Mammoth Cave Visitor Center· Start here
All cave-tour visitors and most first-time park visitors
1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 · Required check-in point for standard cave tours; ticket pickup, exhibits, permits, restrooms, food and lodging access are here.
Green River Ferry / Echo River Springs Trailhead
Ferry users, paddlers, Echo River Springs hikers, and north-side trail users
End of Green River Ferry Road, Mammoth Cave National Park, KY · The ferry is subject to river level and normally operates 6 a.m.–6 p.m. Central Time when running.
Cedar Sink Trailhead
Cedar Sink Trail hikers
Cedar Sink Road, Mammoth Cave National Park, KY · Parking is at the trailhead and can fill quickly.
Maple Springs Trailhead / Group Campground
North-side hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and group campers
Green River Ferry Road / Maple Springs Loop, Mammoth Cave National Park, KY · Access may require the Green River Ferry; if it is closed, use the longer detour through Brownsville.
Houchin Ferry Campground and River Access
Primitive campers and Green River paddlers
Houchin Ferry Road, near Brownsville, KY · This is river access and a campground, not an operating vehicle ferry.
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA
Car
Mammoth Cave Visitor Center, 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway
0 min walk
Most visitors drive via I-65: Exit 53 (Cave City) from the north or Exit 48 (Park City) from the south. Follow NPS directions rather than GPS, which can route drivers onto unsuitable or ferry-dependent roads.
Taxi
Mammoth Cave Visitor Center
0 min walk
There is no local public transportation. Rideshare and taxis are uncommon; arrange both drop-off and return pickup in advance.
Car
Green River Ferry / Echo River Springs Trailhead
0 min walk
For the ferry, river launch, Echo River Springs Loop, and north-side access. The ferry runs only when conditions permit; check its status before routing through it.
Step 1
Park and arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled cave-tour time
Allow time for parking, collecting required physical paper tickets, restrooms, and joining the departure group.
Step 2
Collect paper ticket and check in at Mammoth Cave Visitor Center
All standard cave tours start with visitor-center check-in; a dated, timed NPS tour ticket is required to enter the cave.
Step 3
Join the ranger-led departure group
Tours may continue on foot or by ranger bus. Be ready when the group is called; walk-up tickets are not guaranteed.
Step 4
Accessible Tour vehicle caravan, if booked
Accessible Tour participants caravan about two miles in their own vehicle to the separate accessible entrance.
Step 5
Exit biosecurity mat after the cave tour
All participants must walk through biosecurity mats after exiting because white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in the cave.
Fine
Not allowed
No public cloakroom or luggage-storage facility is advertised; leave prohibited or large items in your vehicle.
Source: nps.gov
The visitor center is fully accessible, with button-operated doors, lowered desks, accessible restrooms, reachable exhibits, and captioned film. The Accessible Tour is the no-stairs cave option: it uses an elevator, permits wheelchairs, scooters, and assistive devices, and has an accessible restroom. Visitors must caravan about two miles in their own vehicle; NPS does not provide mobility devices or staff assistance, so bring a companion if needed. Heritage Trail, Echo River Spring Trail, Sand Cave Trail, and Sloan’s Crossing Pond Trail are wheelchair accessible.
Source: nps.gov