[Park Closure] Green River Ferry Temporarily Closed
The Green River Ferry is temporarily closed for several months while repairs are made to its navigational system and support towers which sustained extensive damage during flooding in April 2025.
Mammoth Cave National Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Mammoth Cave National Park offers exceptional RV camping across 3 campgrounds with over 130 sites, featuring the world's longest known cave system with 400+ miles of explored passages, scenic Green River valleys, and diverse hiking trails. Mammoth Cave Campground provides the park's only full-hookup sites, while strategic locations like Bowling Green RV rentals and Louisville motorhome options offer prime access to this 52,830-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site that welcomed over 533,000 visitors in 2024.
What Makes Mammoth Cave the Ultimate RV Destination?
Beneath the rolling hills of south-central Kentucky lies one of America's most extraordinary natural wonders: Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world's longest known cave system with over 400 miles of surveyed underground passageways. Famous for being both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, this remarkable destination combines subterranean exploration with pristine surface wilderness across 52,830 acres of diverse Kentucky landscape.
You'll discover endless adventure during your RV trip to Mammoth Cave, from guided cave tours through cathedral-sized chambers and narrow crawlways to hiking over 80 miles of scenic surface trails. The park offers everything from easy walking tours suitable for all ages to challenging wild cave expeditions for the adventurous spirit. Above ground, the Green and Nolin rivers provide excellent canoeing and fishing opportunities, while the park's diverse ecosystems support abundant wildlife, including deer, turkey, and over 200 bird species.
The park's moderate climate makes it accessible year-round, though spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for both cave exploration and surface activities. Summer brings peak visitation with all facilities operating at full capacity, while winter provides a quieter, more contemplative experience with limited but still remarkable cave tours available. The park's extensive trail system showcases everything from dense hardwood forests to river bottomlands, prairie remnants, and fascinating karst topography.
Mammoth Cave's rich cultural history spans thousands of years, from Native American utilization to 19th-century commercial cave operations and its eventual designation as a national park in 1941. This fascinating heritage enhances every visit, making your RV adventure both educational and inspiring as you explore one of America's most significant natural and cultural treasures.
Park Alerts (3)
[Information] Temporary Closure of Select Trails for Rehabilitation Project
The Old Guides Trail, Heritage Trail, Sunset Point Trail and areas of the Sinkhole Trail are currently closed due to a trail rehabilitation project.
[Information] Tickets are required to enter Mammoth Cave
Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations are the only way to ensure a spot is available for your party. Please plan accordingly by visiting Recreation.gov to secure your tickets in advance. Availability of walk-up tickets is not guaranteed.
RV Rentals in Mammoth Cave National Park
Transportation
Driving
You can access Mammoth Cave National Park via Interstate 65, with the main entrance located just 10 miles northeast of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The park is easily accessible from multiple directions, making it an ideal destination for RVers traveling from Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, or Nashville. Most park roads accommodate RVs comfortably, though the maximum length for the campground is 38 feet for RVs and 26 feet for trailers. Year-round access is available with paved roads throughout the developed areas.
Where Are the Best Gateway Cities for RV Rentals?
Western Kentucky Access: Bowling Green RV rentals position you perfectly just 30 minutes from Mammoth Cave's entrance, offering an excellent selection of RV types and convenient access to supplies and services. This university town provides modern amenities while serving as the ideal launching point for your cave country adventure.
Louisville Metropolitan Access: Louisville RV rentals provide access to Kentucky's largest RV rental market, with Mammoth Cave located just 90 minutes south via Interstate 65. Louisville offers the most diverse selection of rental rigs and serves as an excellent base for exploring multiple Kentucky destinations during extended trips.
Parking
You can park your RV at designated campground sites and day-use parking areas near the visitor center and cave tour entrances. The main visitor center parking area accommodates RVs, though larger rigs may need to use overflow areas during peak summer months. Most trailhead parking areas can handle standard RVs, with some restrictions for the longest units on narrower access roads.
Public Transportation
While public transportation is not available within the park, you can reach nearby Bowling Green via Greyhound bus service and several regional transportation options. Once inside Mammoth Cave, the park's compact developed area makes walking the primary method for accessing the visitor center, cave tours, and nearby trails, with campgrounds located within easy walking distance of all major facilities.
Campgrounds and parking in Mammoth Cave National Park
Campsites in Mammoth Cave National Park
Reservations camping
Mammoth Cave Camground
Mammoth Cave Campground offers 52 first-come, first-served RV campsites, but it’s better to make reservations if you plan to camp here as there are only six sites that are RV accessible. If you want to tent camp there will be many more first-come, first-served campgrounds and camping areas for you to choose from.
Mammoth Cave Campground
Mammoth Cave Campground serves as the park's primary camping facility, offering 111 sites, including 10 tent-only sites, two ADA-accessible sites, and four group sites. Open March 1 through November 29, 2025, this well-appointed campground accommodates RVs up to 38 feet and trailers up to 26 feet in length. Two VIP sites feature full hookups (water, electric, sewer) at $50 per night on a first-come, first-served basis, while standard sites with electric and water cost $25 per night. Located just ¼ mile from the visitor center, campers enjoy easy walking access to cave tours, trails, and the camp store. Amenities include hot showers, flush toilets, dump stations, and laundry facilities.
Maple Springs Group Campground
Maple Springs caters specifically to group camping, offering seven sites that each accommodate up to 16 people. Open March 1 through November 29, 2025, four of these sites welcome horses, making it popular with equestrian groups exploring the park's horse trails. RV sites feature electric and water hookups and can accommodate rigs up to 40 feet and trailers up to 26 feet. All sites are paved and level for easy setup, with vault toilets, trash collection, and drinking water available seasonally. Sites cost $50 per night with no discounts available, and reservations are essential through Recreation.gov.
Horse Cave KOA
Just seven miles from Mammoth Cave National Park and open all year round, the dog-friendly Horse Cave KOA is a perfect place to stay for those wanting to be close to the park and have more RV site options. The campground is known for being a very relaxing place and has some great facilities for you to enjoy.
There are shaded, pull-through RV sites that are available in either full hookup or water and electric hookup variants. The sites are great for larger rigs as they can accommodate RVs up to 60 feet long. Other amenities in the campground include a pool, catch and release fishing pond, mini-golf course, basketball and volleyball courts, jump pillow, toilets, showers, and a dump station. You can also purchase firewood at the campground and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
If you are considering staying at Horse Cave KOA we recommend that you book a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment. Horse Cave KOA is open all year round.
Bowling Green KOA
Bowling Green KOA provides a full-service RV experience just 30 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park. This well-appointed campground features sites up to 100 feet in length with full hookups, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. Family amenities include a swimming pool, mini-golf course, playground, and camp store. The KOA's location between Interstates 65 and 165 makes it easily accessible while providing convenient access to Bowling Green's restaurants and services.
Alternate camping
Houchin Ferry Campground
Houchin Ferry offers a more rustic camping experience, with 12 tent-only sites available year-round. Located along the Green River, this campground offers excellent access to river activities but does not permit RVs or trailers. Sites cost $20 per night, with Senior/Access Pass holders receiving a 50% discount. While lacking modern amenities, Houchin Ferry appeals to campers seeking solitude and a more backcountry experience within the national park setting.
The Lodge at Mammoth Cave
If you’re looking for a place to stay that’s a little on the more luxurious side, check out the Lodge at Mammoth Cave. Comfort and relaxation can be found here, as well as restaurants and shops that you can visit - all without ever having to leave the park. Check out the yummy Spelunkers Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor, or go have an amazing dinner at the Green River Grill. The Lodge is the best place to be able to come back to after a long tiring day spent in the park. You’ll be able to get a great night’s sleep and be ready to do it all again the next day if you stay at the Lodge.
Seasonal activities in Mammoth Cave National Park
Fall
Frozen Niagra Cave Tour
This tour is a great first tour to take when visiting the park for the first time with children or elderly family members. While the walk may only be a quarter-mile long, this tour features a magnificent cave formation that resembles Niagara Falls frozen in time.
Visitor Center
The Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center should be the first stop once you arrive at the park. Checking into the visitor center is a great way to find out what's happening in the park, including if there are any special events or closures that you should know about. You can check out interactive exhibits and watch a short orientation film. The visitor center at Mammoth Cave National Park is open every day except for Christmas.
Violet City Lantern Tour
This tour is truly a unique experience. Here you’ll be guided through the cave by lantern light only, mimicking what it was like for people in the days of old when they were coming through the caves. Remember when you go that this tour is considered strenuous, so watch your step.
Mammoth Cave Accessible Tour
This tour is a fantastic way to be sure that everyone is included in the fun. Transportation or mobility assistive devices are permitted on this tour, but they are not provided by the park. This beautiful two-hour tour within the Mammoth Cave is a half-mile long, and there are no stairs. You'll get a chance to see gypsum formations and the famous Snowball Room.
Domes and Dripstones Cave Tour
This tour is a moderate level of difficulty with a total of 500 stairs. Every step is worth it though thanks to the breathtaking natural cave formations, pits, domes, and giant trunks of dripstones created over time by water. There is a reason why this tour is one of the most popular, go find out for yourself why!
Historic Cave Tour
This tour features what is known as “classic” Mammoth Cave, taking you through the same places that well-known celebrities, writers, military figures, and scientists have walked through. Be prepared for a moderate difficulty level when you go - this tour is two miles long, with 440 stairs to take on the way.
Summer
Picnicking
Mammoth Cave National Park is a great place to pack a lunch and have a relaxing picnic. There are three picnic shelters available at the park, two of which are reservable online so that you can guarantee a spot. Some of the amenities at the shelters include electric hookups, picnic tables, and the ability to hold up to 60 people. Soak in views of the Green River Valley or enjoy a scenic meal before you head down the Dixon Cave Trail.
Boating
With Green River and Nolin River readily available in the park, this is a great place to go boating, kayaking, and canoeing. There are plenty of liveries outside the park that offer rentals. Just be sure before you take any kind of boat out that you’re prepared for strong currents and have a proper flotation device with you.
Junior Ranger Nature Track
This activity is great for kids to be able to learn all about the park in a fun and interactive way. From all the plants and wildlife within the park to the intricate cave systems and diverse ecosystem, there are lots for the children to learn with help from the fantastic park rangers.
Bicycling
The park is a great place to bring your bike, and street bikes are allowed on all public paved roads. If you’re looking for something a little off-road, there are two trails that are specifically for biking. Big Hollow Trail is one of them, which totals around nine miles. The Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail is the other one, which is just a little shorter than Big Hollow.
Horseback Riding
Mammoth Cave National Park is perfect for going horseback riding. There are over 60 miles of trails open for horseback riders just north of Green River, so you can be sure to find a trail that works well for you and your horse. There are even places to keep your horse trailer when you are out on the trails.
Fishing
Summer is a great time to go fishing at Mammoth Cave National Park. Bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and muskellunge are popular catches, but there are also many other species to be found in the waters here. You can go fishing at Green River, Nolin River, and even First Creek Lake, and you might find something different at each spot.
Winter
Discovery Cave Tour
The Discovery Tour, unlike the others at Mammoth National Park, is completely self-guided. The tour enables you to see one of the largest rooms in the cave system - the Rotunda - and walk through a great canyon passage. If you have any questions, there are rangers outside ready and willing to give answers. There is so much history to learn in this area and this tour is one of the most popular.
Star Chamber Cave Tour
Like the Violet City Lantern Tour, Star Chamber is a tour done by lantern light only as well. This tour is labeled as moderate and has 200 total stairs to be climbed. Immerse yourself in the dark history of the Mammoth Caves and truly get an understanding of what life was like in the 1800s on this tour.
Dining in the Park
Within Mammoth Cave National Park there are a few different places where you can eat if you are feeling peckish. Two spots that are great for snacks are the cafe and the ice cream parlor. If you are looking for a larger meal, check out the grill restaurant.
Solitary Surface Exploration
Winter's bare forest provides excellent conditions for wildlife observation and photography, with leaf-off trees revealing landscape features hidden during other seasons. Houchin Ferry Campground remains open for hardy winter campers seeking solitude and a true wilderness experience.
Limited Cave Tours
While most surface facilities close, selected cave tours continue year-round, offering a unique winter perspective on Mammoth Cave's underground wonders. The cave's constant 54°F temperature feels warm compared to winter air, creating an interesting thermal experience as you transition between environments.
Cave Sing
If you happen to be visiting Mammoth Cave National Park during the first Sunday in December, you can attend the annual Cave Sing, which is a festive event to celebrate the holidays. Head to Mammoth Cave where you can listen to Christmas carols sung by the Caveman Chorus while gathered around a ten-foot Christmas tree. Afterwards, you can head to the Lodge at Mammoth Cave for some snacks and a chance to meet with Santa Claus!
Spring
Evening Programs at Park Amphitheater
Evening programs are held at the Park Amphitheater, usually just after dark. Here, a park ranger will talk about different subjects depending on the night. These evening programs are perfect for people of all ages and are ADA-accessible as well. These can be a great way to end a full day at the park, so check them out!
Sand Cave Almanac Caravan Tour
Located near the main visitor center, this tour will inform you about the time explorer Floyd Collins got trapped in the Sand Cave in 1925. The tour begins at Sand Cave Trailhead and ends at Mammoth Cave, totaling 5.2 miles. This adventure packs quite a bit of knowledge and fun in just two hours, including getting to see his family’s home and grave site. The tour is also wheelchair accessible, making it available to everyone.
Echo River Springs Walk
Echo River is an underground river inside Mammoth Cave that surfaces as a beautiful spring near Green River. This is a wonderful sight to see and is a great place to go on a ranger-led walk. The walk is only a quarter-mile so the trail is easy and fun for everyone, including those in wheelchairs.
Heritage Walk
Located close to Mammoth Cave Hotel, the Heritage Walk at Mammoth Cave National Park is a lovely ADA-accessible place for you to go for a stroll since it is only around three-quarters of a mile long. On the trail, you will enjoy 45 minutes of rich history and hear about tales of the old Mammoth Cave Estate, and you will also get to see the Old Guides Cemetery when you take the Heritage Walk.
Porch Talk
The Porch Talks are special events held at Mammoth Cave National Park that vary in subject matter, depending on the date and time. Whatever talk is happening, you can be sure that it’ll be informational and entertaining all at the same time. This is a great place to join in on an interesting conversation with a ranger about cave formations, cave geology, and natural history of the area.
Birding
Above the famous caves, there are some great opportunities for those who love to birdwatch. The mostly forested areas offer the birds in and around the park a perfect place to call home, and the Green River attracts songbirds, such as the Cerulean warbler, Kentucky warbler, Eastern bluebird, and Summer tanager. There are plenty of other birds you can spot as well, including the American robin, goldfinch, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and hawks.
Did you enjoy reading this guide? For more regional outdoor adventures, check out our Chicago → Mammoth Cave National Park road trip guide or explore our Lake Cumberland guide.
