Overview

This lush campground is located 15 miles from the park's Visitor Center, along the south bank of the Green River. Houchin Ferry Campground offers 12 primitive, tent-only campsites with beautiful riverfront views. Serving as a day-use area, it's an ideal spot for birdwatching, fishing, canoeing, and picnicking. If you're looking to explore more, take a short drive to the Visitor Center to plan your tour of Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave system.

Facilities

The 12 primitive campsites are nestled among aromatic trees, offering a peaceful experience with the Green River just steps away. Potable water and portable restrooms are available at the head of the campground. This is a primitive, tent-only campground and also serves as a day-use area. The picnic tables and shelters are available for public use, and the boat launch is open for public access.

Natural Features

This campground is part of Mammoth Cave National Park, a 52,800-acre park that includes the Green River Valley, rolling Kentucky hillsides, and the expansive Mammoth Cave with grand-scale chambers and long, winding passageways.  

This remote campsite is quiet, peaceful and ideal for those who want to be immersed in nature. Wildlife includes deer, turkey, and coyotes.

Recreation

A must-do activity in the park is exploring Mammoth Cave. Walking tours of the caverns leave from the visitor center daily. There are also miles of bike trails and hiking trails within the park.

Nearby Attractions

Nearly 30 miles of the Green and Nolin rivers offer canoeing and boating through the park. Commercial outfitters outside the park rent canoes, kayaks and safety equipment. https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/canoeliveries.htm

Most trails north of the Green River are open for horseback riding. Commercial liveries outside the park rent horses and some may provide organized excursions. https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/horseback.htm

Contact Info

Important Notices

• Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit www.dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

• Ticks are common in the park and their bites can spread diseases. Learn steps to prevent tick-borne illness. 

• Firearms must be carried in accordance with Kentucky state law, but all other weapons are prohibited. Possession of firearms in the park buildings and cave is prohibited. The use of firearms is prohibited anywhere within Mammoth Cave National Park.

• Fireworks are prohibited.

• Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am central time.

• ** Check-in is 1:00 pm, cst. Check-out is 11:00 am, cst.

Available Activities

• Canoeing - Canoeing
• Birding - Birding
• Camping - Camping
• Day Use Area - Day Use Area
• Fishing - Fishing
• Kayaking - Kayaking
• Photography - Photography
• Picnicking - Picnicking
• Star Gazing - Star Gazing
• Water Access - Water Access

Directions

<p>Note: Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Google Maps or similar automated navigation systems to get to the Houchin Ferry Campground. Routes can be misleading and incorrect.</p> <p>Directions from the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). Turn right onto KY-70. Follow 70/255, about 4 miles you turn left on 255 just before entering the park, follow this to Brownsville Rd, turn left and follow this all the way until it ends at Hwy-101, turn right go about a quarter mile to Houchin Ferry Rd. (Minit Mart on corner), turn right and follow this to campground.</p> <p> </p> <p>Directions from the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Turn left onto KY-255 follow this into the park, when you come to the stop sign turn left and follow this to Brownsville Rd, turn left and follow this all the way until it ends at Hwy-101, turn right go about a quarter mile to Houchin Ferry Rd. (Minit Mart on corner), turn right and follow this to campground.</p>

Cancellation Policy

<p>For rules and reservation policies please follow the link below: </p> <p>https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies</p>

Contact Information

Phone: 270-758-2180

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip