Extended Discovery - Self-Guided

Mammoth Cave National Park Tours

Extended Discovery Tour

This is a self-guided tour. Walk down a hillside trail to Mammoth Cave's most famous entrance and follow the path used for over two centuries of touring. Experience the grandeur of large trunk passages in the world's longest cave. Focusing on early history and prehistory of the cave, this section of cave houses many great artifacts. There will be rangers stationed along the route to answer any questions and for safety. Tour enters and exits at the Historic Entrance, visiting the Rotunda and a historic salt peter mining site, Rafinesque Hall, and the Methodist Church.

Includes part of the Historic Tour and all of the Mammoth Passage Tour routes

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• All tours begin at the Visitor Center. Tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to tour time. No refunds for no shows or late arrivals.

• Safety

  Includes a steep outdoor hillside trail to and from the cave's Historic Entrance. Visitors with known heart or respiratory conditions, poor circulation or difficulty walking long distances and negotiating stairs, should carefully consider their limitations. Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours.

• Time Zone

  Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the central time zone and observes daylight savings time.

• Directions

  Note: Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Google Maps, or similar automated navigation systems to get to the park Visitor Center in time for your cave tour. Routes can be misleading and incorrect.
  Directions from the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). Turn right onto KY-70. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
  
  Directions from the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Turn left onto KY-255 and follow 255 as it becomes the Park City Road into the park. Follow Park City Road until it joins the Mammoth Cave Parkway; turn left. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
  

• Ticket Ages

  
  Children 2 and under do not require a reservation or ticket.
  
  Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older on all tours.
  
  Interagency Senior and Interagency ADA Access ticket pricing applies to Interagency Senior and Interagency ADA Access Pass holders only.
  
  The Interagency Annual Pass is NOT accepted for tours or camping.
  

• Availability

  Mammoth Cave may not offer this ur year-round. Please check the current program schedule. 

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