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Mammoth Cave National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation; cave tour tickets are sold separately and popular tours sell out.
Fees and passes
No entrance fee; cave tours need tickets.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (4)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Cave Campground | 111 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping | 94 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Houchin Ferry Campground | 12 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Maple Springs | 7 | Campground | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Fair · 41 | 48°F | 29°F | 3.7 in | 0.7 in | 9 h 50 m |
| February | Fair · 57 | 53°F | 32°F | 4.5 in | 1.4 in | 10 h 44 m |
| March | Great · 84 | 62°F | 40°F | 5.0 in | 0.6 in | 11 h 50 m |
| April | Great · 85 | 73°F | 48°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 04 m |
| May | Great · 83 | 81°F | 57°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 06 m |
| June | Good · 61 | 88°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 39 m |
| July | Fair · 49 | 91°F | 68°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 26 m |
| August | Good · 61 | 90°F | 67°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 32 m |
| September | Great · 80 | 85°F | 60°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 20 m |
| October | Great · 94 | 74°F | 49°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 11 h 08 m |
| November | Great · 88 | 61°F | 40°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 10 h 05 m |
| December | Fair · 47 | 51°F | 33°F | 4.8 in | 1.3 in | 9 h 35 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Mammoth Cave, KY weather station (760 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Mammoth Cave National Park?
No entry reservation; cave tour tickets are sold separately and popular tours sell out.
How much does it cost to enter Mammoth Cave?
No entrance fee; cave tours need tickets. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Mammoth Cave?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in March to May, September to November. July is warmest (about 91°F) and January has the coldest nights (about 29°F).
Sources: Mammoth Cave fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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