Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro Daviess County Airport (OWB) | Owensboro, KY | 2 h 5 min (87 mi) | 68 | Regional |
| Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) | Louisville, KY | 1 h 45 min (87 mi) | 71 | Large hub |
| Nashville International Airport (BNA) | Nashville, TN | 2 h (100 mi) | 80 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Mammoth Cave Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR GPS! From the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). Turn right onto KY-70. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center. From the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Turn left onto KY-255 and follow 255 as it becomes the Park City Road into the park. Follow Park City Road until it joins the Mammoth Cave Parkway; turn left. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. Mammoth Cave National Park is open 24-hours a day, although services such as cave tours and the visitor center are limited after-hours. There is no gate at the park entrance. Please note that camping is only possible either in designated campgrounds or backcountry campsites with a valid reservation or permit.
Visitor centers
- Mammoth Cave Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:30PM. Hours for the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center vary by season, with expanded hours during the peak summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 19 miles (straight line) of Mammoth Cave Visitor Center. Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (26 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Fuel extras and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park City Shell | See map | 6.9 | |
| BP | 1004 Doyle Avenue, Cave City | 7.8 | |
| Shell | See map | 7.9 | |
| Gas station (unnamed) | See map | 8.3 |
Grocery stores and supermarkets (6 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bi-Rite Grocery | 607 South Dixie Highway, Cave City | 8.7 | |
| The Cee Bee Food Store | 584 S Main Street, Brownsville | 8.8 | Mon to Sat 7 am to 7 pm, Sun 10 am to 6 pm |
| Save-A-Lot | See map | 8.9 | |
| IGA | 1001 Main Street, Munfordville | 12.8 |
EV charging (3 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Plugs and spaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Supercharger | See map | 7.8 | Tesla (NACS) |
| ChargePoint | See map | 9.2 | Tesla (NACS), CCS, 4 spaces |
| Tesla Supercharger | 4001 Smiths Grove- Scottsville Road, Smiths Grove | 11.8 | Tesla (NACS), CCS, 16 spaces · Open 24 hours |
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.