Mammoth Cave National Park

Visit Dog-Friendly Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is best known for its cave tours but there is so much more to do in this dog-friendly National Park. There are multiple trails available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as places where you can kayak or canoe. This park has no entrance fee which is great for budget travelers and there are several lodging options to choose from. They even have food available on-site!

Plan on staying in the area for at least 1-2 days to give you enough time to do a cave tour and hike the main trails. Mammoth Cave is one of the few National Parks that pets are allowed in, as long as they are kept on a leash and out of any buildings and caves. If you are traveling in Kentucky, this park should be on your list!

Is Mammoth Cave National Park Dog-Friendly?

Mammoth Cave is one of the few pet-friendly national parks in the United States. Dogs and cats are allowed on all of the trails and in the dog-friendly campground as long as they stay on a leash. They are also allowed to stay at the Woodland Cottages on-site and can be boarded during the day at Mammoth Cave Kennels. Animals are not allowed in any of the park buildings or the caves.

Mammoth Cave Visitor Center

Mammoth Cave Visitor Center is the only visitor center in the park. This is where you can get park maps, get your national park passport stamped, and book (and start) your cave tours. There are bathrooms here along with two gift shops where you can buy all the souvenirs you could want.

Inside the visitor center, there is also an exhibit area where you can learn more about the area and park. This area is currently closed due to Covid.

Lodging at Mammoth Cave National Park

You can choose between several campgrounds and indoor lodging options if you want to stay in the park.

Pet-friendly Camping at Mammoth Cave

There are several camping options available in Mammoth Cave NP depending on what kind of experience you are looking for. All campgrounds are pet-friendly.

Here are our best tips to go camping with your dog to help your vacation go smoothly.

Backcountry Camping

If you are looking for a more isolated location and don’t mind doing a bit of work to get there, you can choose from 13 backcountry or riverside campsites. Permits are required for these sites and will cost $10. These sites are all primitive and will involve hiking, horseback riding, or paddling several miles to get to them. Each site will have a post to hitch your horse to and a fire ring.

The backcountry camping permit will also allow you to camp on the islands and floodplains near the Green and Nolin Rivers. Your campsite will need to be at least half a mile away from any of the ferry areas. Be aware of the weather before setting up your tent in these areas because they are prone to flooding.

Campgrounds

If you want a campsite closer to ‘civilization’ there are three different campgrounds to choose from; Mammoth Cave Campground, Maple Springs Campground, and Houchin Ferry Campground. Reservations are required at all these locations.

Houchin Ferry only has primitive campsites and is located the furthest away from the visitor center near Green River.  The cost is $20 per night.

Maple Springs Campground is a group campground that costs $50 a night. This location allows RVs, tents, and trailers and is about 6 miles from the visitor center. There are no showers, but they do have pit toilets available. Two of these campsites have electricity. Horses are allowed at this campground.

Mammoth Cave Campground is .25 miles from the visitor center and costs $25 a night. This campground allows tents, RVs, and trailers but there are no electrical hookups here. There are flush toilets as well as showers and laundry facilities available. The laundry facilities and showers do cost extra.

There is a change machine available so you can get quarters. The showers cost $1.50 for 4 min and 30 sec. Each additional 15 min costs an additional quarter. The showers and laundry are located by Goods and Services, where they also sell camping supplies.

Hotels and Cottages in Mammoth Cave

The Lodge at Mammoth Cave gives you the chance to stay in the park without having to camp. There are multiple hotel rooms as well as historic cottages to choose from. The Lodge is located next door to the visitor center and has dining options available.

Woodland Cottages are a part of The Lodge and start at $71/night. This is the only option that allows pets. These cottages do not have A/C. The Historic Cottages do have A/C and start at $93 a night. Sunset Terrace and Heritage Trail Rooms both start at $136 a night.

The Lodge also has a Day Boarding option for your cats and dogs. The kennels are self-service, outdoors, and not designed for small dogs. There is a $10 refundable lock/key deposit. It will cost $3.50 for the first hour and then $1/hr after that.

This option is only available during the day and is open to anyone in the park and they do require proof of vaccinations such as rabies and bordetella. I suggest using this as a last resort option and encourage you not to leave your pet too long because of the dangers of overheating and dehydration.

For more hotel options nearby use our link below to find the perfect place!

Nervous about staying at a hotel with your dog or at a vacation rental? We have tips to help with that too!

Where to Eat in Mammoth Cave National Park

There are two restaurants inside The Lodge that you can eat at. Green River Grill is perfect if you are looking for a sit-down meal and Spelunkers Café and Ice Cream Parlor are best for food that you can grab when you are on the go.

Things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is full of a wide range of fun activities for everybody- especially dog owners. Enjoy the gorgeous trails, visit historical churches and cemeteries, cave tours, and more. You can bike, kayak, canoe, or go horseback riding. Take the opportunity to enjoy everything this national park has to offer.

Mammoth Cave Tours

Cave tours are one of the more popular activities in Mammoth Cave National Park and you will have several tours to choose from. You can choose which tour would be best for you depending on how long you would like it to last, what part of the cave you would like to see, and how strenuous you would like it to be.

The Historic Tour does tend to be the more popular choice. Check the website for the most updated tour descriptions and schedules. Due to the popularity of the tours, it is highly recommended that you book your tour reservations in advance as they frequently sell out.

The cave is on the cooler side, so you will want to bring a light jacket to stay warm, and be sure to check the rules on current restrictions on items allowed in the caves. Some things that are banned are strollers, walking sticks, tripods, and certain types of backpacks.

White-nose syndrome has been found in some of the bat populations in Mammoth Cave. To help stop the spread, make sure you walk through the disinfecting mats once you exit the cave and never wear the same clothes, shoes, and bags into different caves.

Mammoth Cave’s Beneath Your Feet Program

If you are interested in learning more about Mammoth Cave, you will want to check out the Beneath Your Feet program. As you walk the trails around the cave, you will find 14 signs that talk about the natural history of the cave system.

You can use the Official National Park System app for help finding these spots. Each sign also has a QR code, so you watch videos of park rangers talking about that particular area. These videos are also accessible on the Mammoth Cave website.

Historic Churches and Cemeteries

You can visit 4 historic cemeteries and churches in Mammoth Cave National Park. The Mammoth Cave Baptist Church and Cemetery and the Joppa Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery offer a peek into the lives of early settlers. You can also explore the Good Spring Baptist Church and Cemetery which boasts the largest church membership in the area from 1896-1900. Check your park map for help finding these locations.

Old Guide’s Cemetery is home to the graves of three of the tuberculosis patients that died during the Mammoth Cave treatments. (You can see where the patients were housed inside Mammoth Cave during some of the cave tours). This cemetery can be found along the Heritage Trail.

Mammoth Cave Bike Trails

If you are a bike enthusiast, you should be thrilled about the bike trails in the park. Mammoth Cave National Park roads are part of two U.S. Bicycle Routes; TransAmerica (USBR 76) and Cave Country (USBR 23).

There are also several off-road bike trails in the park for your enjoyment. Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail is about 9 miles and will have you winding your way through the park. The Connector Trail is 1 mile and connects the Big Hollow Trailhead and Maple Springs Trailhead. You can also bike the Big Hollow Trail which is another 9 miles and consists of 2 separate loops if you would like the option to break your ride into smaller segments.

Horseback Riding in Mammoth Cave

There are over 60 miles of backcountry hiking trails that you can go horseback riding on. For a quick reminder, if you are looking for horse-friendly camping options you can take your horse backcountry camping or book a site at Maple Spring Campground.

Kayaking and Canoeing in Mammoth Cave

There are three river access points in the park where you can put in your kayak or canoe. All three spots are on the south side of the Green River. You can pull up to Dennison Ferry, Houchin Ferry, or Green River Ferry.

Make sure you bring your life jacket as they are required when you are on the waterways inside Mammoth Cave Park. If you are looking to rent a kayak or canoe there are three park-approved businesses; Caveland Kayak and Canoe LLC, Green River Canoeing Inc, and Mammoth Cave Canoe and Kayak.

Hiking in Mammoth Cave National Park  

There are multiple hiking trails available around the park for visitors. You can walk any of the off-road biking trails or choose a hiking-only trail. These trails are split into two categories: trails near the visitor center and south-side trails that you can find along the main park roads.

Many of the trails around the visitor center do lead off from each other so I highly recommend a park map. Here are just a few of the highlights around the Visitor Center. The name of the site correlates to the name of the trail you would take to get there. None of these trails by themselves are very long, but the distance can add up once you start looping them all together.

The trails in the park are a great place to see wildlife. Make sure to keep a close eye out for animals of all types and sizes on your hikes. The park is full of them if you look closely enough. Look for some cool-looking bugs, birds, and more.

Dog Travel Tips for Mammoth Cave National Park

Keep your pet safe with these dog travel tips for Mammoth Cave National Park:

• Make sure your pets are up to date on Flea/Tick medications.
• Keep your pets away from dangerous wildlife like snapping turtles, black bears, and venomous snakes (copperheads and rattlesnakes).
• Bring plenty of water and avoid dehydration.
• Don’t forget to bring a dog-friendly first aid kit just in case of an accident or emergency.
• Never leave your pets alone (unless it’s for a limited time at the Day Boarding area) and keep them on a leash.

Nearby Attractions:

Mammoth Cave National Park is close to numerous attractions which makes it the perfect place to base your vacation from. If you have time, be sure to explore some of these nearby attractions!

Dog-friendly Attractions near Mammoth Cave:

• Lost River Cave
• American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave
• Dinosaur World

Check out our post on Dog-friendly Vacation Stops in Kentucky for more ideas!

Caves and Caverns near Mammoth Cave:

• Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum
• Lost River Cave
• Crystal Onyx Cave
• Mammoth Onyx Cave (Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo)
• Louisville Mega Cavern

Nearby Historical Sites to Mammoth Cave:

• Lincoln Museum
• Lincoln’s Boyhood Home at Knob Creek
• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Unit NHS

Find out about all three stops in our guide to Abraham Lincoln Sites in Kentucky.

Why You Should Visit:

You will probably want to visit Mammoth Cave National Park to tour the caves, but don’t forget all the other things that this park has to offer. From gorgeous hikes, historic churches and cemeteries, bike trails, and rivers that you can kayak and canoe on, there is no shortage of activities available in the park. With several lodging options and food onsite, you won’t ever need to leave. If you do need a change of pace, there are countless nearby attractions for you to visit to shake things up. Kentucky is full of amazing parks and this is definitely one of them!

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