National Park · Kentucky, United States
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a national park in Kentucky, United States, covering 72,042 acres (29,154 ha), established in 1941; it recorded 660,734 visits in 2025.
National Park · Kentucky, United States
No freely licensed photograph of this park is in our library yet — rather than borrow a picture of somewhere else, this profile leads with its verified facts.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Kentucky, United States |
| Area | 72,042 acres (29,154 ha) |
| Established | 1941 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 660,734 |
| Coordinates | 37.1800° N, 86.1000° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a national park of the United States in south-central Kentucky. It encompasses portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest known cave system in the world. The park's 52,007 acres (21,046 ha) are located primarily in Edmonson County, with small areas extending eastward into Hart and Barren counties. The Green River runs through the park, with a tributary called the Nolin River feeding into the Green just inside the park.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
Year-round — the cave stays cool; surface weather is mild in spring and fall
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Cave City, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|
Like Mammoth Cave National Park? Visit Mammoth Cave National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) · Louisville, United States · 71.3 miles away
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) · Nashville, United States · 79.7 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Kentucky
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mammoth Cave National Park?
Mammoth Cave National Park is in Kentucky, United States (37.1800° N, 86.1000° W).
When was Mammoth Cave National Park established?
Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Mammoth Cave National Park?
Mammoth Cave National Park covers 72,042 acres (29,154 ha).
How many people visit Mammoth Cave National Park each year?
It recorded 660,734 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park?
Year-round — the cave stays cool; surface weather is mild in spring and fall.
Does Mammoth Cave National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Mammoth Cave National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Mammoth Cave National Park?
The nearest town is Cave City, Kentucky. The nearest airport is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/maca/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/directions.htm — Getting there — nearest town and airport, as stated by the source.