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National Park No. KY No nonresident surcharge

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave system on earth — over 426 mapped miles of passages, with new survey adding miles every year. The cave was a tourist attraction before Kentucky was a state, and tours have run continuously since 1816 — the longest unbroken stretch of cave to…

I-65Nearest Interstate
1State
4FAQ
0Active Alerts
01 Park overview

Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave system on earth — over 426 mapped miles of passages, with new survey adding miles every year. The cave was a tourist attraction before Kentucky was a state, and tours have run continuously since 1816 — the longest unbroken stretch of cave tourism in the world. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Above ground, 53,000 acres of Cumberland Plateau forest sit on top of the cave system, with the Green and Nolin Rivers cutting deep, scenic gorges. From I-65 the access is Exit 48 in Cave City, then 10 mi west on KY-70 and Mammoth Cave Parkway to the visitor center. Park entry is free, but every cave tour requires a paid reservation and they routinely sell out 1-4 weeks in advance during summer.

  • Longest known cave system on earth — 426+ mapped miles (more than the next two combined)
  • Continuous commercial tours since 1816 — longest unbroken cave-tourism history in the world
  • Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1981) and International Biosphere Reserve (1990)
  • Above-ground area: 53,000 acres of Cumberland Plateau forest with 70+ above-ground miles of trail
  • Park entry is free; cave tours require separate paid reservations
02 Photos
The Rotunda chamber, Mammoth Cave
The Rotunda chamber, Mammoth Cave Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA
03 Don't miss
  • Historic Tour (2 hr, includes Bottomless Pit and Ruins of Karnak)
  • Frozen Niagara Tour (1.25 hr, accessible)
  • Domes and Dripstones Tour (2 hr, classic formations)
  • Wild Cave Tour (6 hr, real spelunking — sells out months ahead)
  • Above-ground hiking on the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail
04 Getting there & truck/RV access
Route from interstate

From I-65

Exit 48 (Cave City, KY)

10 mi west on KY-70 and Mammoth Cave Pkwy to the visitor center

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

KY-70 and Mammoth Cave Parkway from I-65 to the visitor center are paved and unrestricted. The visitor center area roads accommodate RVs and trailers without difficulty.

Parking: Visitor center has a large RV-capable lot. Cave tour groups depart from the visitor center on a fixed schedule. Truck-friendly fuel is at Cave City (I-65 Exit 48) and Park City (Exit 53).

Restrictions: No length restrictions on park roads. The Green River Ferry inside the park (free) has a vehicle weight limit; trailers and large RVs use the bridge crossing on KY-728 instead.

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: Year-round — cave temperature is a constant 54°F. Above-ground best in spring (April–May) for wildflowers and fall (October) for color.

Closures: No seasonal closures on park roads. Specific cave tours rotate seasonally; the standard Historic, Frozen Niagara, and Domes and Dripstones tours run year-round.

Notes: Cave tours are physical — Historic Tour involves 540 stairs; tours requiring crawling are not suitable for casual visitors. Reservations strongly recommended; same-day walk-up tickets are limited.

06 Entrance fees (2026)
PassPrice
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites) $80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

The $100 NPS nonresident surcharge applies at 11 specifically named parks. Mammoth Cave National Park is not on that list, so non-U.S. residents pay the same standard entrance fees as U.S. residents.

No entrance fee for the park or above-ground areas. Cave tours require paid tickets; tour fees waived on fee-free days for U.S. residents only.

Note: No park entrance fee. Cave tours range from $8 (Discovery Tour, self-guided) to $79 (Wild Cave Tour, 6 hours). Reserve at recreation.gov.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts
No active NWS weather alerts or FEMA disaster declarations in Mammoth Cave National Park's state(s) right now.
08 FAQ
How do I get to Mammoth Cave from I-65?
10 miles west of I-65 Exit 48 in Cave City, KY, on KY-70 and Mammoth Cave Parkway. The drive takes about 15 minutes. Cave City has multiple truck-friendly fuel stops at the exit.
Do I have to pay to enter the park?
No — Mammoth Cave is free to enter; you can drive park roads, hike, and use the visitor center at no charge. Cave tours require separate paid tickets ($8–$79 depending on tour).
Should I reserve a cave tour ahead of time?
Strongly recommended — popular tours (Historic, Domes and Dripstones, Wild Cave) routinely sell out 1-4 weeks ahead during summer. Reserve at recreation.gov. Walk-up tickets are limited and not guaranteed.
Does the $100 nonresident fee apply?
No. Mammoth Cave is not on the 2026 NPS nonresident-surcharge list. Cave-tour ticket prices are the same for all visitors regardless of residency.

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