Directions from the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Weekends are obviously the most crowded and tours need to be booked at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Other Easy trails are the Echo River Springs Trail, Sand Cave Trail, and Turnhole Bend Nature Trail. Turn left onto KY-255 and follow 255 as it becomes the Park City Road into the park. LEARN MORE . This site contains affiliate links to products. Waker and his family embarked on a Family Gap Year in 2021, and haven't looked back. We earn from qualifying purchases. With night programs for all ages, or tips for the individual stargazer, getting away from the city and out into nature is a great way to see the stars without all the light pollution. This campground has no hookups and costs $20.00 per night. Check the current cave tour schedule for more information. To say we jumped in blindly would be an understatement. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. Begin with a 45-minute eco-friendly tour which will take you through the grounds of the nature park, down into and through the cave for the start of your underground boat ride. This tour climbs and descends many incredibly steep hills on historic dirt trails as you experience the cave in the light of the earliest explorers. Please note that tour is NOT always offered. Everyone needs to pack these items for a Mammoth Cave tour: If hiking Mammoth Cave trails I recommend the following extra items: There is almost no mobile phone coverage in Mammoth Cave National Park. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. If you have little ones that like to watch something on a phone or tablet in the car, download that ahead of time, too. Early visitors left behind signatures, artifacts, and monuments in this area of the cave, which also features stalactites and stalagmites. It is divided by the Green River that flows from east to west through the center of the park. Ticket Age. Back Country Camping: Thirteen backcountry campsites are available in Mammoth Cave National Park'. Lodging: Booking.comFlight Deals: SkyscannerRental Cars: Discover CarsAirport Transfers: Welcome PickupsTravel Insurance: SafetyWing. Summer is the peak season for visiting Mammoth Cave as schools are out and people are road-tripping. There are so many cave tour options, a fantastic visitor center and many perfect family friendly hikes. For reservations, call 844-760-CAVE or visit their website. Start planning your cave tour as soon as you can. Focusing on the natural formation of the cave, this tour is ideal for people interested in science and wanting to see stalactites and stalagmites., Gothic Avenue Tour (MODERATE): Gothic Avenue was named because of its unusual rock formations resembling Gothic architecture, and was the site of some of the earliest 19th-century tourism. Due to the amount of time required to assist at the beginning and end of the tour, adults do not have time to take a concurrent guided cave tour. Program topics may include plants, animals, history, scientific research and more. Gothic Avenue Tour, Mammoth Cave National Park Tours - Recreation.gov It was a perfect length (a little over 1 mile total) and both of our kids were able to walk the entire distance. Two of the more interesting animals that live in Mammoth Cave are the eyeless cavefish and crayfish, both of which have fully adapted to a life without daylight. How should you dress for Mammoth Cave? I thought maybe the Dome and Drip stones tour would be pretty magical. The open-air shelter costs $55.000 per day and the enclosed shelter, which also includes heat and air conditioning costs $80.00 per day. Cave tours are running but some of the tours have been rerouted to other areas of the cave that still have power. There are also backcountry camping permits available for $10 through Recreation.gov or in person at the Mammoth Cave Campground Kiosk. Your assistance is required to slow the spread of this fungal disease affecting bats. You can choose your tour based on time, distance, and amount of steps. Directions from the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). If you have a young child, you can carry them in front packs during cave tours. All participants on cave tours must walk on bio-security mats immediately following the conclusion of their tour. There are also a wide variety of other hiking and biking trails available in the national park. Gothic avenue Along the way, riders can take several spur routes to scenic destinations like Mammoth Cave National Park. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in history and a sense of adventure., Domes and Dripstones Tour (MODERATE): This classic tour visits areas of Mammoth Cave that have been used for nearly 100 years. If you are just passing through and want to make a day trip you can easily park, take a cave tour, go on a bike ride or hike, eat some lunch and get back on the road. Ranger-led programs on the parks surface are subject to change or cancelation due to inclement weather conditions or staff availability. Visitors on this tour can see many stalactites, stalagmites, gypsum crystals, and helictites. Be sure to have your Junior Ranger Book with you. There is so much to do at Mammoth Cave National Park above ground! We recommend bringing a sweater or light jacket for the cave tours. It also was one of the cheaper tours. Mammoth Cave National Parks over 50,000 acres are primarily located in Edmonson County, near the southern border of Kentucky. Difficulty: Easy Duration:10 minutes Accessible: Wheelchair accessible. We stayed in a blue grass cabin at Jellystone near mammoth cave. All our recommendations are our own and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. Mammoth Cave National Park also offers a wide range of ranger-led programs and outdoor activities from camping and hiking, biking and boating, to backcountry camping and horseback riding. I spoke with Vickie Carson,the parks Public Information Officer, abouther job with the Park Service and the reasons she loves the park. Jellystone offers pedal cart rentals, golf cart rentals, a giant swimming area, 5 playgrounds, mini-golf, a pool, a dog kennel, a brand new Ranger Station with a Nathans Hot Dog and a Hunt Brothers pizza. Distance: 0.5 miles (0.8 km) This definitely sounds like a fun challenge if youre up for it! Pack your own lunch and enjoy a picnic on the property but not inside the caves. Make sure you have the best road trip gear, easy road trip snacks, and the best ways to entertain kids on the road. You are permitted to bring bottled water only. These trails are beautiful. Routes can be misleading and incorrect. Hiking, cave tours, and horseback riding make visiting Mammoth Cave National Park with kids a great family vacation experience. You can book online at the national park website. Box 7 The closer you stay to the park, the easier it will be to make the earlier times. As you move through the dimly lit cave, youll pass such fascinating features as Bottomless Pit and Giants Coffin. Mammoth Cave Park Long Loop Trail: This long 16.1 mile loop trail is rated as moderate. From the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). There are several cave tour options to meet anyones cave experience and physical capability. Mammoth Cave Campground is located on Mammoth Cave Parkway, 1/4 mile from the visitor center. Turn right onto KY-70. Nature Track for Kids Camping fees vary depending on the site. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. A great and easy Mammoth Cave hiking option for families is the Heritage Trail loop. I think it would be perfect, and this is a great one for kids. As mentioned before, especially when traveling to Mammoth Caves with toddlers or young kids you need to plan time to use the restroom before entering the cave. This hotel is in a great location right downtown and was within easy walking distance of everything we did (and wish we could have done!). This trail is accessible for strollers and provides views of the Green River Valley. In the summer many of the popular tours fill up weeks in advance. Where to Stay Close to Mammoth Cave with Kids, There You Have It: Mammoth Cave with Kids, Road Trip Essentials: What to Pack for the Ultimate Road Trip, Exploring Oconaluftee Indian Village with Kids in Cherokee, NC. Mammoth Cave National Park Facts for Kids From here you can see the remnants of saltpeter mining that used to occur in the cave. Children 5 and under do not require a reservation or ticket. All of my children wore running shoes and I wore my trusty Tevas. Find Us Caves Rd, Forest Grove, WA, 6285. For more information about cave tours, ticket reservations and tour schedules visit our cave tour page. Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave system, with over 400 miles of explored caves and passageways. At this point, you may be grateful if you chose sneakers because my feet got sloshed with the solution. A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service. Explore the interactive exhibits to learn about the areas people, geology, cave system, plants and animals. Tour Prices Adult: $24.00 Child (4-16yrs): $12.00 Seniors: $22.00 Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. While in the park, picnic areas with tables are available at the Mammoth Cave Picnic Area, Echo River Spring Trailhead Area, Maple Springs Day Use Area, Houchin Ferry Picnic Area, Dennison Ferry Day Use Area, and Sloans Crossing Pond Picnic Area. There are two picnic shelters available for reservation located near the visitor center. I am here to help you whether youre traveling for the first time or the hundredth time; with 1 baby or 10 kids. It is a very easy drive and doable as a day trip. Mammoth Cave National Park is amazing and its fairly convenient to get to. A the end of your tour you will be dropped off at the Lodge where you will walk across a squishy pad that will clean off your shoes of cave fungus to protect bats. Having heard it was a great family activity made it an anticipated stop on our trip. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center. 1 2 3 4 Opening Hours 9:00am - 5:00pm daily Closed Christmas Day. The Kids (Age 3 & 4) Were able to walk the entire heritage Trail down to to the Sunset Point Trail and then looped back to the Visitor Center via the River Styx trail. Vickie has been with the park since 1978 (wow! Hilarye September 12, 2018 Destinations, Family Travel, Family Travel Tips 5 Comments. Sign up by calling, (270) 758-2180, to join a local naturalist and learn more about the different bird species commonly seen inside the park. We provide tools and tips to discover Mammoth Cave National Park - YouTube Thanks! In addition to the cave tours, the park offers a number of surface walks, talk, and junior ranger activities. Look up directions ahead of time to and from Mammoth Cave. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older on all tours. Remember to print the directions or save them to your phones storage before visiting. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Take a 2 hour trek through 2 miles of Mammoth Cave to learn about its history and formation. 4 Trail: Toddlers and young kids will love this easy trail. Please check at the visitor center when you arrive atthe park for the most up-to-date program schedule. No refunds for no shows or late arrivals. There are three developed campgrounds located in Mammoth Cave National Park, and fees vary based on the campground and amenities. Trog Tour, Mammoth Cave National Park Tours - Recreation.gov THe kids were excited! Although out-and-back trails are most common, many of the Mammoth Cave hiking trails intersect. The Every Kid Outdoors initiative is aimed at providing an opportunity for each fourth grade student across the country to experience federal lands and water in person. Duration:2 hoursDistance:variesDifficulty:Easy to moderateTrip Time:8:15 a.m. on Tuesdays & Thursdays from March 24, 2020 - April 30, 2020, READ NEXT: How to Pack the Perfect Beach Bag with Kids. Routes can be misleading and incorrect. Some cave walls are coated with delicate "flowers" made of gypsum crystals. On its 4,228-mile (6804.3 km) journey, the trail passes through the states of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia. Program topics are ranger's choice and could include local stories, history, plants, animals, geology, and more! The trail is primarily used for hiking and horses and is accessible year-round. They strongly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time as they can sell out weeks in advance. Kids & Youth - Mammoth Cave National Park (U.S. National Park Service) The low light can make taking pictures challenging, but we found the nighttime setting on our phones worked pretty well. Families with older kids, or experienced hikers, may opt for something more adventurous like the River Styx Cave Tour or the Violet City Lantern Tour. This hotel is clean, and no-frills, with a pool that our kids quite enjoyed. Mammoth Cave has a nice visitor center. Graph Courtesy of: https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/mammoth-cave-national-park-climate. Duck your head for a moment as you glide under the famous wishing rocks to enter the cave but don't forget to touch the cool dolomite ceiling before the passage opens into a cathedral-like cavern. Just for fun, I asked what National Parks she would like to visit, and Alaska was her answer. Roughing it not for you? While youre in the area, drop by Dollywood in Pigeon Forge for a dose of adrenaline and some roller coasters. A view of Crystal Lake on our Frozen Niagara Tour. The paved path and short distance makes Heritage Trail the easiest Mammoth Cave hike for families. Follow Park City Road until it joins the Mammoth Cave Parkway; turn left. Unlike other famous cave systems, you wont see many dripping and delicate stalactite or stalagmite structures. For detailed information related to the fees for these activities, please visit our webpage at: https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/fees.htm, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. She says the Green River is really beautiful and the hiking trails through the forest are a highlight for her.