National park · Kentucky

Mammoth Cave National Park

The longest known cave system in the world — over 426 mapped miles of limestone passageways under Kentucky and still growing — with evidence of human exploration going back 5,000 years and a 19th-century tuberculosis hospital deep inside.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Park Hours
Established
July 1, 1941
Region
Appalachia & the Mid-Atlantic
Mammoth Cave National Park
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mammoth Cave National Park patch

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History

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the longest known cave system in the world, with over 426 miles of passageways. It has significant archaeological value, with evidence of human activity dating back 5,000 years, including the discovery of ancient Native American remains.

Key events

  1. The park was named a World Heritage Site on October 27, 1981.
  2. It was designated an International Dark Sky Park on October 28, 2021.
  3. The cave system was formally recognized as the Mammoth–Flint Ridge Cave System in 1972 after a connection was discovered.

Trails

  • Historic Tour (Cave) 2 mi · Moderate
  • Domes and Dripstones Tour 2 mi · Hard
  • Cedar Sink Trail 1.8 mi · Easy
  • Big Hollow Trail 6 mi · Moderate
  • Green River Bluffs Trail 0.5 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Park Hours

Open 24 hours, every day

Mammoth Cave National Park is open 24-hours a day, although services such as cave tours and the visitor center are limited after-hours. There is no gate at the park entrance. Please note that camping is only possible either in designated campgrounds or backcountry campsites with a valid reservation or permit.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Year-round. Cave maintains 54°F year-round, tours available daily
  • Spring. Wildflowers above ground, comfortable hiking weather
  • Fall. Fall foliage, fewer crowds, pleasant surface hiking
  • Summer. All tours available, river activities, but most crowded

Wildlife

Cave blind fishKentucky cave shrimpIndiana batsGray batsWhite-tailed deerWild turkeysBald eaglesGreat blue herons

Nearby patches

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