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Camping near Mammoth Cave National Park

587 Reviews

Camping around Mammoth Cave National Park ranges from spots inside the park to nearby state parks with different setups. The Mammoth Cave Campground puts you close to cave tours and trails, with good bathrooms and even special parking if you camp with horses. Maple Springs Campground sits in a quieter part of the park near backcountry trails, where you'll find drinking water and flush toilets while being surrounded by woods. Weather plays a big role in when to visit - spring and fall have the best temperatures, summer gets hot and sticky, and some areas close during winter. During dry spells, fire rules might change, so it's worth checking before you go. You should book ahead, particularly in busy seasons, since these places fill up fast. If you want to be near water, Nolin Lake State Park Campground isn't far away and has fishing and boating access plus showers and a dump station. Local mountain bikers have built trails in the area too, giving you more to do outside the caves. The campgrounds work well for all kinds of trips, from family outings to solo trips. Just remember to pack out what you pack in to keep the park looking good.

Map showing campgrounds near Mammoth Cave National Park, KentuckyExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Mammoth Cave National Park (70)

    1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    137 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    3 miles
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $25 - $50 / night

    "We were very impressed when we stopped on our road trip to visit Mammoth Caves National Park! They even had a nice area for our dog to stay while we were caving!"

    "I went to ****Mammoth Cave National Park the first time as a child with my family in the 70’s. I took my children to Mammoth in the 90’s."

    2. Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4240

    $25 - $40 / night

    "We loved that hiking in Mammoth Cave National park was only 15 min away!"

    "Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."

    3. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave

    34 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    13 miles
    Website

    "We went over a long weekend in October, with the point of the trip being to visit Mammoth Cave National Park.  The campground had activities for the kids all day Friday and Sunday. "

    "Close proximity to Mammoth Cave. Don’t miss the Amish bakery/cafe nearby!"

    4. Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    19 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 773-3789

    "This campground is located near the entrance of Mammoth Cave National Park. It is a great place for a day or two of relaxation before getting back on the highway."

    "The campground is cute and less than 15 mins to the Mammoth Cave National Park visitor Center. Nothing fancy, older bathhouse, small pond and large field for kids to explore. Some spots are snug."

    5. Moutardier

    23 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4230

    $18 - $50 / night

    "Ours had lake access and we only booked it a couple days in advance. Launched our kayaks from our site. Decent bicycling in the area."

    ".**

    Campground Review: Coming from Western Kentucky Parkway W or KY I65 either way you drive in to **Moutardier Campground you will"

    6. Maple Springs Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    12 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $50 / night

    "Like most, we were here to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. We stayed on the Maple Springs side of the Green River to be closer to the mountain bike trails and are glad we did."

    "I visited the Maple Springs Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park for a total of 3 days/2 nights. I chose this site because it was pet friendly."

    7. Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort

    14 Reviews
    Park City, KY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Diamond Caverns RV Resort was an enjoyable stay on the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park. Right off of I65 it's a short drive to the campground."

    "This park is located on the entrance road to Mammoth Caves NP, and it is a spectacular way to stay and enjoy the hiking in the caves!"

    8. Dog Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 524-5454

    $18 - $50 / night

    "Dog Creek Campground is located on Nolin River Lake in the Kentucky countryside."

    "Seems all sites have a lake view. Less than half full sun-Tuesday. Stayed at a006. Very close to beach, but that means you hear everything at the beach. Very humid and virtually no shade at our site."

    9. Cave Country RV Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cave City, KY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 773-4678

    "This RV resort is located conveniently 15-20 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park. Also there are a lot of places to eat nearby. The staff/owners are all very friendly."

    "The Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 miles with many other attractions nearby. We stayed for a week and loved it."

    10. Wax - Nolin River Lake

    15 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 242-7578

    $18 - $50 / night

    "We chose this campground due to the convenient location near Mammoth Cave National Park."

    "Wax Campground is located on Nolin River Lake, which is managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. Translated; well maintained, picturesque and organized."

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Recent Camping Photos near Mammoth Cave National Park

139 Photos of 70 Mammoth Cave National Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Mammoth Cave National Park

587 Reviews of 70 Mammoth Cave National Park Campgrounds

  • Michele R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Morning View Farms

    Weekend getaway

    I could not say enough enough wonderful things about our stay. Our host was amazing, the nature was peaceful, serene, and everything we needed for a relaxing time away from home.

  • dereck R.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Tree Tops RV Park

    Nice quiet place

    Nice quiet place. Very level. He takes very good care of the lot with gravel. The owner also runs an RV repair so you can get on-site repairs. Very useful. The shower house and bathroom are for emergency use only. Laundry room has a four-digit security code to get in. Most of the people staying here are long-term or semi-long-term. Lots of pipeline inspectors currently. Everyone has really nice rigs. Rate discount rates for 6 months or longer. Everything included except electric. Meters red monthly. Accepts mail delivery and package delivery.

  • Overland O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    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.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    Super nice staff, great location

    Staff is very nice and informative.

    Close to Mammoth National Park…we were lucky to book a tour and it was really good, our teenagers liked it. We also rode Alpine slide across the street near the RV park.

    Campground had small catch and release pond. Lots of nibbles, one catch…sunfish. No laundry here…laundry mat 10 mins away, Wash n Fold? Super clean but expensive with nice machines. No bathroom there! Connected to car wash if you need. Bath house at Campground has everything you need but dated.

    Our site had issues, no fire ring,,,other sites had one, we didn’t ask about getting one…it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal to grab one from another site. Our parking area was level with gravel. Our water hookup was weird…it ended up under our back bumper were we had to crawl under to connect. And we had issue with 50 amp…the plug needs attention…it turned off at 0430 and we switched to 30amp. No big deal with any of it, but all together we will pick a different site next time.

  • Overland O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    The Narrows

    Very clean campground.

    This is a very nice, clean campground. Bathrooms are clean as well. Very nice view of Barren River lake too. I did not use it but there is a nice sand beach for swimming. Camphost is very nice.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

    Well maintained, easy access sites

    Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.

  • Overland O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Barren River Tailwater

    Very nice campground

    I have camped here many time over the 2 years I have been on the road full time in my van. I mostly stayed here in the winter. No power or water, except for a comnunity spigot. But cheap, like $8 with the lifetime pass. Staying here in July of 2025, there is electric and water at each site. My cost is $15.

  • Overland O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Beaver Creek

    Beaver Creek Day Use Only

    As of the summer of 2024, Beaver Creek is now Day Use Only. I was Camphost there for a short time when they cancelled camping.

  • Peter L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Green River Park & Arboretum

    Quiet, pleasant, overnight spot (free)

    We needed a spot near Mammoth Cave National Park (which was full). This small City Park in the town of Munfordville, only 25 miles away, fit the bill perfectly. The phone number connects you to their City Hall - they asked for the make, model, color and license plate number of our vehicle (so their police officer would know we belonged there), and told us spots are available on a "first come" basis but are almost always available. In our case, we were the only ones there on a Friday summer night.

    The park is delightful: it's by a river, surrounded by trees, and has a paved path circling soccer and disc golf fields, a playground, and four pickleball courts. There also is a 4-mile trail. All of the day users left by 9 pm, and then we had the park to ourselves. It was a very quiet spot.

    Access to the park is via a short one-lane road that has some very tight curves. The overnight spots aren't really set up for RVs - those also are accessed via tight turns and there isn't an adequate turnaround space at the end of the access road -- I parked in a spot knowing that I would have to back my 23' trailer down the access road in order to get to back to a larger parking lot area. For smaller RVs and trailers, camping here is manageable and recommended.

Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park

Camping near Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and natural beauty. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and explore the wonders of the park.

What to do:

  • Explore Mammoth Cave: The main attraction is, of course, the cave itself. Many campers enjoy the easy access to cave tours. One visitor at Mammoth Cave Campground mentioned, "You’re right in the middle of the park, with all it has to offer."
  • Hiking: There are numerous trails for all skill levels. A reviewer at Nolin Lake State Park Campground noted, "Great location walkable to the camp store, lodge, visitor center, and cave tours."
  • Canoeing and Kayaking: Rent a canoe or kayak for a fun day on the water. A visitor at Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park shared, "We could hear a small waterfall behind our campsite, able to walk along the lake shore."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park Campground highlighted, "The bathrooms were cleaned regularly. The showers were hot and free!"
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Many visitors enjoy the welcoming vibe. One camper at Baileys Point said, "Staff is awesome and super friendly."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers often mention the roomy sites. A reviewer at Moutardier Campground remarked, "Very clean with the cleanest bathrooms and showers I have ever encountered in any campground."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Mammoth Cave Campground pointed out, "There are no electric hookups... internet connections are terrible."
  • Crowded During Peak Season: Expect busy campgrounds in the summer. A camper at COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground noted, "The campground was pretty full even though it was mid-week."
  • Weather Considerations: Be prepared for sudden weather changes. A reviewer at Wax - Nolin River Lake mentioned, "The ground is red muddy clay if it rains."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. A family at Kentucky Nolin Lake State Park Campground enjoyed, "Toddlers enjoyed the playground."
  • Safety and Comfort: Choose campgrounds that feel secure. A visitor at Mammoth Cave Campground felt, "We stayed two nights with our dog and felt very safe."
  • Plan for Meals: Some campgrounds have stores for snacks and essentials. A camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park mentioned, "The facility was very clean and staff very respectful."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Kentucky Moutardier advised, "The road in/out is very narrow, very tight and not easily navigated with a 40' 5th wheel."
  • Dump Station Location: Be aware of dump station accessibility. A camper at COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground noted, "The dump station could be better located."
  • Wi-Fi Availability: Some campgrounds offer Wi-Fi, but it may not be reliable. A visitor at Singing Hills Campground mentioned, "The free WiFi Speedtest... frequently drops out."

Camping near Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, can be a fantastic experience with the right preparation and knowledge. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Mammoth Cave National Park?

The best campground within Mammoth Cave National Park is Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park, which offers a convenient location for cave exploration. Campers appreciate its cleanliness and the pet-friendly amenities, including designated areas for dogs while visitors tour the caves. For those seeking options just outside the park, Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park provides a more secluded experience. Both campgrounds serve as excellent bases for exploring the extensive cave systems and surrounding hiking trails, with Mammoth Cave Campground offering more amenities while Houchin Ferry provides a more rustic experience.

Is backcountry camping allowed in Mammoth Cave National Park?

Yes, backcountry camping is allowed in Mammoth Cave National Park. Backcountry campers must obtain a free permit from the Visitor Center before setting out. The park offers several designated backcountry sites along established trails, particularly in the park's northern section. These sites are primitive with no facilities, so campers must practice Leave No Trace principles, including proper food storage and waste disposal. Water must be treated, and campfires are generally prohibited in backcountry areas. Backcountry camping provides a more immersive experience in the park's 70+ miles of trails through diverse forest ecosystems, away from the more developed front-country camping areas.

Are there free or dispersed camping options near Mammoth Cave?

While Mammoth Cave National Park itself doesn't offer free dispersed camping, there are affordable options nearby. Cave Creek - Rough River Lake is about an hour from the park and offers economical camping with amenities like generous firewood bundles for just $5. For those seeking budget-friendly alternatives, Wax - Nolin River Lake provides waterfront sites at reasonable rates and is conveniently located near the national park. Both options are significantly more affordable than private campgrounds while still offering beautiful natural settings and basic amenities.

What RV camping facilities are available at Mammoth Cave National Park?

For RV camping near Mammoth Cave, Cave Country RV Campground offers full hookups just 10-15 minutes from the park entrance. This well-maintained facility features amenities including a swimming pool, picnic tables, fire rings, and a dog park. Another excellent option is Singing Hills RV Park And Campground, located less than 15 minutes from the visitor center. It offers full hookups, a fishing pond, and spacious sites in a quiet, relaxing setting. Both campgrounds provide convenient bases for exploring Mammoth Cave while enjoying the comforts of dedicated RV facilities that aren't available within the national park itself.

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