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Mammoth Cave National Park, a Half-Day Drive from Great Smoky

Steer away from the crowds at america’s most visited national park by going underground in the world's longest cave in nearby kentucky..

Tucked in the hills of southern central Kentucky lies Mammoth Cave National Park. While it’s the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, its visitation numbers don’t compare to nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the number one visited national park in the country. Mammoth Cave is 239 miles from Gatlinburg, Tenn. , on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is just under a five hour drive.

Cave Tours at Mammoth Cave

Ranger-led tours are seasonal, so check the park website at  www.nps.gov/maca/  to see what types of tours will take place when you will be visiting. While reservations are not required, they are strongly encouraged as tours often sell out. All tours require tickets.

Bike and Paddle Above Mammoth Cave

You don’t need to spend all your time inside the Earth. Bring your bike and cycle on the park roads or designated paths. Head out and explore some of the 30 miles of the Green and Nolin rivers that cut through the park. Catfish, bass, perch and other game fish await for fishing opportunities. Or rent a canoe or kayak in town at one of the park’s three recommended outfitters ( www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/canoe-and-kayak-outfitters.htm ) and and explore the park by river and camp on islands.

Getting There

Mammoth Cave National Park officials warn that GPS and online map services have taken people in the wrong direction, forcing them to spend miles rerouting. Others report their online mapping systems or devices have directed them to take the long way to the park via the park’s north side that requires a river crossing by ferry. Don’t be late for your tour because your online directions sent you the wrong way. Look at a printed map to scout out your route ahead of time.

Learn more at www.nps.gov/maca

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

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

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

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

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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.

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• The ultimate guide to Mammoth Cave National Park

The world's longest-known cave system is a 400-mile labyrinth of subterranean adventures

• Featured Trip Guides
• National park road trips

Created by Roadtrippers - March 16th 2021

Welcome to the world's longest-known cave system, a 400-mile labyrinth of subterranean adventures. Whether you're a professional or novice spelunker, navigating Kentucky's incredible Mammoth Cave National Park is easier than you might think. Plus, it boasts history and cool attractions. From mummies to sinkholes, there's a lot to see above and below the ground.

1 Visitor Center Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY, US

Mammoth Cave National Park

Some tips for visiting Mammoth Cave National Park:

The National Park Service offers guided tours that highlight various parts of the cave, so you don't have to worry about getting lost underground. The Historic Tour, the Frozen Niagara Tour (coming in fall 2023), and the Domes and Dripstones Tour (coming in fall 2023) are the most popular.

Tours change depending on the season, so check before you go. Also, keep in mind that some of the tours have height, age, or other restrictions.

Above ground, you'll find 70 miles of trails. The Green River offers kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and fishing opportunities along with horseback riding, camping, and more.

Inside the cave the temperature usually hovers around 54 degrees Fahrenheit, although it can be warmer or colder, depending on various factors. Pack a sweater and good walking shoes.

566 Old Mammoth Cave Rd, Cave City, KY, US

Big Mike's Rock Shop

Mammoth Cave is all about geological wonders hidden below the Earth and Big Mike's Rock Shop is a kitschy, fun place to pick up some of those wonders as souvenirs. Choose a geode and have staff cut it open for you, browse the colorful rocks and minerals, and check out the dinosaur fossils upstairs.

125 Park Boundary Rd, Smiths Grove, KY, US

Porky Pig Diner

Porky Pig Diner is a solid bet with mom-and-pop vibes and a resident basset hound named Pound Hound. Order the fried chicken or catfish, a coffee or a sweet tea, and don't forget the pie for dessert.

Mammoth Cave National Park, KY, US

Cedar Sink - Mammoth Cave NP

Cedar Sink Trail is one of the most unique hikes in the park. The relatively short, but staircase-heavy, trail leads past a river, through lovely forests, and around a huge sinkhole where you can see the river dipping in and out of the cave.

105 Gardner Ln, Cave City, KY, US

El Mazatlan

After exploring the caves, you'll probably be in need of some sustenance (and maybe a drink). Make like a local and grab some filling Mexican food at El Mazatlan. Consider splitting the delicious fajitas to save room for a giant margarita, fried ice cream, and plenty of chips and salsa.

601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, KY, US

Wigwam Village No 2

Click to discover a great deal!

The first Wigwam Village was built in 1933 by Frank A. Redford in Horse Cave, Kentucky. No. 2 opened a few miles away in 1937. No. 1 closed and was demolished in 1982, making No. 2 the oldest Wigwam standing. Fifteen concrete tee-pees are arranged in a semi-circle with a central tee-pee functioning as the front desk and gift shop. What makes this one extra special is the original furniture and the bathrooms, which are full of zigzag details.

93 Huckleberry Knob Road, Cave City, KY, US

If you're looking for a more low-key cave tour, the leisurely 45-minute walk through Onyx Cave, located just outside the park, is pretty easy but no less impressive. It's a wet cave (which means it's still actively forming) that contains features like "cave bacon," "cave coral," and more.

3057 Mammoth Cave Road, Cave City, KY, US

Outlaw Cave

Another subterranean adventure in the area is Outlaw Cave. The 30-minute tour doesn't have any stairs, so it's accessible for those with strollers or wheelchairs. You'll see stalactites and stalagmites (and learn the difference between the two) along the way.

1900 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Park City, KY, US

Diamond Caverns Cave

Diamond Caverns has been stunning visitors with its beauty (and state-of-the-art lighting that illuminates the cathedral-esque caverns) for more than 155 years.

Old Guides' Cemetery

This cemetery is the final resting place of Stephen Bishop, one of Mammoth Cave’s earliest cave guides. Bishop guided cave tours for nearly 20 years, first as an enslaved guide and then as a free man. Three patients who died during experimental tuberculosis treatments that took place within Mammoth Cave in 1842 are also buried here, along with several members of the surrounding communities.

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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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Shenandoah National Park is bathed in autumn colors.

National Parks Road Trip: East Coast

Shenandoah > Great Smoky Mountains > Mammoth Cave

Gateway Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Arlington, Virginia

Any traveler linking fertile river valleys to misty mountains and then plunging into the subterranean depths of the world’s longest known cave system could be forgiven for experiencing a state of culture shock. But these three national parks—Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Mammoth Cave—are all within range of a weeklong road trip, so long as you bring a sense of adventure and a picnic basket for enjoying the many scenic overlooks along the way.

Shenandoah National Park

With its plentiful waterfalls, rolling hills, and fertile valleys, the aptly named Skyline Drive traversing Shenandoah National Park offers up more than 70 overlooks facing east over the Piedmont and west over the Shenandoah Valley. Fill up your tank before entering its more than 200,000 acres of protected land; there’s only one gas station in the park, but it’s otherwise full-to-bursting with hikes, wildlife, vistas, and interesting geological formations.

The Route: Washington, D.C. > George Washington Memorial Parkway > I-66W > Rte. 340S > Skyline Drive (179 miles)

On the Way: Getting free of D.C. traffic is a battle in its own right; celebrate victory along I-66 by stopping at Manassas National Battlefield Park , where the Union and Confederate armies fought two major battles during the Civil War. Birds now roost where cannons once flew, and the former battlefield is now listed as a stop on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.  

Stay: There are four campgrounds and free backcountry camping permits are available for those who prefer to rough it, but most overnight visitors to Shenandoah end up at Skyland Resort . With accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to more luxurious en suite rooms, the views out over the Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valley, and the Piedmont are arguably the best in the park.

Eat: With the fertile plains of the Shenandoah Valley stretching out to the west of the park, both Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room (which opens for the season in March) and Big Meadows Lodge ’s Spottswood Dining Room (which opens for the season in May) are well positioned to make the most of farm-fresh regional cuisine.  

Don’t Miss: The Birds of Prey program at Big Meadows Amphitheater. Shenandoah rangers have been actively relocating coastal peregrine falcon chicks to the park for years; don’t forget to ask a ranger for tips on spotting them among Shenandoah’s cliffs.

Jaw-Dropping Viewpoints: With more than 70 viewpoints on Skyline Drive, you can’t go wrong. But stop at Crescent Rock overlook (between mile 44 and 45) for a great view of Hawksbill Mountain, which, at over 4,000 feet, is Shenandoah’s highest peak.

Tour: Hike four miles or hop on a bus (ten dollars) for a ranger-led tour of President Herbert Hoover’s Rapidan Camp , where the president and his wife would escape from the reality of Great Depression–era politics.

• Easy: It’s only a mile round-trip to Blackrock Summit , but the payoff—a monumental talus slope of fractured quartzite that’s essentially a slow-moving river of rocks—is worth it, particularly for adventurous kids.
• Moderate: The nicest views from Compton Peak are from the western trail, but be sure to follow the blue blazes east to see the columnar jointing, six-sided columns made from cooled and hardened lava.
• Strenuous: You can’t visit Shenandoah without hiking to see a waterfall, and at 93 feet, Overall Run Falls is the park’s highest. Take the Traces Trail from the parking lot at mile 22 to Mathews Arm Trail then Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail for a five-mile hike with a 1,291-foot elevation gain.

Side Drive: Skyline Drive is the only public road through the park, with the exception of short, dead-end fire roads.

Oddity: Wormholes are kind of a big deal at Shenandoah—or, specifically, the worms’ preserved burrows, which are now trace fossils known as skolithos , visible within the white quartzite found at Calvary Rocks at milepost 90.

Before You Come: If you can get your hands on the late Henry Heatwole’s mile-by-mile guide to Shenandoah (it’s now out of print), snatch it up for park descriptions that are anything but boring.

Park Website: nps.gov/shen

Seasonal Notes: Aim for shoulder seasons. “The best seasons are the underappreciated ones—May and September,” says longtime ranger Sally Hurlbert. “The wildflowers are at their best then, partly because the tree canopy hasn’t fully grown in to shade the forest floor yet. Also, you get fewer crowds.”

Fog settles over Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Smokelike shrouds of fog often envelop the high peaks of the Smoky Mountains, giving the park its name and hinting at the plentiful rainfall that makes its high-elevation areas qualify as temperate rain forests. Even though it’s the most visited national park in the U.S., you can often find solitude in the heavily forested mountains, which are among the oldest in the world. Keep one eye on the lookout for bear and elk, and the other eye on the ground for salamanders, which often outnumber human visitors to the park.

The Route: Shenandoah National Park > I-64W > I-81S > I-40E > U.S. 321S (351 miles)

On the Way: For the quickest route from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take the highway. For the most scenic route, hop on the meandering Blue Ridge Parkway for a 469-mile stroll across the Appalachian highlands, hiking and camping along the way.

Stay: LeConte Lodge —only accessible via a 5.5-mile hike to its 6,400-foot elevation—is the only lodge actually located inside the park. That means most visitors either camp in one of several front- and backcountry sites, or head out the park’s northern entrance to nearby Gatlinburg. Escape in a private cottage at the Buckhorn Inn , or go cheap and cheerful at the Baymont Inn & Suites.

Eat: You won’t find any trendy restaurants in this park. You can pick up a sandwich or slice of pizza at Cades Cove Campground Store, but packing in a picnic allows you to take advantage of the many scenic overlooks scattered throughout the park. You can also reserve a pavilion in advance.

Don’t Miss: Drive Cades Cove , an 11-mile one-way loop around a historical valley where Cherokee once hunted and 19th-century European settlers farmed. The loop also offers up views over the mountain valleys, and plentiful wildlife-viewing opportunities. Beware that a “bear jam”—a traffic-stopping bear sighting—can slow progress to a crawl or stop it entirely. Enjoy bear sightings—but make sure you do so safely from inside your car.

Jaw-Dropping Viewpoints: April to November, you can drive almost to the top of Clingmans Dome , the highest peak in the park at 6,643 feet—but if you’re up for it, hike the extra half mile up the steep road to the observation tower for 360-degree views and stunning sunsets.

Tour: On a clear summer night, join a ranger for a tour of the night sky at Cades Cove, or rent a bike on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May to September, when the loop around Cades Cove is closed to cars to let walkers and two-wheelers tour it exhaust free.

• Easy: The 2.6-mile Trillium Gap Trail ends with a chance to walk behind the cascading water of Grotto Falls ; for a shorter, easier hike with views of the 60-foot Tom Branch Falls and 25-foot Indian Creek Falls, start from Deep Creek Trail . Just be sure to keep an eye out for bears.
• Moderate: Simply driving on Newfound Gap road is an experience, as it passes through a variety of ecosystems and the views are stunning. But if you pick up the Appalachian Trail from the parking lot and head northeast on foot four miles to Charlies Bunion , you can edge out onto a rocky outcropping with spectacular panoramic views of the mountains.
• Strenuous: It’s a strenuous two-mile hike to the knife-edged backbone of Chimney Tops summit, but the final scramble up the chimney typically lends some adrenaline to what is already a stunning view of Mount Le Conte.

Side Drive: When Cades Cove is bumper-to-bumper, escape the crowds by going north to the beautiful Cataloochee Valley , accessed via the winding loops of highway Route 32. It’s a scenic drive with plenty of excellent hiking opportunities, but perhaps Cataloochee’s greatest draw is its herd of elk, which was reintroduced into the valley in 2001.

Oddity: The appearance of fireflies (or lightning bugs) always make a summer evening feel magical, but one species of the bioluminescent beetles that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is synchronous—meaning they flash at the same time. The firefly season is fleeting and tickets on the shuttle bus to the best viewing points are limited—book early.

Before You Come: Buy rain gear. Great Smoky Mountains National Park gets more than 85 inches of rain annually. Dispel any dreary moods by tucking A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson’s hilarious account of walking (some of) the Appalachian Trail, in your bag for a rainy afternoon.

Park Website: nps.gov/grsm

Seasonal Notes: The diverse ecosystems on view while driving through the park make it stunning year-round. More than 1,600 varieties of wildflowers speckle its slopes in the spring, while the green boughs of evergreens provide a stunning backdrop for snow, fall leaves, or summer’s greenery. Be aware that snow will often close the higher-elevation roads in winter.

Cavers stand in the New Disovery Bore Hole of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Mammoth Cave National Park

For a place once aptly described as “grand, gloomy, and peculiar,” Mammoth Cave National Park commands an impressive number of visitors each year to its eerie underworld. More than 400 miles of the vast cave system—the longest known in the world—have been mapped to date, and nearly ten miles are open to visitors who dare to explore its subterranean secrets.

The Route: Great Smoky Mountains National Park > U.S. 321 > I-140W > I-40W > TN 84N > TN 52W > State Hwy 163 > KY 90W > Cumberland Pkwy > I-65N (205 miles)

• Nat Geo Expeditions

On the Way: If you didn’t get your fill of wildlife in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, pull off I-40 for a quick visit to the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area , where you’re likely to see deer, wild turkey, plenty of birds, and possibly even a wild boar.

Stay: There are numerous opportunities for camping out under a tree or by the river at Mammoth Cave. If that’s not your preference, the Mammoth Cave Hotel offers convenient (and recently renovated and reopening in May 2016) hotel rooms right in the park, while nearby cottages offer more budget-, pet-, and family-friendly options.

Eat: Like sailors on the high seas, most visitors to Mammoth Cave return to dry land craving a good meal and hot coffee. If the Crystal Lake Café in the hotel is still closed for renovations, try the Watermill Restaurant in nearby Cave City for Southern-style cooking with a locals-only atmosphere.

Don’t Miss: The 52,000 acres aboveground. The park is roughly divided in half by the meandering Green River. Horse trails and mountain bike trails wander among the hills and hollows of the north section; to the south, trails are shorter, carving through beautiful sandstone bluffs and other interesting geological features. Don’t miss Cedar Sink , a natural depression or sinkhole caused by the gradual erosion and dissolution of the surface rock all the way down to the level of the underground river below.

Jaw-Dropping Viewpoints: People have been coming and going via Mammoth Cave’s historic entrance for more than 4,000 years. An appropriately gloomy-looking door to the underworld, the historic entrance is covered over with ferns, mosses, and a weeping waterfall. Keep an eye out for the many species of bats that make Mammoth Cave their home, but don’t worry—there’s no mass exodus come sundown.

Tour: Rangers lead all belowground tours at Mammoth Cave, as park officials found that visitors left to wander quickly became lost. Tour prices vary.

• Easy: The Frozen Niagara Tour may be short, but like all of the trails underground, this one is memorable, thanks to the dramatic rock formations that look like massive waterfalls frozen in time.
• Moderate: The Domes and Dripstones Tour is less than a mile long, but it swoops up in elevation to explore a series of 14 connected domes and caverns, then down through several small corridors to traverse pits separated by massive boulders. Descend another staircase (there are more than 500 steps on this tour) to view the dripstones, or stalagmites and stalactites formed by drops of water.
• Strenuous: Not for the claustrophobic or those afraid of the dark, the Wild Cave Tour entails four hours of crawling and climbing through small passageways past gypsum variations into the massive Cathedral Domes, which are 200-foot-high connected canyons. For less crawling and more walking, try the four-mile Grand Avenue Tour, which traverses expansive, cathedral-like halls and caverns, and passes by beautiful gypsum formations and waterfalls, eventually exiting through the Frozen Niagara.

Side Drive: There are less than five miles between the Frozen Niagara entrance and Mammoth Cave Adventures , but after the eerie quiet of the caves, an adrenaline-filled zip-line ride through the tree canopies seems an excellent antidote to subterranean adventures.

Oddity: Although it feels as though you’re exploring far under the ground, the deepest point in the cave is actually about 360 feet above sea level.

Before You Come: Practice your deep-breathing techniques if you’re afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. Also, take the stairs for a few weeks in advance; several cave tours require a surprising amount of stair climbing.

Park Website: nps.gov/maca

Seasonal Notes: The temperature in the cave hovers at about 54°F year-round, so while the greatest variety of tours are offered during peak summertime months, winter offers similar cave temps, but greatly reduced crowds.

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Explore Mammoth Cave National Park With Us On This Epic Weekend Escape To Kentucky

Chris Dodge

My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.

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Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world, with more than 400 miles of underground passageways, and they are still discovering more. I have always been a huge fan of caves, so this was high on our bucket list. My family and I decided to visit this year, and we didn’t just want to trek all the way over to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky without making it one of the most epic trips of the year. So we jammed our trip packed full of amazing adventures underground and above ground.

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Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, was high on my list of national parks to visit. We had high expectations for the world’s longest cave, and it blew all of those expectations out of the water. The whole trip was a lot of fun, and filled with memories we can hold on to for a lifetime.

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in  OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series . What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our  nominations page .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Mammoth Cave — wonders down under

• December 4, 2016

This week Road Trips with Tom becomes an underground publication as we take you to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park.

Mammoth Cave is the world’s largest cave system, with 408 miles of mapped passageways.  It’s more than twice as big as the second-largest cave.  Mammoth Cave is still being explored, and more passages are being discovered just about every year.

It’s located just off I-65, about halfway between Nashville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky.  If you’re on an east-west road trip on I-40 or I-64, it’s about a 90-mile detour.  You’ll find plenty of visitor services in the area – I’ll provide details near the end of this post.

Most people visiting Mammoth Cave stop at the visitor center and take one of the several ranger-guided cave tours.  Figure on at least half a day in the park.  By taking additional tours or hiking some of the park’s 70 miles of trails, you can easily stretch your visit to a full day or longer.

I made my first visit to Mammoth Cave in late October.  Having made several visits to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, I used that as a point of comparison.  To me, there are four major differences:  First, Carlsbad’s cave formations are more spectacular, although Mammoth Cave’s are impressive.  Second, the countryside in and around Mammoth Cave National Park is more attractive and inviting.  It’s in a forested area, whereas Carlsbad Caverns is in the downright homely Chihuahuan Desert.  Third, Mammoth Cave is easier to get to and offers more services for visitors.  And fourth, you can only enter Mammoth Cave on a guided tour, whereas you can visit Carlsbad Caverns at your own pace without a ranger.  I recommend you have both on your road trip bucket list.

Don’t step in the sinkhole

Like most large caverns, Mammoth Cave was formed in limestone.  The limestone was deposited some 350 million years ago when this was a shallow sea.  Next, mud settled above that layer and eventually turned into sandstone and shale, which acted as an umbrella that prevented the limestone from dissolving.

The park sits on a plateau that’s what geologists call karst topography.  Instead of flowing into streams, water creates sinkholes, which act as leaks in the sandstone/shale layer.  The water then erodes the limestone below, creating caverns.  There are about 10,000 sinkholes in Mammoth Cave National Park, most of which are small and hardly noticeable.

Let’s go underground!

Okay, enough geology.  You’re much more interested in actually seeing the cave.  The National Park Service offers a menu of tours, which vary in how long, how strenuous and how expensive they are.  The full menu is on tap in summer, when over half the park’s annual visitation occurs.  For my late October visit, there were five tours being offered.  Only three are available in winter.

The park’s website only lists the current schedule, so be sure to check before you head there.  Go to www.nps.gov/maca .  You can find a list of all tours (with prices) by following this path:  Plan Your Visit >> Basic Information >> Fees and passes.

I had a flight home out of Louisville later the day of my visit, so I took the first tour on the schedule – Frozen Niagara.  This is the best tour for families, seniors (like me) and people who want a relatively quick tour that takes in some of the cave’s best underground scenery.  It involves about 1/4 mile of walking, plus some stair climbing.  The Frozen Niagara formation is made of flowstone, which was formed when mineral-rich water flowed across a limestone surface.  This tour costs $13 for adults, $9 for “youth” (age range not given) and $6.50 for old geezers like me with a senior pass.  Duration is about 75 minutes, including a 10-minute bus ride to and from the entrance.

A big bump on the head

Mammoth Cave isn’t especially friendly to photographers.  Neither tripods nor flash is permitted, and the cave’s lighting is fairly dim.  I’d met a professional photographer a few days earlier, who suggested I push the camera’s ISO (sensitivity to light) from the default setting of 100 to 1600.  It sort of worked, although, as you can see, my cave photos aren’t as sharp as I’d like.  This also means you can’t photograph Mammoth Cave with your cell phone.

In addition to some fairly fuzzy photos, I got a bonus souvenir.  The roof of the passageway we used was low in places, and I bumped my head . . . hard.  I was bleeding when we returned to the bus.  Luckily, I carry a first aid kit in my laptop case.  But I still, more than a month later, have a bump on my head.  And, no, it didn’t make me smart.  When you go, please be sure to duck when the ceiling is low.

All tours originate at the visitor center.  You can make reservations, which are a good idea if you’ll be coming during a busy time of year.  From the NPS web site, follow this path to get the reservations link:  Plan Your Visit >> Basic Information >> Permits and Reservations.  I made a reservation for my tour on October 24, but I didn’t need it.  Tickets are available the day of your tour on a first-come, first-served basis.  Even if you reserve a tour, you must go to the visitor center to pick up your tickets.

While there, allow extra time to check out the exhibits.  This is one of the best NPS museums I’ve seen.  The corridors are designed to look like cave passageways, and the displays are very well done.

To get to Mammoth Cave National Park, take I-65 to Exit 48 if you’re northbound or Exit 53 if you’re southbound.  Signs will direct you to the park and the visitor center; it’s only 10-15 minute drive from the interstate.

There’s a hotel right next door to the visitor center.  You’ll find better values in Cave City (Exit 53).  The main campground is also near the visitor center.  Sites cost $20 per night.  Reserve your site during summer and spring/fall weekends.  Use the same reservations link provided above for cave tours.

Expect it to be hot and humid in summer, chilly and damp in winter, and pleasant in spring and fall.  The temperature in the cave is a constant 54 degrees, so bring a light sweater or jacket even if it’s summertime.

Thanks for visiting Road Trips with Tom.  Join us again on Sunday, December 11, when we visit Old Town San Diego.

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Alerts in effect, may 5th - may 18th, 2024, may 19th - june 30th, 2024, july 1st - july 31st, august 1st - august 10th, 2024, tour reservations.

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. Availability of walk-up tickets is not guaranteed.

Visit Recreation.gov To

Contact recreation.gov.

By Phone:  (877) 444-6777 TDD (hearing impaired):  (877) 833-6777 Online:   www.recreation.gov Call Center Hours:  9:00 am - 9:00 pm Central Time

Cave Tour Cancellation Policy

Refunds will be processed if you cancel before your tour time and date. There will be $1 per ticket charge regardless the reason for the cancellation. Customers who cancel any tour after the reservation time and date or no-shows will forfeit the tour fee.  For Wild Cave, Introduction to Caving, and Trog tours:

• Cancellations made 10 or more days prior to the Tour Date will be no charge.
• Wild Cave Tour: $12.00
• Introduction to Caving Tour: $6.00
• Trog Tour: $4.00

Descriptions of Cave Tours

Accessible tour ♿, call the visitor center at 270-758-2180 on the day of your visit for availability..

Utilizing the Elevator Entrance, this tour emerges near the famous Snowball Room. Continuing through historic Cleaveland Avenue, this tour passes through areas of the cave highly decorated with historic signatures and sparkling geological formations. This tour is ideal for people who wish to see the cave and are looking for a tour with no stairs. This is an accessible tour. This tour is designed for persons with a disability, limited physical mobility, or any other reason for a tour with no stairs. If no one in your party needs an accessible tour, please consider selecting another tour unless this is the only tour available at the time of your request. Wheelchairs, scooters and other assistive devices are allowed. Accessible restrooms are on this tour.   Participants meet at the visitor center for a caravan in their personal vehicles to drive approximately 2 miles to the elevator entrance. Assistive devices will need to be decontaminated upon exiting the cave to limit the spread of White Nose Syndrome. Please note that no transportation or mobility assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers or canes are available. NPS employees will not transport or assist visitors or visitor equipment. If visitors need assistance with the Park's accessible features, they must bring a companion with them for aid. Duration:  2 hours Distance:  0.5 miles (0.8 km) Total Stairs:  No stairs Difficulty:  Easy Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  Yes Tickets available for each tour time: 14 Fees:  $27 Adults, $21 Youth, $13.50 Senior Pass Holder, $13.50 Access Pass Holder.  

Mammoth Passage - Not Always Offered.

An introductory tour into the Historic Entrance, this section of cave houses many great artifacts left behind by historic and prehistoric people. Staying along broad walkways in some of the largest rooms in Mammoth Cave, this tour is ideal for those who do not like tight spaces, have small children, or anyone looking for a tour with limited steps. This tour is the guided version of the Self-Guided Discovery Tour. Includes part of the Historic Tour and all of the Discovery Tour routes. Includes a steep outdoor hillside trail to and from the cave’s natural entrance. This tour does not see dripstone formation areas. Duration:  1.25 hours Distance:  0.75 miles (1.2 km) Total Stairs:  135 Difficulty:  Easy Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  70 Fees:  $15 Adults, $13 Youth, $7.50 Senior Pass Holder, $7.50 Access Pass Holder

Discovery Tour (Self-Guided) Not Always Offered

This tour is not always offered. Please call the visitor center at 270-758-2180 on the day of your visit to check its availability. This tour is typically offered Memorial Day to Labor day.

There is a fee for this tour. When tickets are sold, the time on the tickets will be the last time you can enter the cave. This tour has designated multiple hours that you can enter the cave, between the time you bought the ticket and the last time being the one displayed on your ticket. Please do not wait until the last minute to use the ticket. Many people visiting Mammoth Cave ask, “May we visit the cave without a guided tour?” The answer is yes! This self-guided tour requires a ticket, and proceeds into the Historic Entrance. Focusing on early history and prehistory of the cave, this section of cave houses many great artifacts. This tour is ideal for people wanting to move at their own pace or are looking for a cave experience without much time commitment. This tour is the self-guided version of the guided Mammoth Passage Tour. Includes part of the Historic Tour and all of the Mammoth Passage Tour routes. Please Note:  Advance tickets are not available. Duration:  0.5 hours Distance:  0.75 miles (1.2 km) Total Stairs:  135 Difficulty:  Easy Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time: Unlimited Fees:  $12 Adults, $9 Youth, $6 Senior Pass Holder, $6 Access Pass Holder.

Frozen Niagara Tour

The naturally decorated Frozen Niagara section remains one of the most famous at Mammoth Cave, and serves as the last stop for a variety of cave tours. While many tours require long hikes and numerous stairs to reach this point, this short tour offers a chance to visit this area. This tour is ideal for anyone with difficulty walking long distances or negotiating stairs. This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. This section of cave is seen in its entirety on the Domes and Dripstones, Grand Avenue, Introduction to Caving and Wild Cave Tours. Duration:  1.25 hours Distance:  0.25 miles (0.4 km) Total Stairs:  64, 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 Tickets available for each tour time:  34 Fees:  $26 Adults, $22 Youth, $13 Senior Pass Holder, $13 Access Pass Holder.

Domes & Dripstones Tour

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. This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and a small portion of the Grand Avenue Tour route. Duration:  2 hours Distance:  0.75 miles (1.2 km) Total Stairs:  640 , including 280 on the initial staircase descent and an optional 96 Difficulty:  Difficult Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  110 Fees:  $30 Adults, $25 Youth, $15 Senior Pass Holder, $15 Access Pass Holder.

Historic Tour

This classic Mammoth Cave Tour visits many of the historic areas that originally made Mammoth Cave famous. Going through tunnels that humans have used for thousands of years, this tour not only explores huge rooms that gave Mammoth Cave its name, but also descends to much tighter places deep inside the cave. 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. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in history and a sense of adventure.   Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours. It is seen in its entirety on the River Styx Tour. Duration:  2 hours Distance:  2 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs:  540, including 155 at Mammoth Dome Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  Yes Tickets available for each tour time:  110 Fees:  $24 Adults, $18 Youth, $12 Senior Pass Holder, $12 Access Pass Holder.

Grand Avenue Tour

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 also encounters hundreds of steps and ascends and descends many tall, incredibly steep hills.  Covering a wide variety of the history and geology of Mammoth Cave, this tour is ideal for those wishing for a lengthy, half-day hike inside of the cave.  This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and all of the Domes and Dripstones Tour except for the 280 stairs descending the vertical shafts at the entrance. Duration:  4 hours Distance:  4 miles (6.4 km) Total Stairs:  1521 pluse an optional 96 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 Tickets available for each tour time:  78 Fees:  $42 Adults, $34 Youth, $21 Senior Pass Holder, $21 Access Pass Holder.

Gothic Avenue Tour

Gothic Avenue was named because of its unusual rock formations resembling Gothic architecture, and was the site of some of the earliest 19th century tourism. Early visitors left behind signatures, artifacts, and monuments in this area of the cave, which also features stalactites and stalagmites. This tour focuses on 1800s tourism and uses of Mammoth Cave, and is ideal for people with a high interest in history. Portions of this tour are also seen on the Star Chamber, Historic and Violet City Lantern Tours. Duration:  2 hours Distance:  1.7 miles (2.7 km) Total Stairs:  170 Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  40 Fees:  $23 Adults, $19 Youth, $11.50 Senior Pass Holder, $11.50 Access Pass Holder.  

Extended Historic Tour - Will Be Offered Beginning March 16th, 2024

Enjoy this Historic Tour with a bonus side trip to one of the sites of the famous 1840s Mammoth Cave experiment to treat consumption. This tour is ideal for people who want a Historic Tour and have a little extra time to spend in the cave. Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours. Duration:  2.25 hours Distance:  2 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs:  540, including 155 at Mammoth Dome Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  Yes Tickets available for each tour time:  60 Fees:  $27 Adults, $21 Youth, $13.50 Senior Pass Holder, $13.50 Access Pass Holder.

Great Onyx Lantern Tour - Will Be Offered Beginning March 16th, 2024

A beautiful cave in its own right, 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. This cave was also the site of very important cultural history in the early days of Kentucky cave tourism. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in cave tourism history and unusual rock formations. Please note: this tour is in Great Onyx Cave, which is separate from Mammoth Cave.   This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. Please Note:  This cave is toured within Mammoth Cave National Park, but is not known to connect with the Mammoth Cave System. Duration:  2.25 hours Distance:  1 miles (1.6 km) Total Stairs:  82 Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  6 years and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  38 Fees:  $31 Adults, $26 Youth, $15.50 Senior Pass Holder, $15.50 Access Pass Holder.

Violet City Lantern Tour - Will Be Offered Beginning March 16th, 2024

A truly historic way to experience Mammoth Cave, this tour travels exclusively by lantern light. At three hours long, this tour winds through the history and prehistory of Mammoth Cave as you wander through huge, broad tunnels. This tour climbs and descends many incredibly steep hills on historic dirt trails as you experience the cave in the light of the earliest explorers. This tour is ideal for visitors who like to hike and are wanting a unique way to experience the cave.   This tour requires a short bus ride back to the visitor center from the cave exit. Portions of this tour are also seen on the Historic, River Styx and Mammoth Passage Tours. Only visitors age 16 and over may carry lanterns. Be prepared, the rugged nature of this tour possesses steep hills, low lighting, uneven terrain and no handrail or electric lighting infrastructure. To preserve the nostalgic nature of this tour, the use of flashlights is prohibited. Duration:  3 hours Distance:  3 miles (4.8 km) Total Stairs:  200 and numerous hills with no handrails. Difficulty:  Difficult Ages:  6 years and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  38 Fees:  $32 Adults, $27 Youth, $16 Senior Pass Holder, $16 Access Pass Holder.

Star Chamber Lantern Tour - Will Be Offered Beginning March 16th, 2024

An evening tour in Mammoth Cave by lantern light, this tour winds its way to historic Star Chamber. Described as more of an experience tour than a sightseeing tour, the Star Chamber Tour explores historic sections of the cave in the lighting of the earliest explorers, emerging from the cave in late evening. Focusing on early history of Mammoth Cave, this tour includes a trip into Gothic Avenue. This tour is ideal for visitors wanting a unique way to experience the cave and its history. Portions of this tour are also seen on the Historic, River Styx and Gothic Avenue Tours. Only visitors age 16 and over may carry lanterns. To preserve the nostalgic atmosphere of the activity, there is no flashlight use permitted on this tour. Duration:  2.5 hours Distance:  2 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs:  170 Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  6 years and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  40 Fees:  $30 Adults, $25 Youth, $15 Senior Pass Holder, $15 Access Pass Holder.

Cleaveland Avenue Tour - Not Currently Offered

For nearly two centuries, Cleaveland Avenue has attracted people from all over the world to see its sparkling walls of gypsum and unique tube-shaped passages. Evidence of early visitors can still be seen on the walls and ceiling as you travel Cleaveland Avenue to the Snowball Room. This tour is ideal for people looking for a unique part of Mammoth Cave and an interest in geology and history.  This tour enters the cave by descending nearly 231 stairs and exits the cave via an elevator. In the event the elevator is not available due to unforeseen circumstances, the tour extends its time 30 minutes, retraces the route, and ascends the near 231 stairs back out of the cave. This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. Includes all of the Accessible Tour route. Duration:  2 hours - (2½ hours if the elevator is unavailable) Distance:  1 miles (1.6 km) - (2 miles [3.2 km] if the elevator is unavailable) Total Stairs:  231 - (462 if the elevator is unavailable) Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  Yes Tickets available for each tour time: 34 Fees:  $30 Adults, $24 Youth, $15 Senior Pass Holder, $15 Access Pass Holder.  

Wondering Woods Tour - Not Currently Offered

Take a leisurely bus ride with a ranger across the park landscape and learn about the communities and people that were once here. After a short bus ride, enjoy a hike in the Tranquil Valley of Wondering Woods. At the end of the hike, a short cave tour awaits you where you'll be surrounded by beautiful cave formation! This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance. Please Note:  This cave is toured within Mammoth Cave National Park, but is not known to connect with the Mammoth Cave System. Duration:  1.5 hours Distance:  1 miles (1.6 km) Total Stairs:  194 includes 54 being optional Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  All Ages Restrooms:  No Tickets available for each tour time:  30 Fees:  $26 Adults, $22 Youth, $13 Senior Pass Holder, $13 Access Pass Holder.

River Styx Cave Tour - Not Currently Offered

Following along the Historic Tour Route, this tour focuses on the unique geologic and natural history of Mammoth Cave. Including a brief side trip to the underground water level, this tour takes an in-depth look at the millions of years of formation of Mammoth Cave. This tour is ideal for visitors with a high interest in geology.  Please use extra caution when visiting the river level. To access this section of the cave the tour leaves modern tour trail to uneven terrain that may be wet, muddy, and/or slick. The tour route travels next to bodies of water, some of which can be very deep depending on river levels. Viewing of this area will also be conducted with electric lanterns and not the modern lighting system on the rest of the route. This tour covers the entire Historic Tour route. Limited sections of the Star Chamber, Violet City Lantern and Mammoth Passage are also seen. Duration:  2.5 hours Distance:  2.5 miles (4 km) Total Stairs:  Approximately 600, including 155 at Mammoth Dome. Difficulty:  Moderate Ages:  6 year and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Restrooms:  Yes Tickets available for each tour time: 40 Fees:  $26 Adults, $20 Youth, $13 Senior Pass Holder, $13 Access Pass Holder.

Wild Cave Tour -  Not Currently Offered

Introduction to caving - not currently offered, trog tour - not currently offered, wild cave and introduction to caving crawling tour requirements.

Boot tread must be a minimum of 1/4 inch in depth, and boot height must be sturdy and cover the ankle bone completely. You will not be able to participate if your footwear does not meet safety requirements. There will be no refunds or ticket exchanges for not having the proper footwear.

Learn more about the special requirements for crawling tours in the informational video below.

Embed video.

The Willd Cave and Introduction to Caving Tours are the most extreme cave tours offered at Mammoth Cave National Park. Learn what to expect and what to wear for these challenging crawling adventures.

Tour Route Photo Galleries

2 hours | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 540 stairs

2.25 hours | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 540 stairs

2.5 hours | 2.5 miles (4 km) | 600 stairs

2 hours | 1 miles (1.6 km) | 160 stairs

1.25 hours | 0.75 miles (1.2 km) | 135 stairs

0.5 hours | 0.75 miles (1.2 km) | 130 stairs

1.25 hours | 0.25 miles (0.4 km) | 64 stairs, optional 98 stairs

2 hours | 0.75 miles (1.2 km) | 638 stairs

1.5 hours | 1 mile (1.6km) | 140 stairs, optional 54

2.25 hours | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 82 stairs

2 hours | 1/2 mile (0.8 km)

3.5 hours | 1 mile | 300 stairs

2 hours 45 minutes | 1 1/2 miles | 200 stairs

Other Cave Tours

Mammoth Cave offers numerous cave tours throughout the year. The selection of tours changes seasonally and with staffing availability. You can read descriptions and learn more about these other cave tours before planning your trip to the park. Check back with our cave tour schedule or park calendar to see future offerings of these other cave tours.

Last updated: April 25, 2024

Beyond the Cave

Park footer, contact info, mailing address:.

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

270 758-2180

Stay Connected

Mammoth Cave and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Recap

Disclosure: Some links on this page below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you , we will earn a commission if you click through and purchase. Read our disclosure for more info.

We had our ten-day road trip to several National Parks this past summer and wanted to share some tips and insights into how it went, especially with a toddler and a preschooler! We'll also cover the budget vs. actual expenses which should be insightful.

We outlined our planned route and stops with activities in a previous post:

So how did it go? Did we do everything we hoped?! Well, mostly!

As a reminder, we started our journey in Minnesota, then drove down to Kentucky for Mammoth Cave, further down to Tennessee for the Great Smoky Mountains, then over to Nashville, St. Louis, and finally back home. We will include our experiences at the parks, as well as where we ate and what else we did.

All packed up!

Listen, with kids we've learned you can never have enough snacks. They eat 24/7. We are happy to report we did not have to get any new snacks on the trip , these lasted the whole 10 days. #parenting

As for packing, the only things we'd call out is that the Smokies and that area are known to have rain and it can cool down. So we made sure to all pack rain coats and some sweaters. The kids used their sweaters sometimes but we adults could have gotten away with a hoodie just for Mammoth Cave, which was about 55 degrees or so. Frankly it felt pretty good in the Kentucky humidity.

Expenses (estimated and actual)

In the planning post, here's what we estimated for the trip:

• Gas: $225-325 (2,100 miles + driving around)
• Accomodations: $2000
• Activities : $200
• Shopping/Gifts: $200
• Total Estimate: $3,200

So did our guesstimates match reality? Kamran ran the numbers (for our share of all expenses) and here's how the actuals netted out:

• Accommodations: $2,086
• Activities: $166
• Shopping/Gifts: $156
• Total: $3,203

Look at that, $3 within budget! Honestly, we were surprised since we weren't really keeping tabs on it much but we're glad that's the way it worked out.

A note on paying for photos

There were two activities were they took photos of us that we could choose to pay for. The first was the St. Louis Gateway Arch Riverboats but the cost was $20 (on top of the tickets). The second was the Gatlinburg Sky Park and that was only an extra $6. We chose not to pay for any of the photos but if you do, just know there can be a hefty difference between vendors!

Mammoth Cave/Kentucky

We drove down from the Twin Cities and stayed overnight outside of Indianapolis, to break up the trip a little for the kids. We left around 8am from Minneapolis with our caravan. On Google Maps it's about a 9 hour drive, but took us closer to 11 or 12 due to frequent bathroom breaks and a longer meal time needed for the kids. It was the longest leg of our journey and we're just glad we got it out of the way immediately.

We had originally considered stopping at Indiana Dunes to swim at the beach and get a stamp there, but it was raining fairly hard by the time we arrived, and it was too late to get the stamp, as the visitor's center had closed. If we had left much earlier, it might have been an option to stop but as it was, we were already going to arrive pretty late, around 9pm or 10pm.

After staying in a hotel outside of Indianapolis, we drove about 4 hours to Cave City, Kentucky, and over to Mammoth Cave National Park. We stayed in the historic cabins at the park, which were within walking distance of the park entrance and the historic cave entrance, as well as all of the walking trails.

I was expecting something very old and even maybe poor quality, perhaps without air conditioning, and I had actually thought I read that the showers were communal rather than private within the cabins. It turns out I was very wrong! Not only was there a great, blasting air conditioner (thank GOD), but there was a shower, refrigerator, and a little coffee maker. We ended up having a pretty fun time in our little rustic cabin! It wasn't anything like camping, but was still very separated from most modern conveniences. There was no wifi, and no TV. This was a blessing. (There is wifi at the Visitor's Center, so I was able to download and submit my New York Times crossword every day - don't want to break my streak!) Rami wants me to include that we had to fight off a giant june bug in our cabin, after it snuck in out of the dark. It was a harrowing experience, as I ran around the cabin with a book, with both kids screaming in terror. Thankfully, we prevailed.

The cave itself is beautiful, and very strange. We did two tours - the Mammoth Cave Passage tour, and the Frozen Niagara tour. When you approach the historic entrance, you experience a very sudden and very strange chill - the cold from the cave permeates the air right outside. It really is a feeling I will never forget. Kentucky is hot, and very, very humid, so that enveloping chill is so welcome and so wonderful. I tried to imagine what it must have been like to discover the cave (4,000 years ago!), just walking through the woods and suddenly experiencing this strange cold feeling.

The Mammoth Passage tour is very simple, and does not really require any hiking or exertion. It is completely paved, and all of the chambers are very large. It almost feels like entering a grand ballroom, then making your way through huge atria to even greater rooms beyond. At one point, the rangers turn out all the lights, to allow you to experience the true darkness of the cave. At first, this is just an interesting exercise. But the rangers on our tour left the lights off for a long time. You start to feel like you can hear things, or even see something. Your eyes are bursting to see some sort of light. It becomes very eerie, otherworldly. I had Rami on my lap, and I sat on the ground when they announced they would turn the lights off. I whispered in his ear the whole time, "It's okay, most people don't ever experience something like this, this is so special for them to share with us." He was incredibly brave, and talked about how cool the dark was. I think I was comforting myself too.

The Frozen Niagara tour was the real gem of our experience at Mammoth Cave. It is accessed through a separate entrance (created by some rich dude blasting it with TNT, what a genius, sort of an Elon of his time I'm sure). The atmosphere of this part of the cave is very different; the historic entrance is all flat, and completely dry. There are no drips, no stalactites or stalagmites. The Frozen Niagara entrance is FULL of these interesting cave formations, including the above as well as cave bacon and draperies. The tunnels here get much smaller, so if you have any risk of becoming claustrophobic, you may want to skip this one. I always have an initial thought about oh my god there's so much weight above us what if it caves in on us what if we are crushed. I usually distract myself and get over it very quickly, however. This was very easy at Frozen Niagara, because the cave itself is so beautiful, and because I was trying to keep my two kids in line and not like falling into a crevice or sinkhole.

Toward the end of the tour, our ranger (who was fantastic, his name was Jesse) turned the lights out again. When he turned them back on, he pointed out that there were now cave crickets everywhere. It was really jarring to suddenly look up and see a teeming mass of giant, spiderlike cave crickets on all the ceilings. The kids thought it was cool, I guess.

I wanted to add that we had initially wanted to try the Lantern Tour and the River Styx tour. On the Lantern Tour, you get to hold an old-fashioned lantern as you traverse the cave; the River Styx tour lets you follow an underground river. But both of these hikes were 2.5 hours, and I just did not trust that our 2.5- and 4-year-old would make it through. My sister, her husband, and their 12-year-old did these two tours and loved them, though, so I would still recommend them to anyone with older kids.

If you plan to visit Mammoth Cave, be sure to also check out the trails above the cave. We went to the sunset overlook right at sunset, and it was an absolutely beautiful view of the Green River valley. We also took the Echo River Trail and the River Styx Trail, which both lead to water features in the forests around the caves. The Echo River Trail we started at 7pm, knowing the sun would go down at 8pm. This was definitely a mistake. We just barely made it out of the woods by nightfall, which really started to get eerie. The kids were exhausted and complaining almost the entire time. The fireflies surrounding us in the woods were amazing though!

As for food in the Mammoth Cave area, this is not a place for gastropubs and cute, quirky sandwich shops. Cave City is a Tourist Trap and a scam, so be aware that any food you eat is probably going to be average or hopefully slightly above, if you are lucky. That being said, we ate at Bucky B's BBQ when we stopped into town, after a long drive from Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace. The food was fine and the restaurant staff was very nice. I think of all the options available to us, Bucky's was the clear winner.

The Drive to Tennessee

From Cave City we drove to Gatlinburg, TN which was about 4 hours. We stopped along the way for lunch (we packed a sandwich lunch, our friends had Zaxby's which they said was good, slightly above Chik-Fil-A in taste).

The landscape driving from Kentucky to Tennessee gradually becomes more rolling and scenic. Kentucky has some nice scenery but Tennessee had even more to offer especially once we entered the vicinity of the Smokies. It was "verdantly green" as our friend kept saying. We enjoyed seeing the ranches and estates along some of the state highways.

This drive was different than what we experienced for Glacier. In Montana, it seemed that it was mostly flat and plains-y right up until you are outside Glacier and then things get majestic. In our drive through Kentucky and Tennessee, the scenery was always green and rolling, with rivers and scenery throughout.

Cumberland Gap

We broke up this leg of the journey with a stop at Cumberland Gap, a National Historic Park. It didn't disappoint. It offered an overlook with some beautiful views. Plus, you can literally have one foot in Virginia and one foot in Kentucky because it intersects both states. We all took photos straddling the state line.

Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg is the definition of a tourist town. The downtown area is filled with tourist traps and activities, it could easily be its own trip! Our Airbnb was just outside downtown so we didn't drive through it until the next day on our way to the National Park. The downtown area gets busy and traffic is pretty awful. We highly recommend going to the Park in the morning to beat traffic and then only coming out once you're ready to be done for the day.

Where we stayed

In the planning post we mentioned we chose to stay in an Airbnb and we didn't regret it, even though it was definitely one of the more expensive stays we've done.

Now after having stayed we feel great about recommending the Blue Sky Cabin . It was fantastic and had so much room for all of us and the kids. What we really appreciated was that each room had private baths which made it much easier to stay with 3 groups of people. Every level has its own TV/game room so it's perfect for parties!

We took advantage of all the amenities: arcade machine, game room, hot tub, grill, fire pit, and home theater.

SkyPark (and Bridge)

One thing we were told by friends to check out was the Sky Park. It's in the center of downtown and we parked nearby the National Park side. You don't need tickets in advance but you will stand in line for awhile (there's no priority ticket line or anything).

You take a ski lift up to the top of Gatlinburg and there's a bridge that spans two hills. It's very long and even features a transparent middle section to see the view below! The kids enjoyed the lift up but they were pretty fearful of the bridge. Still, they bravely walked across it with us!

Pigeon Forge

We knew Pigeon Forge was another tourist town nearby Gatlinburg that features even more Las Vegas style venues. However, we didn't end up visiting nor did our friends, so unfortunately we don't have any advice on what to do there!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We spent 3 days in Gatlinburg so we could visit the National Park. Here's what we did and we can safely say the kids (4.5 & 2.5) managed to be troopers (or rangers?) through it all and went on all the hikes.

Laurel Falls

We woke up at 6am to get to the National Park early to do this hike which is the most popular hike in the park. The Ranger told us she drives in at 7am each day and the parking lot is usually not full for the Falls so we knew as long as we got there around 7am, we'd probably be fine. Indeed, as we drove up, we snagged the last "perpendicular" spot in the parking lot. We say "perpendicular" specifically because it's worth noting that you may park parallel to the main road within the parking zones which we didn't realize. You can also park down the main road in either direction at various pull-offs when the lot is full which is what we wanted to avoid. We had to do that at Glacier and it can be "a hike to the hike" 😁

The hike itself wasn't too strenuous and the kids were able to hike the whole way without needing to be carried. The Falls were gorgeous and offered some nice views. Some people were higher up on the falls and others lower down but you'd need to venture off the path to do that and we weren't up to it.

Cades Cove Vehicle Loop

Cades Cove is a 11-mile one-way loop but note it's closed Wednesday's to vehicles (pedestrians/bicyles only!).

The Rangers told us to expect a 3-4 hour ride through the cove as traffic will stop to see any wildlife or sight-seeing. Note that it's technically forbidden to stop while on the one-way road, instead you're supposed to use a pull-off, but of course in reality nobody abides by that. We actually didn't notice anyone doing this but we did encounter a huge slowdown due to some special guests!

So we got to see our bears for the trip (the only ones we saw). The kids didn't get to see the bears very well from the van but Kamran took photos to show them. As far as the drive went, the kids took it well but they definitely needed snacks. There is a visitor center halfway through the cove and we stopped there to see some old houses, a farm, and use the restrooms. It was a nice break! There are plenty of other smaller sights to stop off at but that's the only one we really did. If we weren't with kids, we'd probably have more patience to see more of the old houses along the route.

Clingman's Dome

We did Clingman's Dome right after Laurel Falls so this was two big hikes in one day. This was more strenuous than Laurel Falls even though it's paved! This is due to the steep grade so it's a lot more taxing to ascend.

But when you reach the top, you're rewarded with the observation tower! Rami was apprehensive so he didn't go all the way to the top but Saira did. You can get 360 degree views of the entire park, it's very majestic.

The parking lot fills fast but if you get there in the morning you'll find better spots. We ended up parking at a pull-off about a 1/3 mile away. When we left in the afternoon (about 12p), the line was about 100 cars long (about a mile?) just to park.

Nashville, TN

After cleaning the Airbnb and packing up, we drove from west to Nashville. We stayed south of the city at a Mariott. Nashville was definitely our food haven.

Prince's Hot Chicken

We got in slightly late the first night, but made our way to Prince's Hot Chicken to try the original Nashville hot chicken recipe. On the way, we had been reading reviews, which said that the chicken was very spicy, and that a medium or hot would be enough (you can order extra extra hot if you are brave!) I ordered medium, and it was perfect. The chicken was amazingly juicy, and so flavorful. We had a bunch of leftovers because the portions are generous, and we ate a lot of it for lunch on the road to St. Louis. It holds up pretty well even when cold! I also want to add that the iced tea was top notch. It is hard to get a good iced tea in Minneapolis, but I had no problems in Tennessee and Kentucky. It was heaven for me.

Five Daughters Bakery

The next morning, we stopped at Five Daughters Bakery, which funnily enough, we had heard about from the Netflix show Marriage or Mortgage. The donuts were amazing. They were layered, like half donut, half croissant. I ordered a maple donut with buttercream inside. The kids had a pink lemonade mini-donut and a chocolate mini-donut with sprinkles. Kamran had a bacon and maple donut. Everyone was very satisfied; the donuts are very rich though, so expect to be full for awhile after!

We stopped at the Parthenon recreation in Centennial Park for a quick walk. We walked around the little pond, and enjoyed the ducks and geese, which came in close to us, expecting to get some food. We saw the magnolia trees, sat in the interesting swings, and watched for birds. Rami and I are really into bird watching since the pandemic, and I have to say that this trip was pretty disappointing in terms of seeing new birds.

Downtown Nashville

The last thing we did in Nashville was explore downtown. It really is the central headquarters of daydrinking and being an obnoxious bachelorette.

It was like being at the state fair, with loud music, the smells of various foods and drinks, and inebriated people at 12pm on a Friday. The kids were pretty overwhelmed, though they enjoyed hearing live music through the windows of the honky tonks. We stopped at one window and listened to a band play "All the Small Things," and Rami was smitten.

Martin's BBQ Joint

For lunch (and dinner) we ate at Martin's BBQ Joint. Everyone loved their food. I had a brisket sandwich and fries, along with iced tea and mac and cheese. Everything was amazing, and I just could not stop eating. I think I ate every speck of food on my tray. We try not to eat at too many chain restaurants, but I think Martin's might be a local chain, and it was a highlight of our food experience.

St. Louis, MO

The final stop on our road trip was to visit the Gateway Arch National Historic Site. I think we all agreed that St. Louis was better than we expected and had we known about the amazing zoo, we probably would have thought about adding a day.

Where to stay

We definitely spent a bit more time planning the rest of our trip than we did planning what we'd do in St. Louis (besides visit the arch). Had we dived a little deeper, we would have discovered there's a metro line and how it runs from across the river in Illinois to through St. Louis. This would have let us stay on the other side of the river and take the metro in.

We stayed downtown and we learned that at night they've been having issues with loud vehicles being driven and kids roaming around. We walked around at night without any issues but due to COVID, our guess was businesses weren't sending people downtown since on Monday when we left, there was still hardly any traffic or people around.

Gateway Arch National Park

The park is right on the riverfront, easily accessible from our downtown hotel. You can also get to it via the red/blue metro line.

The arch is big but it's HUGE in person.

Riverboat Cruise

At the park on the river you can access the riverboats. This was a really fun activity and we'd highly recommend it! The tour was informative, explaining the history of different buildings, and it was fun to see the arch in full to get some good photos.

Visitor Center

The visitor center is on the west side of the park and you walk underground, it's pretty neat. There is a huge exhibit with the history of the park, the arch (Kamran enjoyed the architectural background), and activities for kids. This is also where you access the unique tram system to get to the top of the arch.

Speaking of...

Top of the Arch

Kamran and our friend were the only two who went up to the top of the arch. They took some videos and thought it was really fun (Kamran seemed less phased than our friend).

St. Louis Zoo and Forest Park

We're telling you right now that the St. Louis Zoo is phenomenal . Maybe it's because we've only experienced "small" zoos in the past but this blew past any expectations we had. Had we known how great it would end up being, we would have planned to be there a whole day instead of only 2 hours.

The zoo is situated within a large park called Forest Park. We took the metro and it is almost 1.5 miles away just to walk through the park to get there. It might have been a better idea to drive in retrospect  😅

We were able to see the bird garden, some marsupials, and grizzlies. By the time we made it that far, it was closing time and we had to go!

Restaurants

Sauce on the Side

Right across from our hotel was a made-from-scratch calzone place. We loved everything we had here, it was super tasty and the calzones are huge. Even when heating up leftovers, the bread didn't harden or get stale, which tells you they use some quality ingredients.

Mos Tequila Cantina

Right next to the Gateway Arch park is a little restaurant area in the historic old town with cobblestone streets. We ended up choosing a Mexican place and it was surprisingly good (for a touristy area). Kamran had a marg and he loved it. Everyone loved their dishes and some friends even ordered more tacos. The prices were higher but at least the quality and taste of the food matched.

This was our final meal together on the trip and it was the perfect endcap. We woke up early, drove on over and enjoyed an awesome breakfast with french toast, skillets, eggs, waffles, hashbrowns, cereal shakes, and Irish coffees. It was heaven 😇

It was a fantastic trip and we were so glad to create some lasting memories for us and the kids. Thanks for following along!

Planning Our Great Smoky Mountains and Mammoth Cave Roadtrip

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31 Best Stops Between Mammoth Cave National Park and Nashville

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How long is the drive from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville?

The direct drive from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville is 67.1 mi (108 km) , and should have a drive time of 1 hr 11 mins in normal traffic.

If you’re going on a road trip from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Bowling Green , as well as top places to visit like National Corvette Museum and Paradise Point Market Place, or the ever-popular Beech Bend.

Top city between Mammoth Cave National Park and Nashville

Bowling green, best stops along mammoth cave national park to nashville drive.

National Corvette Museum

Paradise Point Market Place

Historic railpark & train museum, western kentucky university.

Track your travel spending and split costs with friends

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Lost River Cave

Chaney's dairy barn, bright's antique world, the mint gaming hall kentucky downs, sumner crest winery, cragfont state historic site, bledsoe creek state park, fiddlers grove historic village, lebanon outlet mall, historic rock castle.

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Cedars of Lebanon State Park

Andrew jackson’s hermitage.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Grand Ole Opry

Johnny Cash Museum

Ryman auditorium.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The parthenon, sam davis home.

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Lee Victory Recreation Park

Belle meade historic site & winery.

Adventureworks Nashville West

Foggy bottom canoe and kayak rental, top searches in nashville, other popular road trips from mammoth cave national park, explore nearby places.

• Whites Creek
• Old Hickory
• Goodlettsville
• Hendersonville
• Mount Juliet
• Nolensville
• Ashland City
• Kingston Springs
• Pleasant View
• White House
• Leiper's Fork
• Springfield
• White Bluff
• College Grove
• Thompson s Station
• Cross Plains

All related maps of Nashville

• Map of Nashville
• Map of Whites Creek
• Map of Madison
• Map of Brentwood
• Map of Hermitage
• Map of Antioch
• Map of Old Hickory
• Map of Bellevue
• Map of Goodlettsville
• Map of Joelton
• Map of Hendersonville
• Map of Mount Juliet
• Map of Nolensville
• Map of Pegram
• Map of Franklin
• Map of Ashland City
• Map of Kingston Springs
• Map of Greenbrier
• Map of Arrington
• Map of Smyrna
• Map of Pleasant View
• Map of White House
• Map of Leiper's Fork
• Map of Fairview
• Map of Cottontown
• Map of Gallatin
• Map of Springfield
• Map of White Bluff
• Map of College Grove
• Map of Thompson s Station
• Map of Cross Plains

Nashville throughout the year

• Nashville in January
• Nashville in February
• Nashville in March
• Nashville in April
• Nashville in May
• Nashville in June
• Nashville in July
• Nashville in August
• Nashville in September
• Nashville in October
• Nashville in November
• Nashville in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Nashville?

Get inspired for your trip to Nashville with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Nashville Itinerary
• 2-Day Nashville Itinerary
• 3-Day Nashville Itinerary
• 4-Day Nashville Itinerary
• 5-Day Nashville Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i drive from mammoth cave national park to nashville.

Yes! You can drive from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville.

How far is Nashville from Mammoth Cave National Park by car?

The drive from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville is 67.1 miles (108 km).

How long does it take to drive from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville?

Driving from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville should take you 1 hr 11 mins in normal traffic.

How much would gas cost from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville?

Gas from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville would cost around $6 to $14 , depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Where should I stop on the way from Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville?

You could check out National Corvette Museum and Paradise Point Market Place, or the always popular Beech Bend!

What are the best cities to visit between Mammoth Cave National Park and Nashville?

People love visiting Bowling Green, among others.

What's the weather like in Mammoth Cave National Park?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in January
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in February
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in March
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in April
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in May
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in June
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in July
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in August
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in September
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in October
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in November
• Weather in Mammoth Cave National Park in December

What are some other road trips from Mammoth Cave National Park?

There are plenty! Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Mammoth Cave National Park.

• Mammoth Cave National Park to Nashville drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Chicago drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Washington DC drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Louisville drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to New Orleans drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Gatlinburg drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Atlanta drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Memphis drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Toronto drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Saint Louis drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Chattanooga drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Niagara Falls drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Branson drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Cincinnati drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Savannah drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Indianapolis drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to St. Augustine drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Charleston drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Cleveland drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Baltimore drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Pittsburgh drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Lexington drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Mexico City drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Myrtle Beach drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Asheville drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Pigeon Forge drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Williamsburg drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Kansas City drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Columbus drive
• Mammoth Cave National Park to Milwaukee drive

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Carlsbad Caverns vs. Mammoth Cave: Which is Better?

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

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

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

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

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

Highlights in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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

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

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

Desert Beauty in an Ancient Seabed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exploring the Park

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Kids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highlights in Mammoth Cave National Park

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

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

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

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

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

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

History in the Rolling Hills of Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mammoth Cave National Park with Kids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts: Carlsbad Caverns vs. Mammoth Cave

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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