If brick-and-mortar lodging is not your style and you’d rather pitch a tent or park your RV directly beneath the stars, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky offers three frontcountry campgrounds (one of them a group campground) in which you may do just that. There are also 13 designated backcountry campsites or riverside camping options if you decide to set out and seek solitude while completely avoiding the crowds.
Frontcountry Campgrounds
Below are quick rundowns of Mammoth Cave’s three frontcountry campgrounds. Reservations are required through recreation.gov, although two RV sites with full hookups at Mammoth Cave Campground are first-come, first-served only. All three frontcountry campgrounds are located within proximity of the park’s visitor center, with available services such as laundry machines, shower facilities, and camping supplies. For more detailed information, click on each campground name.
A campsite with tents at Mammoth Cave Campground, Mammoth Cave National Park / NPS file
Mammoth Cave Campground is located ¼ mile (0.4 km) from the visitor center and offers 111 sites (10 tent-only), including two ADA-accessible sites (37 & 38) and four group sites. Maximum RV/trailer length is 38/26 feet (11.6/7.9 m). Full hookups are available for two RV sites, first-come, first-served only. The remaining sites require a reservation through recreation.gov.
Open March 1, 2025 – November 29, 2025, drinking water, dump stations, camp store, trash collection, hot showers, and flush toilets are available seasonally. Standard campsites are $25 per night. The two VIP RV sites with full hookups are $50 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Group sites can each accommodate 16 people and are $40 per night, with no discounts.
A site at the Maple Springs Group Campground, Mammoth Cave National Park / NPS file
A campsite at the Houchin Ferry Campground, Mammoth Cave National Park / NPS file
Houchin Ferry Campground is open year-round and offers 12 tent-only sites. There are no ADA-accessible sites at this campground, and RVs/trailers are not permitted. Each site is $20 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made through recreation.gov.
Houchin Ferry Campground is located 15 miles (24 km) from the Visitor Center and two miles east of Brownsville, Kentucky, each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Drinking water and portable toilets are available year-round.
Backcountry And Riverside Camping
White Oak backcountry campsite, Mammoth Cave National Park / NPS - Mary Schubert
There are 13 designated backcountry sites located within the north side of Mammoth Cave National Park:
- Bluffs
- Collie Ridge
- Ferguson
- First Creek 1
- First Creek 2
- Floodplain Camping
- Green River Floodplain
- Homestead
- McCoy Hollow
- Raymer Hollow
- Sal Hollow
- Second Creek
- Three Springs
- Turnhole Bend
- White Oak
According to park staff:
A permit is required to backcountry camp.
- Backcounty sites are primitive, with only a fire ring and horse hitching posts available.
- All sites except McCoy Hollow have a nearby water source, but campers should boil and treat water before drinking, or plan to carry in drinking water.
- Campsites are limited to one party up to eight people in size.
- Pickup a Backcountry map at the Mammoth Cave Campground information kiosk, or the Visitor Information desk.
All camping in the backcountry and along the rivers in Mammoth Cave National Park requires a permit.
Backcountry camping permits are $10.00 and are available for advance or same-day reservations through Recreation.gov or by visiting the Mammoth Cave Campground information kiosk. Getting permits in person during the summer may be easier at the Campground as the Visitor Center can be busy.
During the winter season, visitors must visit the park visitor center for permits.
Riverside and Island Camping
Overnight camping is permitted along floodplains and on islands along the Green and Nolin Rivers. You CANNOT access this camping from your car. Camping in these areas is only accessible by boat. You must be on the river.
- When camping on floodplains, campers must camp at least ½ mile away from Green River Ferry, Houchin Ferry and Dennison Ferry Day Use Area.
- Know where you are. Riverside camping on private lands outside the park may not be permitted.
- Sudden rainstorms can cause rapid flooding along riverways and river levels and currents fluctuate dramatically, particularly during winter months. Always check the river level , river forecast, and weather forecast before launching or camping along the rivers.
- Pickup a Backcountry map at the Mammoth Cave Campground information kiosk, or the Visitor Information desk.
- Permit Required - $10 per trip. Permits available online, up to a week in advance. Reservations through recreation.gov. Permits are subject to cancellation due to river levels, which must remain below 20 feet.
When getting your backcountry or riverside camping permit, please be prepared to provide:
- Driver's License Photo ID
- Make/model of your vehicle
- License Plate Number
Travel in Mammoth Cave National Park’s backcountry has inherent risks such as ticks, snakes, and poison ivy. Campers are responsible for their own safety. Before you set out, make sure you come prepared. Learn more about hiking safety, river safety and regulations, and camping regulations.
