Mammoth Cave National Park Fees & Reservations

The majority of the facilities and resources are available free of charge at Mammoth Cave National Park, there’s no entrance fee to the actual park, but you do have to pay for things like cave tours and if you want to camp in the park or use some of the picnic shelters.

For details of the cave tours and fees you need to click here.

Camping at Mammoth Cave National Park

There’s a choice of three developed campgrounds available at Mammoth Cave National Park, plus a load of primitive camping sites.

Mammoth Cave Campground – is located approximately one quarter mile from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center. Reservations are accepted – well, actually I’ll go further than that, reservations are recommended during the busy season – between 15 May and 15 September – at other times it’s a first come, first served campsite. The Mammoth Cave Campground is open from the beginning of March through to the end of November.

105 campsites
$17 per night
Paved parking area
picnic table
fire ring
restrooms with showers
fresh water
dump station
garbage dumpsters
recycling station
check in 12 noon
check out 11am
maximum of 8 campers permitted per site
campers may stay for a maximum of 14 days in any one year

There are also 4 group sites at the Mammoth Cave Campground, each able to accommodate 16 campers. Prices for the group sites are $20 per night. Each of the group sites also have a paved parking area, fire ring and picnic tables. Reservations are needed for the group sites between 15 May through to 15 September.

Houchin Ferry Campground – is 15 miles from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center, in a beautiful location on the banks of the Green River. Reservations are not accepted for camping at Houchin Ferry Campground, it’s strictly on a first come, first served basis. This campground is certainly not suitable for RV’s or large trailers. The Green River ferry operates every day between 4 March and November, 10.15am until 6pm weather permitting.

12 primitive campsites
$12 per night
chemical toilets
~~fresh water~~ – fresh water is temporarily unavailable, so you’d better take some with you
picnic table
fire grate
picnic shelter

Maple Springs Campground – this campground is around 6 miles from the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Centre, and 3 miles to the north of the Green River Ferry. There are a total of 7 campsites.

Three are group campsites for a maximum of 24 people – $30 per night
Four are equestrian campsites for a maximum of 8 horses and people
Two of the equestrian sites have electric and water hook-ups – $30 per night
Two of the equestrian sites do not have hook-ups – $22 per night

I can think of worse ways to spend a few days, and I’m sure you can too . . .

Campground Regulations at Mammoth Cave National Park

There are not many better ways to “get away from it all” than to go camping in Mammoth Cave National Park, but you’ve got to stick to a few rules just to make it safe for you, pleasant for other campers and to help preserve the park the way we all love it.

Your camping fees can be paid at the kiosk
You can check into your campsite any time after 12 noon
Check out time is 11am on the day of departure
Only 8 people are permitted per site
You are only permitted to camp at Mammoth Cave National Park for a maximum of 14 days per year
All vehicles must be parked on the asphalt pads
Generators are allowed between the hours of 6am and 10pm – just so long as they’re not too noisy
You’ve gotta’ keep quiet between 10pm and 6am so everyone can get their beauty sleep and be up bright and early to enjoy the park the following day
Pets are permitted but must be kept on a leash all of the time – and must not be left unattended.
Pick up after your pet at all times
Fires are only permitted within the fire rings provided – and they are not for burning trash
You may not bring any firewood into the park. You are permitted to gather downed or dead wood from the park for the campfire, alternatively firewood can be purchased from the Caver’s Camp Store.
You must not damage any of the trees with nails, saws, etc.
The animals and plants within Mammoth Cave National Park are protected so you mustn’t harm them in any way, collect them or damage them.
Leave your campground as you found it, you are not permitted to level the ground for your tents etc.
Showers are available between March through to November at the Service Center
You must not wash dishes or clothes at the water hydrant, it’s for collecting water only
Always store uneaten food inside your vehicle.
Never feed the wildlife, it’s against the law.

Remember . . . don’t disturb the wildlife!
Back Country Camping at Mammoth Cave National Park

There are thirteen back country camping sites at Mammoth Cave National Park, all offering a truly peaceful and serene experience among spectacular scenery. They are places to find peace and tranquility, your own little piece of wilderness amongst the magnificent woodlands and rocky hills of Mammoth Cave National Park. Okay, that’s enough of that poetic stuff, back country camping takes some effort and planning but it’s certainly well worth the trouble.

You are permitted to camp at designated sites in the park, and along the floodplains just so long as you’re more than a half mile away from developed campgrounds and ferry crossings. You can only reach the floodplains by boat, and each campsite is suitable for 8 people maximum. The majority of the back country campgrounds do have a water source close by, but this is not drinking water and must be treated or boiled before drinking. Either that or you can carry in your own drinking water.

You don’t have to pay to enjoy a spot of backcountry camping in Mammoth Cave National Park, but you do need a free permit which helps the park staff to keep track of just how many people are in the park at any one time etc. You can get your permit at the Visitor Center, you’ll also get a map showing you the trails and where the campgrounds are, all for free!