Mammoth Cave National Park Tours
As the National Park Service (NPS) monitors and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health to use the latest science to guide our decision making. Modifications to Mammoth Cave National Park operations and the addition of cave tours to the current reservation schedule will be adjusted as park managers monitor local conditions and evaluate facilities and services with the support of public health professionals.
Tour offerings and schedules may change in accordance with public health guidance. Please check back periodically for an updated tour schedule as it will be updated when tour offerings are determined. We strongly recommend making tour reservations prior to your visit as cave tours often sell out.
Explore up to ten miles of the incredible Mammoth Cave! With more than 400 miles (644 km) of mapped passageways, Mammoth Cave ranks as the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941, designated a World Heritage Site in 1981 and became the core area of an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990.
Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the cave system and a part of the Green River valley and hill country of south central Kentucky. Early guide Stephen Bishop called the cave a "grand, gloomy and peculiar place" but its vast chambers and complex labyrinths have earned it the name Mammoth. The park offers a variety of cave tours daily (except Christmas Day). Mammoth Cave tours are available year-around, up to 6 months in advance.
The park may not publish the complete schedule or variety of tours until 1 to 3 months prior to tour date. All tours begin and end at the Visitor Center. Tours range from easy to difficult and may last anywhere from one to six hours. Cave trails and walkways may have electric lights or may be rugged, pitch-dark paths that require visitors to carry a lantern.
Take a little time to ensure the activity you choose is the best one for you. Each tour is fascinating in its own way and shows off the various sections of the cave. Tour highlights include the Rainbow Dome, the Snowball Room, Crystal Lake, and the Bottomless Pit. Please note the Self-Guided tour is usually only offered during the busier times of the year of summer and fall. The park also offers free programs on the surface that do not require reservations.
As the National Park Service (NPS) monitors and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health to use the latest science to guide our decision making. Modifications to Mammoth Cave National Park operations and the addition of cave tours to the current reservation schedule will be adjusted as park managers monitor local conditions and evaluate facilities and services with the support of public health professionals.
Tour offerings and schedules may change in accordance with public health guidance. Please check back periodically for an updated tour schedule as it will be updated when tour offerings are determined. We strongly recommend making tour reservations prior to your visit as cave tours often sell out.
Explore up to ten miles of the incredible Mammoth Cave! With more than 400 miles (644 km) of mapped passageways, Mammoth Cave ranks as the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941, designated a World Heritage Site in 1981 and became the core area of an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990.
Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the cave system and a part of the Green River valley and hill country of south central Kentucky. Early guide Stephen Bishop called the cave a "grand, gloomy and peculiar place" but its vast chambers and complex labyrinths have earned it the name Mammoth. The park offers a variety of cave tours daily (except Christmas Day). Mammoth Cave tours are available year-around, up to 6 months in advance.
The park may not publish the complete schedule or variety of tours until 1 to 3 months prior to tour date. All tours begin and end at the Visitor Center. Tours range from easy to difficult and may last anywhere from one to six hours. Cave trails and walkways may have electric lights or may be rugged, pitch-dark paths that require visitors to carry a lantern.
Take a little time to ensure the activity you choose is the best one for you. Each tour is fascinating in its own way and shows off the various sections of the cave. Tour highlights include the Rainbow Dome, the Snowball Room, Crystal Lake, and the Bottomless Pit. Please note the Self-Guided tour is usually only offered during the busier times of the year of summer and fall. The park also offers free programs on the surface that do not require reservations.
Notifications and Alerts
The America the Beautiful Senior Pass and America the Beautiful Access Pass ♿ will give a discount on the card holder's ticket only. Discount is applied in-person after you make your reservations, and you must bring the physical card and ID to the ticket counter at the Visitor Center for the refund. All other passes do not apply to tour fees.
Need to Know
- Time Zone
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the central time zone and observes daylight savings time.
- Friendly Reminder
When traveling to the park for a cave tour, plan for adequate travel time to the visitor center. We suggest that you arrive around 30 minutes before the start of your scheduled tour. This will allow for time to find parking, pick up your tickets and time to use the restroom. All schedule tours leave on time.
- Firearms/Weapons
Firearms, pepper spray, mace, knives or weapons of any type are not permitted on cave tours or in the Visitor Center.
- Late Arrivals
All schedule Tours leave on time. Customers with reservations that arrive after your tour reservation time and date will forfeit your tour fee. This includes if you miss being at your assigned shelter at your designated time and the tour leaves without you, you will forfeit your tour fee. If you see that you will not make your reservation time and date you may cancel before your tour time and date. There will be $1 per ticket charge regardless for the cancellation.
- Children
Child strollers and infant backpack carriers are prohibited in the cave for visitor safety reasons. Front carriers are permitted. Some tours have age restrictions. Please check age requirements prior to making your reservation. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older on all tours.
- Season and Tour Availability
The park offers a variety of cave tours daily (except Christmas Day). Mammoth Cave tours are available year-around, up to 6 months in advance. The park may not publish the complete schedule or variety of tours until 3 months prior to tour date. The park schedules several tours daily, year-round (for example, the Historic Tour runs daily). Other tours are offered seasonally or less frequently. Please check the current cave tour schedule. You may call the park at 270-758-2180 for additional information.
- Evacuation
Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours; visitors with known heart or respiratory conditions, poor circulation, or difficulty walking and climbing stairs should carefully consider their limitations.
- Photography
Flash photography is not permitted on cave tours. Camera tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are also prohibited.
- School Visitation
During the months of March, April, and May we experience heavy visitation from schools; there may be large groups of students on tours.
- White-Nose Syndrome (WNS)
All visitors are required to walk on bio-security mats at conclusion of tour; this measure is to protect the spread of a WNS, a fungal disease threatening cave-hibernating bat populations in our national parks.
Booking Windows
Reservations:
Mammoth Cave tours are available year-around, up to 6 months in advance. The park may not publish the complete schedule or variety of tours until a few months prior to tour date. Cave tours frequently sell out and reservations are the only way to ensure a spot is available for you and/or your party. First Come First Served tickets only sells on the day of and do normally sells fast, so it is recommended coming early to purchase those tickets. First Come First Served tickets may not be offered everyday, so please call Mammoth Cave National Park to check.
Changes and Cancellations
REFUNDS: Refunds will be processed if you cancel before your tour time and date. There will be $1 per ticket charge regardless the reason for the cancellation. Customers who cancel any tour after the reservation time and date or no-shows will forfeit the tour fee. EXCEPTIONS: Introduction to Caving Tour and Wild Cave tour may be cancel at no cost until midnight 10 days prior to the tour date. Within 10 days prior to tour date, a cancellation fee of $6 will be applied to an Introduction to Caving Tour ticket and a $12 cancellation fee will be applied for a Wild Cave Tour ticket.
*Customers with reservations that arrive after your tour departure time without cancelling your tour will forfeit your tour fee. These tickets cannot be exchanged for other tours after your scheduled tour time and date. Schedule tours leave on time, so if you are not here you will miss your tour.*
DISCOUNTS: The Park only accepts American The Beautiful Senior Lifetime/Annual or ADA Access Pass and the discount will only be applied for the cardholder only. Please bring the card and identification to apply your discount. The Park does NOT accept any of the other discount passes.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
P.O Box 7 Mammoth Cave KY 42259
Phone Number
270-758-2180
Available Tours and Tickets
- Star Chamber Tour
- Historic Tour
- Great Onyx Lantern Tour
- Violet City Lantern Tour
- River Styx Tour
- Mammoth Passage Tour
- Discovery Self-Guided
- Gothic Avenue Tour
- Cleaveland Avenue Tour
- Accessible Tour
- Extended Historic Tour
- Wondering Woods Tours
- Grand Historic Tour
