Mammoth Cave National Park Alerts and Current Conditions

Cover of Brian Russ's guide to Mammoth Cave National Park

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page tracks what's closed, what's changed, and what's coming up at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, from the park's alerts, conditions, and hours pages. I check it daily and rewrite it when the park posts something new, so bookmark it rather than an old news story. The Green River Ferry and the park roads can change status without advance notice, so check the park's own alerts the morning you go.

Current alerts

  • The Green River Ferry isn't running. Service is suspended because the river is too low, and it will resume once the water rises and conditions are safe. The park points to the NOAA river forecast for gauge 03309000 and a ferry hotline at (270) 758-2166. (NPS)
  • The Accessible Tour is unavailable because the cave elevator has mechanical problems. For updates, call the visitor center at (270) 758-2180. (NPS)
  • Several trails near the visitor center are closed for rehabilitation: the Old Guides Trail, the Heritage Trail, the Sunset Point Trail, and parts of the Sinkhole Trail. (NPS)
  • You need a ticket to enter the cave. The park strongly recommends reserving ahead on Recreation.gov, since walk-up tickets aren't guaranteed. (NPS)

Open and closed right now

  • The park is open 24 hours a day, and there's no gate at the entrance. The park doesn't list an entrance fee; what you pay for is a cave tour. Services like tours and the visitor center are limited after hours. (NPS)
  • Mammoth Cave Visitor Center: open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on its off-season schedule. (NPS)
  • Mammoth Cave Campground: open, with the kiosk staffed 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through November 30. (Recreation.gov)
  • Maple Springs Group Campground: open through November 30, with every site reservable. (Recreation.gov)
  • Houchin Ferry Campground: open year-round, reservations only. (Recreation.gov)
  • Camping rules: you can camp only in designated campgrounds or backcountry sites with a valid reservation or permit.

Coming up in the next few weeks

  • Monday, November 30: last night of the season for Mammoth Cave Campground and Maple Springs Group Campground. Both are closed from December 1 through February 28, 2027.
  • Later: the visitor center is closed on Christmas Day. It moves to longer spring hours, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., starting March 13, 2027.
  • The ferry and the elevator have no posted return dates. Check back here or call the numbers above.

What this means for your trip

The ferry matters most if you're staying or hiking on the north side of the Green River. Without it, getting between the visitor center side and the north side means a long drive around by road instead of a short crossing. If your plan depends on it, call the ferry hotline before you leave, and build in the extra drive time.

The Accessible Tour being out hits visitors who can't manage stairs and long walks, and there's no posted fix date. Call the visitor center before you book anything, since the park hasn't named a substitute tour. For everyone else, the cave tours themselves aren't on the closure list, but they do need tickets, so reserve on Recreation.gov rather than hoping for a walk-up spot.

With the Heritage and Sunset Point trails closed, several of the short walks right by the visitor center are off the table. Plan your surface time around other trails that aren't on the closure list. The park pitches fall as the season when the hillsides change color, so save some daylight for the surface, and remember the days are getting shorter.

Before you go

  • Check the park's current conditions and alerts the morning of your visit.
  • Green River Ferry hotline: (270) 758-2166. The park also posts road and ferry status on its Mammoth Cave Roads and Ferry feed on X.
  • Visitor center: (270) 758-2180.
  • Book cave tour tickets ahead through the park's cave tours page.

If a closure knocks out part of your plan, my guide to Mammoth Cave National Park has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for weather or closures. You can also check alerts and conditions for every national park.

This page is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always check the park's current alerts before you go.