Parks / New England and Appalachia
Mammoth Cave
Stop 50 of 51 on the loop. Stay in Cave City KY, give it 2 nights, and plan the day around Cave tour.
- State
- KY
- Stay in
- Cave City KY
- Nights on this route
- 2
- Month on this route
- July
- Don't miss
- Cave tour
- Getting here
- 352 mi from Fayetteville WV, about 6 h 52 min.
- Next stop
- Great Smoky Mountains, 203 mi, about 4 h 14 min.
About the Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Region.
Description from the National Park Service.
Where to Stay
On this route you sleep in Cave City KY. Gateway towns have more lodging, groceries and fuel than the park itself. If you want an in-park lodge instead, the busiest parks book up as early as 13 months out.
Entrance Fees
The NPS lists no entrance fee for this park. Tours, ferries, parking or campgrounds may still cost money.
An $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry at every national park; on a trip like this it pays for itself after three parks. Fees from the NPS, checked 2026-10-18.
Nearby Parks
- Great Smoky Mountains about 159 mi as the crow flies
- Gateway Arch about 253 mi as the crow flies
- New River Gorge about 273 mi as the crow flies
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/maca/. Route data checked 2026-10-19.