Map showing campground location near Brownsville, Kentucky

Camper submitted image from Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park - The Complete Guide

Get the guide now

Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

Within Mammoth Cave National Park, Houchin Ferry Campground sits along the Green River about 20 minutes from the main cave entrances. This primitive campground operates year-round with reservations required, offering tent-only sites managed by the National Park Service. The paved access road narrows and climbs several hills before reaching the riverside location.

The campground contains roughly 10 sites positioned close together, with sites 1-6 particularly compact according to campers. Each site includes a concrete picnic table, fire ring, and designated parking area. Rangers patrol twice daily maintaining the clean portable toilets and trash service. A large pavilion with additional picnic tables sits across the road near the defunct ferry crossing. Sites directly face the Green River, providing fishing access via a boat ramp, though reviewers note the launch area can be muddy.

Cell service registers minimal coverage with most carriers showing just one bar. The riverside location runs consistently cooler than nearby towns, with heavy tree cover limiting solar charging opportunities for RV users. Overland 1. found the campground "very clean" with well-maintained facilities despite the remote feel.

Weekend reservations fill quickly during peak season. The $10 nightly rate accepts America the Beautiful passes, making this an economical base for exploring campgrounds near Mammoth Cave National Park or paddling the Green and Nolin rivers.

Suggest an Edit

Get the guide now

View Guide

Location

Public Campground

Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park is located in Kentucky

Directions

Located 15 miles from the park Visitor Center on the south bank of the Green River.

Coordinates

37.20158304 N
86.2375794 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/25/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/25/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

22 min from Bowling Green, KY
55 min from Elizabethtown, KY
1 hr 10 min from Owensboro, KY
1 hr 29 min from Louisville, KY

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Enter to Win

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.5

out of 5

9 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the spacious, secluded sites along the Green River offering a peaceful retreat from busier park areas. Numerous guests pointed out the primitive facilities with clean porta potties but no water or electric hookups. The affordable $10/night rate and well-maintained grounds were commonly praised.

Overland 1.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2025

Very nice remote campground

This is a very nice and clean campground with about 10 sites. It is part of Mammoth Cave National park. That means I could use my lifetime pass and it only cost $10 per night. Ranger came by twice a day. Very clean port a pottys that are maintained well. Dumpster for trash and each site has a fire ring. Road in is paved and not bad, but has a few hills and is narrow. These sites are listed as "Tent Only" but I got my Dodge van in no problem. In my 3 days here I saw many tents, a small pop up camper, and 2 vans. Anything larger would be a problem I think. Reservation only and pay online. Not much cell signal here, maybe 1 bar on Visible. (Verizon) Decent signal on Starlink mini at site 1. Sites are right along the side of the Green River and the temperature here was a consistent 3 degrees F lower than in town. Lot of shade, not good for solar.

Site1

Month of VisitAugust

Nick B.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 12, 2024

Small campground

All the spots are very close to each other. Mostly filled on a Saturday in early March. The only river access is just a muddy ramp. Clean porta potty’s and picnic tables and fire rings at every site.

Site12

Month of VisitMarch

Tucker B.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 18, 2021

Solid Backup in Mammoth Cave NP

I originally booked three nights here to explore Mammoth Cave.

I arrived to find the campground pretty much empty, but a lot further from the main area of the park than I thought.

Poor research on my part....

Ended up transferring over to another campground closer to the main park entrance.

Still, this spot is right on the river for fishing and/or kayaking and a lot more private than the other campgrounds in the park if that's what you're looking for!

It's just about a 20-minute drive over to the caves and main hiking trails.

Site7

Month of VisitJune

Micah N.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 17, 2020

Great Primitive camping near Mammoth Cave

Great primitive sites. Very secluded. Water, dumpster toilet, table and fire ring. What else could you need. The sites were well maintained, I saw a few Rangers make the rounds cleaning up.

Lost of space to run around with the kids. Pretty view of the river. Sites 1-6 were pretty close together. I would have picked site 8 if I had to go again.

Easy drive back and forth from cave and trails to campsite.

We kayaked the Nolin and Green rivers. Both were very pretty! Recommend a trip on the Nolin.

We will definitely be back when more of the cave is open for tours after COVID.

(8) View All

David

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 29, 2020

Kayaking the Green River

Set up camp at Houchins Ferry and kayaked from Green River Ferry back to the campsite.

Houchins Ferry Campground is small and the sites are pretty close together. It usually is first come first serve, but during Covid is reservation only. It fills up fast on the weekends.

Great spot for a day kayaking, about 11 miles from Green River Ferry.

(4) View All

Shea M.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 3, 2020

Cave Camping

We really enjoyed this place! It's located on the green river and has very spacious campsites. Plenty of room for the kids or dogs to run around. Very secluded. There is a concrete picnic table, pole and fire pit at each spot. Across the road to the ferry is a large pavillion with several more picnic tables for bigger gatherings. There are a few porta potties and no water or hookups. Primitive camping only. We tent camped here in July and saw hundreds of lightning bugs (see video)! It was magical, that really made the experience so much better for us!

Highly recommend a cave tour as well at Mammoth Cave National Park. You will not be disappointed!! Can't wait to go back!

(14) View All

Shelly S.

Legend

Reviewed May. 20, 2018

The Sticks

What can i say about Houchins Ferry Campground Mammoth Cave NP……

Well 1: pretty drive in, newer highway, wide with no thrilling drop offs or hairpins. Kentucky farmland, mobile homes and a lot of pickups.

2: it’s in Brownsville, Ky back in behind the local High School. There is a gas station and your typical small town stores in the area including Wally World

3: no signal. Your phone will tease you with one bar and occasionally something might get through but it would be easier on your battery to just wait until you get into town.

4: the ferry is no longer in use, right now there is about 10ft of muck between the cement and the river, the kind that sticks to your shoes and just gathers more. With just enough incline to make it a real challenge to get back up to dry land.

5: porta pots, no showerhouse or sinks. One plus there are 4 pots and they are the larger style ;)

6: nice size sites that have some space in between . Unfortunately the ones on the river side have no easy access to the river right now.

7: small unkept picnic area and pavilion for day use. The pavilion is in pretty good shape but the picnic area needs some TLC.

Overall if you are looking for a secluded campsite this one would fit the bill. I do know from past experience this campground fills up with locals who stay the max days allowed and set up homesites. It sorta has the homeless community feel when that happens. Not my favorite of the area and it has the abounded feel to it as far as maintenance goes.

I recently reviewed a map of the area and realized I mistakenly thought there were no trails in the Houchens Ferry area. Unfortunately they are on the far side of the river. There are two trailsheads, First Creek Trail and McCoy Hollow Trail near Temple Hill. There are three dispersed campsite on First Creek Trail (west side of the Houchins Ferry Rd) A good map of the area is available at the visitor center. The drive around is at least 30 minutes , past Nolin Lake access road and down a gravel road. worth the drive, excellent back country hiking shared with equestrians.

Site7

Month of VisitMay

(9) View All

Shelly S.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2016

Ever see Deliverance?

All the campgrounds in Mammoth are well maintained , that being said Houchins Ferry gives you the isolated feel that some people like. The ferry is closed so no through traffic. The locals, from the Brownsville area, use this campground a lot it would appear. I've no doubt the Rangers make their rounds but you are on the far side of the river about 15 miles from the main complex. Close to Brownsville (maybe 3 miles?) no RV sites, pavilion , picnic area, fishing and boat ramp

(10) View All

Sara S.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 25, 2016

ferry to campground

Small primitive campground! One our trip to Mammoth Caves we stayed in a cabin, but checked out the campgrounds for family that would be visiting shortly after us. These sites were my favorite in the park! The drive to the campground was a bit out of the way, but scenic. The sites are near a river and there is an option of taking the ferry to the campground. Some of the sites appeared much larger than others, but overall it was a surprising natural respite from the rest of the busy park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find photos of Houchin Ferry Campground?

Photos of Houchin Ferry Campground can be found on the National Park Service website for Mammoth Cave National Park. Additional images are available on camping platforms like The Dyrt and other travel websites featuring Mammoth Cave camping options. The campground's riverside setting, spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings, and natural surroundings are commonly featured in these photos. For the most current visual representation, check the official Mammoth Cave National Park website.

What amenities and facilities are available at Houchin Ferry Campground?

Houchin Ferry Campground is a primitive campground in Mammoth Cave National Park with basic amenities. Each site includes a concrete picnic table, fire ring, and pole for hanging items. The campground offers potable water, clean porta-potties that are regularly maintained, and dumpsters for trash disposal. There are approximately 10 spacious sites, providing plenty of room for kids and pets to play. A large pavilion with additional picnic tables is located across the road near the ferry area. The campground costs $10 per night with National Park Service passes accepted.

Is there a map of Houchin Ferry Campground showing campsite locations?

Yes, maps of Houchin Ferry Campground are available through the National Park Service. You can obtain a detailed campground map showing the layout of all sites (approximately 10 total) at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center or on the official NPS website for Mammoth Cave National Park. Sites 1-6 are positioned closer together, while other sites offer more privacy. For the most accurate and up-to-date mapping information, contact the park rangers directly before your visit.

How do I access the Green River Ferry from Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave, KY?

The Green River Ferry is located some distance from Houchin Ferry Campground, as they are separate locations within Mammoth Cave National Park. To access the Green River Ferry from Houchin Ferry Campground, you'll need to drive through the park. Some visitors kayak from Green River Ferry back to the campground area, which makes for a pleasant day trip. Note that the Houchin Ferry itself is no longer operational, so there's no through traffic at the campground location. For current directions and ferry operation status, check with park rangers or the visitor center.

Keep Exploring