Mammoth Cave primarily offers walking tours, allowing visitors to explore the stunning underground passages and formations on foot. Id suggest you spend 30 minutes in the Museum before your tour to plant a few seeds of knowledge about caves with your kids. On the road home from Mammoth Cave National Park, our grandsons were on the phone trying to talk their mom (who stayed home) into a second trip to the caves. When visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, there are various accommodation options available to suit different preferences and budgets. Depending on the tour you could be walking for extended periods of time and you will be on your feet for most of it. You will see rock formations that resemble Gothic architecture, stalagmites, and stalactites. Explore. Mammoth Cave has over 400 miles of explored passageways and is one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. There are stairs and slopes within the cave that can become slippery. The cave retains the same cool temperature all year. There are lots of fun things to see and do in the park, including many cave tours that are suitable for families with kids. Privacy Policy. We loved this tour that took us on a 2-hour journey, which includes massive domes, towering stalagmites, and sparkling dripstones. Youll get to explore the darker corners of the cave and learn about the history and geology of Mammoth Cave. As you go through the trip, theyll warn you not to touch the caverns. There are many hands-on activities to engage your kids while teaching them about the science and history of the caves. This is a good option if you have toddlers that are too big to ride in a front carrier and too small to go on a lengthy tour with lots of steps. These tours are often in high demand and tend to sell out. Youll find signage throughout the trail explaining the artifacts and geology of the cave. If you are set on doing this tour, you should call the visitor center on the day of your visit to check the schedule and availability. However, the tour travels at a comfortable pace, so dont be frightened by those stairs unless you have a health issue. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This tour takes you on a 2-hour journey through the cave by lantern light and you must be at least 6 years old to go. Some of the spaces are tight. We asked our friend Amanda Perkins of Life Has Its Perks Blog to break down the best Mammoth cave tours, so you can choose the right tour for you- whether you are a first-timer, a family with small kids, or looking for a more challenging or adventurous tour through Mammoth Cave. Closed-toed shoes are best for the metal stairs and extensive walking. How much time should you spend at Mammoth Cave? They will appreciate the extra side trips that make those tours unique. They also offer a cave tour and animal show. Youll be dropped off at the Lodge at the conclusion of your trip, where youll walk through a mushy mat that will remove cave fungus off your shoes and safeguard bats. All ages are welcome, but this tour is moderately strenuous and includes over 500 stairs. Very Difficult 3 1/2 Hours Includes Crawling and Climbing. You can purchase tickets for cave tours inside the visitor center if you havent already booked online. Copyright 2023 Walking The Parks | Brad and Ladona Stork, West Texas and New Mexico National Park Road Trip. Take a 2 hour trek through 2 miles of Mammoth Cave to learn about its history and formation. Train enthusiasts will love the Historic RailPark & Train Museum. This tour provides an inclusive experience, featuring wheelchair-accessible routes and audio descriptions. Yes, they had that much fun! When is the Best Time to Visit Mammoth Cave? You should order your tickets as soon as you are confident in your tour dates. Kids who finish the booklet will receive a badge, certificate, and the title of Junior Cave Scientist. The cave remains open year-round, allowing visitors to explore its wonders even during the colder months. I think we all would have really enjoyed walking through the deeper caverns. For a less strenuous but still comprehensive tour of the cave, the Grand Historic Tour is a great option. Mammoth Cave is the most extensive cave system in the world. What is so special about Hot Springs National Park? All our recommendations are our own and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. But because it is unique, tours are offered with only a short bus ride from the visitors center. This tour takes you on a 4-hour journey through some of the most beautiful parts of the cave. The guides shared many stories about the early visitors, explaining the historical graffiti and the early mining operations in great detail. The best tour for school-aged kids is the Domes and Dripstones Tour, which is also our top recommendation for families. You will begin the tour with a short bus ride to the mouth of the sinkhole. She provides valuable tips and recommendations that assist others in planning wonderful travel experiences. -Photography is allowed as long as there is no flash. I would mention that the rangers at Mammoth Caves National Park are polite and helpful, and they assisted us in cutting in line and chasing down the bus when we were in a hurry. Mammoth Cave makes a great stop on a family cross-country road trip. There are so many incredible and unique things to do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Read on to learn some history of the park, get helpful tips, and a list of top attractions. Explore. Although the caving experience is minimal on the Frozen Niagara Tour, it is an easy way to see one of the most famous sites in Mammoth Cave National Park if you have an active toddler or health restrictions. Read: Best Time To Visit Mammoth CaveLearn about When visiting, where should you stay? Things that you will see include tall canyons, sparkling gypsum tunnels, tubular passageways, and slot canyons. Adults and children may explore the cave via a variety of cave excursions ranging from simple to difficult. Make sure you get camping reservations because this park can fill up fast. There are also many cave features to enjoy on this tour. Youll get to see some incredible formations, including one of the largest stalactites in the world. The caves temperature remains constant at around 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) throughout the year, making it a refreshing escape from both the summer heat and winter chill. My kids were all wearing running shoes, and I was wearing my usual Tevas. This is considered a strenuous tour with a whopping 1313 steps. Luckily there are great options for both camping and hotels. Read our complete season guide below and scroll down even further if you're interested in the Best Cave Tours (scroll down) and the top tips before visiting at the end of this guide! There is no free exploring. Please note that online booking ends at 9 p.m. CDT the night before the tour, however you may be able to buy same-day tour tickets at the visitors center depending on availability. The park is located in south-central Kentucky and can be reached by car, bus, or plane. If you have a young child, you can carry them in front packs during cave tours. The cave is cool and stays around 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. For that reason, I wish they offered it all the time. We wish we had been able to get tickets for this very popular tour instead of the Gothic Avenue Tour listed below. She finds joy in discovering new places from day trips to far-away destinations. The 2-hour tour travels about 2 miles, first through the large open rooms that made the cave famous. However, temperatures soared into the high 90s the week of our road trip so we left her with a friend to enjoy the air conditioning. This trail is 4.3 mi long with an elevation gain of 564 ft. The cave stays a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so bring a light jacket or sweater regardless of the season. Its an evening tour in Mammoth Cave by lantern light, this winding its way to historic Star Chamber. The tour is by lantern light to get the feel of what it felt like to be an early explorer walking through the caverns. While Mammoth Cave does not have a boat tour, however, The River Styx Tour includes a boat ride. Mammoth Cave National Park offers an accessible tour designed to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges. Cave tours, campgrounds, and picnic shelter reservations have varying fees. Consult a ranger to determine which is best for your family. Report inappropriate content dpuck1998 The Self Guided Tour is only offered when the park is super busy. There are 7 cave tours to choose from, and after consideration, we chose the Historic Tour. Most Mammoth Cave tours are not suitable for children that are too old to wear in a front pack but too young to walk on their own through the cave. Here are some of the best ones to do with kids and some general information to keep in mind for your visit. You will explore the diverse geology of the cave and learn the history of the people that have used it in the past. Weve been avid campers and hikers for decades and are here to inspire you to step out beyond the scenic drives and explore the heart of our National Parks. If you have a kid into dinosaurs, Dinosaur World has to be on your itinerary. The river, which has towering cliffs, bald eagles, and hawks, provides excellent photographic and wildlife possibilities. This is only available for ages 13 and up. These three popular tourist destinations are all pretty close together near Bowling Green, Kentucky. A tour in Mammoth Cave National Park ranges from 30 minutes to more than 6 hours depending on which tour you choose. The tours explore periods when the caves were mined for saltpeter, which was used in gunpowder. The biggest consideration in planning your family trip into the caves is that you and your kids will be a captive audience for the length of the tour. The Hampton Inn is a good option that has an indoor pool. Well share everything you need to plan the perfect National Park Vacation for you and your family! -Pets are not allowed in the cave or on the cave tours, and they must be leashed at all times in the park. . I recommend only planning to take one tour from this group, choosing the level best suited for your family. You may go the additional distance to a little waterfall if youre up for it. However, some tours and facilities may have adjusted schedules or limited availability during the winter season. The shorter tours, such as the Frozen Niagara Tour, generally have lower prices, while longer and more extensive tours, like the Grand Avenue Tour, are more expensive. The tour involves minimal walking on well-maintained paths, making it suitable for individuals of various fitness levels and ages. They can still explore the above-ground attractions and the Discovery Self-Guided tour, though. For rental car information, check out Discover Cars. We are crazy about getting outdoors at every possible moment and have decades of experience exploring nature. For an adventurous experience, the Wild Cave Tour is recommended. The best ways to experience Mammoth Cave are: Mammoth Cave Self-guided Audio Tour (Located in Western Australia) Margaret River, Caves, Wine and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Tour from Perth. We took the Domes and Dripstone Tour which was a perfect fit for us. These tours ensure that visitors can safely navigate the cave while minimizing any negative impact on the delicate ecosystem. Today. When evaluating if your kids could handle this 4-hour tour, remember that there is no free exploring; you must stay with and follow the ranger guide. 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