating stairs should carefully consider their limitations. Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours.

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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Domes and Dripstones tour, has vast areas of flowstone that resemble draperies. Domes and Dripstones tour

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Best tour for people who have visited Luray Caverns - Mammoth Cave National Park Forum

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Best tour for people who have visited Luray Caverns

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I have already visited Luray Caverns in Virginia. I read online that there is no point in doing the Frozen Niagara tour after seeing Luray. My question is, what are the best tours we should do instead? I'm interested in both the history and geology of the cave. Also, would the Grand Avenue tour still be worth it?

Best tour for people who have visited Luray Caverns May 03, 2024
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When does booking open for in park hotels? Jun 06, 2023
Bowling Green or Cave City for lodging? Jun 02, 2023
Cleaveland Avenue tour May 21, 2023
Ticks? May 05, 2023
Cave tour tickets for April 3rd already sold out Apr 16, 2023
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Mammoth Cave National Park Hotels and Places to Stay

Fun and Exciting Things to Do Mammoth Cave National Park

T here is never a bad time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park since the underground temperature is fairly consistent year-round and stays between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Even after a rain shower, the cave takes on new life when the water trickles in through many of the surface runoffs.

Mammoth Cave offers a variety of cave tours throughout the year that is guided by park rangers. Please note that tours and times are subject to change and may be seasonal.

If you are planning to take a cave tour while at Mammoth Cave National Park , it is strongly recommended that you make your reservations in advance by calling the reservation line at 1-800-967-2283.

These tours have a tendency to book up quickly. The local time zone for Mammoth Cave is Central Standard Time. Cave tours are offered every day except Christmas Day and tickets must be picked up at the visitor center at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Any reservation cancellations or unsold tickets may also be available at the Visitor Center shortly before the scheduled departure time as well. All tours begin and end at the Visitor Center.

The Historic Tour

The Historic Tour is two hours long and is a 2-mile strenuous tour. On this tour, visitors may view artifacts left by Native Americans, discover mining operation ruins, and see evidence of early explorers. Visitors must descend and climb over 130 stairs on a steel tower. Not recommended for people with a fear of heights or closed spaces. This tour is limited to 120 people.

The Frozen Niagara Tour

The Frozen Niagara Tour is two hours long and is a strenuous three-quarter mile tour. Visitors ride a bus to the entrance and are able to view huge pits, domes, decorative dripstone formations, stalactites, and stalagmites. Highlights include Crystal Lake, Onyx Colonnade, Onyx Chamber, and Frozen Niagara. Visitors must descend about 300 steps and walk along steep terrain. Not recommended for people with a fear of heights or closed spaces or who cannot climb steps. This tour is limited to 120 people.

The Discovery Tour

The Discovery Tour is half an hour long and a moderate three-quarter mile tour. Visitors explore a large canyon passage, visit one of the largest rooms in the cave, learn about 19th Century saltpeter mining operations, and learn about the geologic origins of Mammoth Cave. Visitors must be able to climb and descend a stairway with over 60 steps. This tour is designed for people who cannot participate in longer tours and is only offered when visitation warrants.

The Travertine Tour

The Travertine Tour is an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes and is an easy quarter-mile tour. Visitors ride a bus to the Frozen Niagara entrance and view some of the cave’s geologic artistry including stalactites and stalagmites. They must be able to climb a minimum of 18 steps with an additional 98 steps being optional. This tour is designed for people with difficulty walking and for people with infants or small children. The tour capacity is 40 people.

The Violet City Lantern Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park

The Violet City Lantern Tour lasts three hours and is a strenuous three-mile tour. The first half-mile follows the route of the Historic Tour. Visitors follow the path of famous explorers on a nostalgic tour by the light of coal-oil lanterns. No flashlights are allowed. They view the site of former saltpeter mining operations, evidence of prehistoric exploration, ruins of a tuberculosis hospital, and some of the largest rooms and passageways in the cave. This tour is limited to 60 people.

The Grand Avenue Tour

The Grand Avenue Tour is four and a half hours long. It is a very strenuous 4-mile route. This tour overlaps portions of the Frozen Niagara and Travertine Tours. Visitors hike through avenues that represent four separate aspects of cave formation.

The trip begins with a bus ride to Carmichael Entrance. This tour is not recommended for people with physical limitations since there are over 500 stairs to climb and steep switchback trails. There is a scheduled 35-minute lunch break at the Snowball Room and food may be purchased. Restrooms are also available. Children must be at least 6 years old to take this tour. The tour is limited to 120 people.

The Wild Cave Tour

The Wild Cave Tour is an extremely strenuous 5 and a half-mile tour that lasts from six to six and a half hours. Participants must be 16 years or older and may be asked for identification to show proof of age. They must also have a chest size of no more than 42 inches in order to fit through the tight spaces. Visitors climb, crawl, and squeeze through passages and are provided with helmets and lights.

Kneepads are also available or you may bring your own. Hard plastic or roller blade type kneepads are not allowed. High-top shoes or boots that cover the ankles and have lug or deeply treaded soles are required. Long pants and gloves are recommended as well. Visitors should bring lunch and a small water bottle in a small pack. Restrooms are available. This tour is limited to 14 people and tickets held at the “Will Call” desk must be picked up 30 minutes prior to departure or they will be released for resale.

The Introduction to Caving Tour

The Introduction to Caving Tour is designed for youth, adults, and families to learn and explore the basic responsibilities of caving. Helmets with lights are provided and there is a lot of stooping, bending, and crawling through cave passages. Visitors may bring their own kneepads however, hard plastic or roller blade type kneepads are not allowed.

High-top shoes or boots that cover the ankles and have lug or deeply treaded soles are required. Long pants and gloves are recommended as well. Youths must be at least 10 years old and an adult must accompany anyone under 16. This tour is limited to 20 people and tickets held at the “Will Call” desk must be picked up 30 minutes prior to departure or they will be released for resale.

The Making of Mammoth Tour

The Making of Mammoth Tour is a strenuous two-and-a-half-mile tour that lasts about two and a half hours. Two miles of the passageway on this tour overlaps the Historic Tour’s route.

This tour is not recommended for people who have a fear of heights or are in closed spaces. Visitors must climb and descend a steel tower that has over 130 steps. The tour will examine the cave’s ancient origins which date back 325 million years and look at the way the cave formations are still ongoing even today. The tour is limited to 60 people.

The Mobility Impaired Tour

The Mobility Impaired Tour is designed for physically impaired visitors who are unable to participate in other cave tours. They will ride in a van to the elevator entrance, descend into the cave, and see tubular passages with delicately encrusted gypsum walls. The tour is an easy one-mile route that lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Two wheelchairs are available for use. The restrooms however are not wheelchair accessible. This tour is limited to 9 people. Special tours are also available for those who have hearing and/or speech impairments. On these tours, the guides use sign language to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the tour.

If you are not sure which tour is right for you or which ones are being offered when you are planning your visit, you may call the information line at 1-800-346-8908. This line is available seven days a week and provides information regarding tours at Mammoth Cave National Park and some other exciting cave adventures in the Mammoth Cave area.

Of note, there are certain precautions currently in place due to the spread of the White-Nose Syndrome in Bats. You will be required to sanitize your shoes along with other measures to help prevent the further spread of this disease. You can check the National Parks Service website for Mammoth Cave for up-to-date information on this disease that is afflicting the Bats of Mammoth Cave.

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There is never a bad time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park since the underground temperature is fairly consistent year-round and stays between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Even after a rain shower, the cave takes on new life when the water trickles in through many of the surface runoffs. Mammoth Cave offers a variety of cave tours throughout the […]

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COMMENTS

Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky
Tripadvisor checks up to 200 sites to help you find the lowest prices.
Mammoth Cave National Park: How to Pick the Best Tour
The 1.25 hour tour time includes 30 minutes on a shuttle bus (included with the tour) to and from the entrance, with roughly 45 minutes spent inside of Mammoth Cave. The highlight is seeing Mammoth Cave's best display of decorative formations in Frozen Niagara and the Drapery Room.
How to Pick the Best Mammoth Cave Tour: from Families to Avid Adventurers
5. 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.
10 Best Mammoth Cave Tours Worth Your Time
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 ...
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Passage - This is an introduction to the Historic Tour and is a guided version of the Discovery (Self Guided tour). This is 1.25 hours, 0.75 mile, and 125 stairs. Cost: $11 per adult. River Styx Lantern Tour - You'll follow the Historic Tour, but also detour to the underground water level.
Cave Tours
Cave tours often sell out during the summer and early fall seasons, and reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations are the only way to ensure a spot on a tour is available for your party. Please plan accordingly by visiting Recreation.gov or calling 877-444-6777 to secure your tickets in advance.
Best Mammoth Cave Tour for Families
River Styx Tour. The River Styx Tour is the same as the Historic Tour with a really cool side trip down to the underground water level. The tour is 2 ½ hours long, covering 2.5 miles. River Styx flows through and under the Mammoth Cave system, eventually emptying into the Green River.
15 EPIC Things to Do in Mammoth Cave National Park (Honest Guide + Photos)
2. Take the Grand Avenue Tour. The longest of the walking tours offered, the Grand Avenue Tour is definitely one of the best things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park for those with the physical ability and time. Combining the Frozen Niagara and Domes & Dripstones tours, this tour is four hours long.
Best Cave Tours of Mammoth Cave
Violet City Lantern Tour. If you love history and wish to explore Mammoth Cave as they did in the past, then Violet City Lantern Tour is perfect. A German mining engineer by the name of Max Kämper discovered a passage in 1918, along with his cave guide, Edwin Bishop.
Top Ten Tips for Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park
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. ...
The complete guide to Mammoth Cave National Park
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.
THE BEST Mammoth Cave National Park Tours & Excursions
THE BEST Mammoth Cave National Park Tours & Excursions. 1. Wild Cave Tour. Absolutely amazing the guides were great and my group was ready to take on this challenging tour. 2. Gothic Avenue Tour. My husband and I did the Gothic Avenue Modified Tour while visiting Mammoth Caves and we really enjoyed it. 3.
These Tours Of Kentucky's Mammoth Cave Are Worth Taking ...
When choosing any tour, one that includes a ton of history is always the best bet. The Mammoth Cave Historic Tour is by far the most popular and one of the mid-length tours (some take up to six hours!), with a length of two hours covering a span of two miles. This is a great tour for newcomers to cave systems as well as Mammoth Cave; starting ...
The Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park [2024]
Best Time To Visit Mammoth Cave National Park To Avoid the Crowds. ... Boat tours used to be offered in Mammoth Cave National Park, but this was discontinued in the early 1990s due to human traffic causing harm to the water animals. The boat tour was also costly for the park, and river flooding made it difficult to keep the passages open to the ...
Mammoth Cave National Park
The park sees over 2 million visitors each year, with nearly 500,000 taking a cave tour. Around Mammoth Cave National Park, visitors can enjoy nearly 84 miles of trails that span backcountry, front country, and near the visitor center. In the summertime, visitors can also canoe down the green river through Mammoth Cave National Park.
A Guide to Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park
The least arduous cave tour (0.25 mile, 75 minutes) is the Frozen Niagara Tour. A modified version of the tour has only six steps each way (plus an optional 49) and is designed for visitors who ...
10 Important Ranger Tips For Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave offers a variety of cave tours for visitors of all abilities and interests. "This allows you to select the adventure that best fits your group's needs," rangers explain. "From a 2.5-mile, 2.5-hour dirt trail hike to see an underground river, to a .25-mile, 1.25-hour walk to see hundreds of dripstone formations, there's a ...
Mammoth Cave tours + tickets What's the best Mammoth Cave National
The cost of tickets for the regular Mammoth Cave tours is around $20 per person. The adult prices are listed below, and there is a discounted rate for kids. Number of reviews are at the time I updated this list, also indicating the most popular tours. Here are the best Mammoth Cave tours based on popularity: The Historic Tour is $20 per person ...
Cave tour recommendations for Mammoth Cave? : r/NationalPark
The Ranger Tour to Sand Cave has lots of great history. I posted some cave tours on my YouTube channel "CoastSky Adventures" and what to expect. They are the first videos on my channel of Mammoth Cave National Park. I highly recommend you follow my advice in the video as well if you want to explore the caves you want.
Mammoth Cave National Park Tours
The park schedules several tours daily, year-round (for example, the Historic Tour runs daily). Other tours are offered seasonally or less frequently. Please check the current cave tour schedule. You may call the park at 270-758-2180 for additional information.
Grand Avenue Tour, Mammoth Cave National Park Tours
Mammoth Cave National Park Tours At 4 hours long, this lengthy tour explores the geologic diversity of what Mammoth Cave has to offer. Going through slot canyons, tubular passageways, tall canyons, and tunnels sparkled with gypsum, this tour is the longest walking tour we offer.
Plan Your Visit
Mammoth Cave. National Park Kentucky Info; Alerts; Maps; Calendar; Fees; Loading alerts. Alerts In Effect Dismiss more information on current conditions... Dismiss View all alerts. Contact Us.
Domes and Dripstones Tour, Mammoth Cave National Park Tours
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 ...
Mammoth Cave NP tours advice : r/nationalparks
Mammoth Cave NP tours advice. Hello r/nationalparks! My wife and I are taking a trip to Mammoth Cave NP soon, and just wanted to know what tours are the best to do for a 1 to 2 day stay? A quick internet search told me that the Historic Tour, Frozen Niagara Tour, and the Domes & Drip-Stones Tour are the tours to take.
Best tour for people who have visited Luray Caverns
Best tour for people who have visited Luray Caverns yesterday; 4th of July Near Mammoth Cave Apr 24, 2024; Mammoth Cave Tours for July - Now Open Apr 12, 2024; Grand Ave Tour vs Gothic Ave Tour Mar 08, 2024; Cave tour July Mar 07, 2024; Some Fun/Adventurous Short Hikes in Mammoth Cave Park areal Mar 03, 2024; 1st weekend in March - itinerary with 5 & 7 year old Jan 06, 2024
Fun and Exciting Things to Do Mammoth Cave National Park
If you are planning to take a cave tour while at Mammoth Cave National Park, it is strongly recommended that you make your reservations in advance by calling the reservation line at 1-800-967-2283

Mammoth Cave National Park: How to Pick the Best Tour

Interesting Facts about Mammoth Cave

Geology of Mammoth Cave

Tour Options at Mammoth Cave

Tour Options

Historic Tour

Photos from the Historic Tour

Frozen Niagara Tour

Domes and Dripstones

Photos from the Domes and Dripstones Tour

Cleaveland Avenue Tour

Grand Avenue Tour

Accessible Tour

Gothic Avenue Tour

Discovery Self-Guided Tour

Mammoth Passage Tour

Violet City Tour

River Styx Tour

Star Chamber Tour

Introduction to Caving

Wild Cave Tour

So, How Do You Decide on a Tour?

Our Recommendations

Park Ranger Recommendations

Booking Your Tours

More Things to do at Mammoth Cave

How to Get Here

Items Not Allowed on Cave Tours

Where to Eat at Mammoth Cave

Where to Stay at Mammoth Cave

What We Did

More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky

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

Is Mammoth Cave Worth Visiting?

When is the Best Time to Visit Mammoth Cave?

The Best Mammoth Cave Tours

Best Mammoth Cave Tours for Families

1. Frozen Niagara Tour

2. Domes & Dripstones Tour

3. Mammoth Passage Tour

4. Accessible Tour

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

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

Best Mammoth Cave Tours for Hard Core Adventurers

7. Wild Cave Tour

8. Grand Avenue Tour

9. Violet City Lantern Tour

10. Introduction to Caving Tour

Most Underrated Mammoth Cave Tours

11. River Styx Tour

12. Great Onyx Lantern Tour

Booking your Mammoth Cave Tour

How to Get to Mammoth Cave

Where to Stay to Visit Mammoth Cave

Recommended Budget Hotel: Days Inn Wyndham Cave City

The Lodge at Mammoth Cave

Campgrounds in Mammoth

Tips for Taking a Tour of Mammoth Cave

FAQ: Best Mammoth Cave Tours

There You Have it: Best Mammoth Cave Tours

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10 Best Mammoth Cave Tours Worth Your Time

Historic Tour

Frozen Niagara Tour

Cleaveland Avenue Tour

Grand Avenue Tour

Violet City Lantern Tour

Gothic Avenue Tour

River Styx Tour

Domes & Dripstones Tour

Self-Guided Tour

Wild Cave Tour

Pack With Me (WHAT I BROUGHT TO MAMMOTH CAVE)

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