Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest known cave system in the word, with 435 miles of caves. My photos cannot even begin to capture the experience of descending far beneath the earth and traveling through the various rooms and passageways. And there is plenty to see and do above ground too! These are our favorite parts of our visit:

Historic Tour

The historic tour enters from a trail near the Visitors Center and follows a 2 mile path through some of the most visited parts of the cave. It’s one of the most popular tours, so buy tickets in advance if you’re visiting during the summer months.

Highlights: The guide did an excellent job telling us about the history of the cave and how it has been used in the past. One of the best parts was when she turned off all of the lights and we were able to experience just how dark and quiet the cave would have been to past explorers. She even showed us some graffiti made by candles in the 1800’s!

Travel Tip: Wear good sneakers or hiking shoes. This tour includes 440 stairs, areas of uneven ground, and 2 miles of walking. You don’t want to do it in flip flops.

For Kids:  The kids loved watching all of the adults have to squeeze through a narrow part of the cave called Fat Man’s Misery. They also laughed at Dad for having to duck under so many rocks to keep from hitting his head.

Domes and Dripstones Tour

This tour enters a different part of the cave system, and requires a short bus ride to the man-made entrance. This tour is very different from the Historic Tour, and includes some of the most beautiful cave formations that have been discovered in Mammoth Cave.

Highlights: No questions about it, seeing the dripstones was the highlight of this tour. It ends near a room called the drapery room that is full of beautiful formations. There is even one called the Frozen Niagara due to its resemblance to the great waterfall!

Travel Tip: Bring a sweater or jacket. It was over 100 degrees outside on the day we visited, but the cave is 54 degrees all year round and can start to feel chilly.

For Kids: The tour moves right along, so there isn’t much time for kids to get bored, and there are several stops with benches for times when the guide is sharing a story. And plenty of chances for curious minds to ask questions!

Extras

The tours were the best parts of our visit, but we found lots of other things to keep us busy!

• Sand Cave Caravan: This is a ranger-led tour that tells the story of Floyd Collins, a man who was stuck in the cave for 2 weeks back in 1925. There are three stops on the tour, including the now closed entrance to Sand Cave, Floyd’s family home, and the graveyard where he is buried. The story was fascinating, and the guide brought several artifacts to share that brought the story to life.
  

  Natural entrance to Sand Cave

• Amphitheater Programs: Each night a ranger gave a talk in the amphitheater. One night we learned about different caves around the world and other nights focused on people who have contributed to cave discovery and exploration. 

• Russell Sims Aquatic Center: When it’s 100 degrees in Kentucky, you have to find a place to go swimming. Mammoth Cave doesn’t have any swimming spots, so we drove to Bowling Green and spent $25 for the whole family to spend the afternoon here. It was worth every penny!
  

  Russel Sims Aquatic Center

  
  
  

  Jack liked the water slides!

We loved Mammoth Cave National Park. I’m not kidding when I say that these photos don’t do it justice. It’s a must-see in my opinion!