For the full list of cave tours offered at Mammoth Cave National Park, follow this NPS link. All tours depart from the park’s visitor center.

🥾 Historic Tour (2 hours, 2 miles): The classic cave tour at Mammoth Cave should be every visitor’s number one priority if they are visiting the park for the first time. It passes iconic locations in the cave like the Rotunda, Fat Man’s Misery, and Mammoth Dome.
🥾 Domes & Dripstones Tour (2 hours, 1 mile): This short tour takes visitors to one of the few places in Mammoth Cave that feature cave decorations. It includes the Frozen Niagara Tour, so you’ll get more bang for your buck if you do this tour.
🥾 Grand Avenue Tour (4 hours, 4 miles): One of the longest tours offered at the national park includes stops at Cleaveland Avenue, an underground slot canyon, and the Domes & Dripstones destinations.
🥾 Great Onyx Lantern Tour (2.25 hours, 1 mile): Lantern tours at Mammoth Cave National Park offer a unique opportunity to explore underground passageways with more natural-feeling lighting. This one takes visitors through the Great Onyx Cave – separate from Mammoth Cave but part of the national park – and provides a chance to see beautiful cave decorations and learn some history about the park.
🥾 Violet City Lantern Tour (3 hours, 3 miles): This lantern tour covers parts of other tours, including the Historic Tour and River Styx Tour, and is a popular tour in the cave.
🥾 Star Chamber Lantern Tour (2.25 hours, 2 miles): Yet another tour led by lantern light, this tour takes visitors to its namesake Star Chamber. The NPS describes this as more of an “experience” than a “tour.”
🥾 Wild Cave Tour (6 hours, 5 miles): Mammoth Cave’s most intense tour is essentially a ranger-led spelunking experience. Those looking for an extreme and unforgettable experience in the cave should look no further than this. The park also offers a similar, less intense Introduction to Caving Tour.

⛺ Camping: Camping is a great way to enhance your experience at Mammoth Cave, especially in the spring and the fall. The park offers several campgrounds nestled in its forests.
🥾 Hiking: While Mammoth Cave National Park isn’t known for its hiking, there are some short surface hikes around the visitor center that are worth checking out. Be sure to check out the Green River Overlook and the River Styx while hiking in the area.
🚣‍♂️ Canoeing/Kayaking: Mammoth Cave offers canoeing & kayaking opportunities on both the Green River and Nolin River.

🦇 Diamond Caverns: This privately-run show cave sits just outside of Mammoth Cave National Park and offers an intriguing diversion for those interested in seeing more caves around Cave City (of which there are many).
🦖 Dinosaur World: If you’re visiting the Mammoth Cave area with a family, this dinosaur theme park is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Interactive exhibits and life size dinosaur replicas make it memorable, especially for children.
🏞️ Nolin Lake State Park: Nolin Lake is a reservoir that sits just north of Mammoth Cave. The state park offers a variety of warm-weather recreation, including boating, swimming, and lounging on the beach.
🏙️ Louisville: It takes about 75 minutes to reach Bourbon City by car from the national park. The city offers plenty to do for those looking to experience restaurants, concerts, nightlife, urban culture, and – of course – take tours of bourbon distilleries.
🏙️ Nashville: Music City is a 90-minute drive from the park. Nashville needs little to no introduction: music, sports, history, food, culture, and shopping abound in this popular weekend destination.

📅 When to Visit: Since the temperature inside Mammoth Cave is relatively constant year-round, it’s possible to have a fun and activity-filled visit to the national park any time of the year. Personally, I’d recommend April-May or October-November to visit the park. Spring and fall bring pleasant weather and vibrant colors to Kentucky, whereas other months often present sweltering heat & humidity or freezing cold on the surface.
⌚ How Long to Visit: A weekend is the perfect amount of time to spend at Mammoth Cave National Park. It’s enough time to embark on a couple of cave tours, do a bit of hiking, camping, or kayaking, and even visit some of the attractions near the park.
🚗 How to Visit: Mammoth Cave is easy to reach by car. Those visiting from afar could consider flying into either Louisville or Nashville, and those living within 5 hours of the park can easily visit using a weekend.
🛏️ Where to Stay: The national park offers a variety of lodging opportunities within its borders. The Mammoth Cave Lodge offers both hotel rooms and cabins nestled in the woods. Several campgrounds exist within park borders, with the Mammoth Cave Campground being the most convenient. There are plenty of lodging options in the towns around the park.
🧳 What to Bring: To enjoy your time at Mammoth Cave National Park, be sure to bring some sturdy hiking boots, a water container, and a light jacket for cave tours. It never hurts to have a headlamp. Mosquito repellant is useful on the surface during warmer months.

✅ DO bring mosquito repellant during the warmer months. Bugs are terrible in Kentucky during the summer.
✅ DO wear layers to accommodate for cave conditions. The cave is a constant 54°F, which is often much cooler or much warmer than it is on the surface.
❌ DON’T show up to the park without a reservation. Cave tours often sell out days in advance, so you can never guarantee there will be available tours on the day of your visit.