Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave Fast Facts

How big is Mammoth Cave National Park?

Mammoth Cave covers a total area of 52,835 acres or 83 square miles.

How many people visit Mammoth Cave National Park?

515,774 people visited Mammoth Cave in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at Mammoth Cave Visitation Stats.

When was Mammoth Cave National Park created?

Mammoth Cave was made a national park on July 1, 1941.

What are the highest and lowest elevations in Mammoth Cave National Park?

Mammoth Cave’s lowest point is 421 feet at the Green River. The highest point in Mammoth Cave is 925 feet at Mammoth Cave Ridge.

What time zone is Mammoth Cave National Park located in?

Mammoth Cave is in the Central Time Zone.

How much does it cost to enter Mammoth Cave National Park?

There is no entrance fee for Mammoth Cave National Park, but there are fees for cave tours.

Five Random Facts About Mammoth Cave

one The temperature inside Mammoth Cave is about 54°F, year-round. Temperatures near cave entrances can go a bit higher or lower.

two Mammoth Cave has, so far, more than 426 miles of cave passage mapped, making Mammoth Cave by far the longest known cave in the world.

three Mammoth Cave National Park has been designated both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

four The term mammoth refers to the huge size of the cave system’s rooms and passages, not the prehistoric animal of the same name.

five The entire region around the park is full of caves, many of which are operated as tourist attractions by private owners.

Where is Mammoth Cave National Park?

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in western Kentucky, in an area rich with many caves, not just Mammoth Cave. The appropriately named town of Cave City is just a few miles from the park and just off the highway, making it a convenient base. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Mammoth Cave.