Mammoth Cave Camping — Complete Guide

Camping at Mammoth Cave puts you right in the action. Wake up to birdsong, walk to your morning cave tour, and fall asleep under some of the darkest skies in Kentucky. Here's the full rundown.

Mammoth Cave Campground

The main campground. Located near the visitor center, with 105 sites across three loops.

• Season: Year-round (some loops close in winter)
• Sites: 105 total, with some pull-through sites for RVs
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, laundry, dump station, camp store
• Hookups: No electric or water hookups at individual sites
• Cost: ~$20/night (check recreation.gov for current rates)
• Reservations: Strongly recommended May-September. Book at recreation.gov.
• First-come, first-served: Some sites held for walk-ins, but they fill fast on summer weekends.

Site Tips

• Loop A is closest to the visitor center and cave tours
• Loop C tends to be quieter and more wooded
• Sites near the entrance get more foot traffic; interior sites are more private
• The campground is wooded with good shade — nice in summer

Maple Springs Campground

For groups and horse campers. Smaller, quieter, and designed for extended stays.

• Sites: 7 group sites (up to 30 people each) + horse corrals
• Amenities: Restrooms, water, picnic tables, fire rings
• Cost: ~$30/night for group sites
• Best for: Large families, horseback riders, scout troops
• Reservations: Required. recreation.gov.

Houchin Ferry Campground

The quiet one. Small, riverside, first-come first-served.

• Sites: 12 (no reservations)
• Amenities: Pit toilets, water, picnic tables
• Cost: Free
• Best for: Solo campers, couples, anyone seeking solitude
• Warning: No showers, no electric, and it fills up on summer weekends. Arrive early Friday.

Backcountry Camping

For the adventurous. 13 backcountry sites scattered through the park's 52,000+ acres.

• Cost: Free
• Permit: Required — pick one up at the visitor center
• Amenities: None. You carry everything in.
• Water: Bring your own or filter from streams
• Fires: Only in designated fire rings
• Best sites: First Creek, Winding Stair, and Good Spring

Backcountry Tips

1. Register your itinerary at the visitor center
2. Tell someone your plan and expected return
3. Carry a map — cell service is unreliable
4. Hang food or use bear canisters (black bears are rare but present)
5. Pack out all trash

What to Pack

• Tent with rain fly — Kentucky weather changes fast
• Sleeping bag rated to 30°F — Nights can be cool even in summer
• Camp chair — Picnic tables exist but aren't comfortable
• Headlamp — The campground is DARK at night (minimal light pollution = amazing stars)
• Bug spray — Mosquitoes and ticks May-September
• Fire starter — Firewood available at the camp store
• Cooler — Ice available at the camp store
• Rain jacket — Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer

Campground Rules

• Quiet hours: 10 PM - 6 AM
• Pets allowed on leash (but not on cave tours)
• No generators
• Fires in designated rings only
• Collect deadwood only — no cutting live trees
• Store food properly — raccoons are bold and crafty

Alternatives

If the campgrounds are full or camping isn't your thing, our rental properties are 5-10 minutes from the park entrance. Cabin, cottage, or apartment — real beds, hot showers, and no raccoons stealing your snacks.