Spelunking, anyone? How to discover this nature wonder in Kentucky.
Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system with over 400 miles mapped and still more yet to be explored. The cave system has a rich history – from prehistoric times to saltpetre mining during the War of 1812 to becoming one of the earliest tourist attractions in the United States. Today, the site is not only a national park but also a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
My family and I were on the tail end of a 17-day road trip and found ourselves with an afternoon to spare as we passed through Kentucky. We decided to spend that afternoon at Mammoth Cave National Park. It was a perfect stop for us, but I left thinking that Mammoth Cave is certainly a destination itself.
KidTripster Tip: Mammoth Cave can be visited year-round. Whatever the weather above ground, the temperature underground remains relatively constant at 54°F. Bring a jacket.
KidTripster Tip: Stop at the visitor center to pick up your child’s Junior Ranger book and return it completed for a Junior Ranger badge. Also, make sure to watch the park movie, so you’re primed for your visit.
What to do at Mammoth Cave National Park?
Mammoth Cave National Park offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, and spelunking. The National Park Service provides dozens of tour options for all ages and abilities to explore different parts of the cave system.
On the introductory end, the self-guided Discovery Tour involves a dimly-lit path through a wide-open cavern – perfect for families with kids who aren’t sure if they’ll enjoy the experience of being underground or may not have the attention span for a guided tour. The Discovery Tour was the right fit for my family. We purchased tickets as soon as we arrived and were assigned an entry time. We appreciated being allowed to go at our own pace – lingering where we wanted, exploring to our hearts’ content, and deciding when to turn around and head back out. My kids were fascinated by how chilly and wet it was underground. Cost: Youth $3.50; Adult $5.
KidTripster Tip: On the Discovery Tour, you do miss out on having a guide to share insider knowledge, but there are some informative signs along the path, as well as a few rangers stationed at different points to answer questions.
For a more in-depth spelunking experience, visitors (age 16 and up) can join the Wild Cave Tour, a strenuous, 6-hour experience that involves climbing and crawling through five miles of passages. Cost: $55 per person. However, unless your teens are hardcore cavers, they’ll likely find this tour to be too long. For a similar but more kid-friendly experience, try the 3-1/2-hour Introduction to Caving Tour. Cost: Youth (10-12) $20; Adult $26.
There’s also the kid-only (ages 8-12) Trog which includes both above-ground hiking and underground cave crawling; the length is 2 hours and 45 minutes. This one is ideal for kids looking to have an adventure apart from Mom and Dad! Cost: Youth $16.
For a full list of tour descriptions, prices, and schedules, click here.
KidTripster Tip: No matter which type of cave experience you choose, it’s strongly recommended that you purchase tour tickets in advance, as many tours do sell out. The only tour for which you can’t purchase tickets in advance is the Discovery Tour; tickets must be purchased on the same day at the visitor center. However, even those tickets can sell out, so arrive well before the last tours of the day.
Entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park is free. There’s much to see above ground that does not cost a thing. Fill your time before, after or between tours with hiking or exploring the interesting and informative displays in the visitor center.
Where to eat at Mammoth Cave National Park?
With all that spelunking, hiking, and exploring, you’re sure to work up an appetite. At the park, stop in at Green River Grill which offers a breakfast buffet, as well as lunch and dinner menus including kids’ options for $4.95. Or pack a lunch and enjoy one of the outdoor picnic areas.
After your cave tour, reward yourself with a visit to Spelunkers Cafe. The ice cream served here is made locally at Chaney’s Dairy Barn. Spelunkers is located a short walk across a footbridge from the visitor center.
Where to stay at Mammoth Cave National Park?
To make the most of your time in the park, stay onsite at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave, which offers a selection of rooms and cottages. Rates range from $71 to $136/night, depending on room type and date of travel.
There’s a limited number of campsites within the park for either primitive tent camping or RVing. Cost: Primitive $12/night; RV $20/night.
In addition, our friends over at RVFTA’s Campground of the Week podcast have another recommendation. Check out what they have to say here.
You’ll find more options in nearby Cave City and Bowling Green.
Getting to Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in south-central Kentucky. It’s about a 1-1/2-hour drive from both Louisville and Nashville.
KidTripster Tip: You may lose your cell signal as you head into the park, so it’s best to have printed directions or download a map.
Writer Elizabeth Joyce lives in Illinois with her husband, son, and twin daughters. For fun, she blogs about her family’s travel experiences at Joyce Family Travels.
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