Explore the World's Longest Cave System and Tour This Unique National Park in Kentucky!

Mammoth Caves are about an hour and a half north of Nashville, making it the perfect day trip to explore one of the country’s most interesting National Parks. My daughters and I headed up there the day after buying our tour tickets online and had a fantastic morning.  We opted for the Domes and Dripstones Tour, which lasted two hours and gave us a good feel for the world’s longest-known cave system – over 400 miles! The tour started with a 10-minute bus trip to a manmade opening in the cave system, where we ventured down more than 200 stairs to enter the heart of the passageway. However, the stairs were challenging for my three-year-old, who got a bit tired, which was challenging as I had to carry her for part of the way through some narrow passageways. My four-and-half-year-old, on the other hand, navigated the trek well, using the handrails on her own. Once all the way down in the cave, the guides did a nice job of explaining the history, geology, and other interesting events that have occurred within the cave system. There were three breaks in the quarter-mile tour with benches to rest during these talks. My kids were happy to have the break and there is ample room for the whole group to sit and listen. The end of this particular tour took us through the “Frozen Niagara” section (tons of stalactites and stalagmites) so it felt like we got a lot of variety as the beginning of the tour was more dry and cavernous.  At the end, we took a moment to check out the visitors center, which had some interesting exhibits that offered a more in-depth history of the caves and the surrounding nature.

Because it's underground, you can’t really get rained out, but take a jacket as it can be chilly down there! We also recommend buying your tickets early, as popular tours like “Frozen Niagara” sell out.  Arrive 30 minutes in advance to get the tickets for your reservation. Note: Some parts can get frustrating, as the groups can be large and when folks stop to get pictures, it can feel like you are standing around waiting with nowhere to go.