National Park Service · Kentucky
Maple Springs
National Park Service · Kentucky, United States · in Mammoth Cave National Park
- Sites
- 7
- Hookups
- 7 electric, 7 with water
- Season
- March 1 to November 29
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 814 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2 · certified dark-sky place
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Nearest town
- MAMMOTH CAVE
- Address
- P.O. BOX 7, MAMMOTH CAVE, KY, 42259
- Phone
- 270-758-2424
- Activities
- Backpacking, Biking, Birding, Camping, Day Use Area, Hiking, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Mushroom Picking, Photography, Picnicking
7 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Click See More at the bottom of this overview and review the "Need to Know" section of the campground.
At Maple Springs, visitors can enjoy the serenity of the campground and surrounding backcountry trails, or spend their days exploring Mammoth Cave. Campers can explore up to ten miles of the cave through a variety of tours available at the Visitor Center. With more than 400 miles (644 km) of mapped passageways, Mammoth Cave ranks as the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave is named for its grand size and scale. Visit the Rotunda for an idea of just how large this underground world is. The World Heritage Site was explored by Native Americans more than 2,000 years ago, and Europeans discovered its existence at the turn of the 19th century.
Recreation
Avid horseback riders head to Maple Springs to explore the lush backcountry trails. Hikers will also find these trails enjoyable.
Facilities
Access to the primitive campground is best via ferry, located six miles from the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center. The ferry accommodates up to two cars, and the ride is free, taking just a few minutes. Taking the ferry is the quickest route to the campground. If the ferry is unavailable, you will need to drive around, which takes about 45 minutes. For information on ferry schedules and trailer standards, call (270) 758-2166.
These sites offer electric and water hookups. Sites 1, 2, 3, and 4 are recommended for equestrian use and feature a horse tie-up area. Please consider sites 5, 6, and 7 before booking the others, and prioritize those with horses for the equestrian sites. Note that there is no sewer or dump station at Maple Springs.
A small amphitheater is available on-site, and a large fire pit is provided for groups on a first-come, first-served basis.
Natural Features
This campground is part of Mammoth Cave National Park, a 52,800-acre park that includes the Green River Valley, rolling Kentucky hillsides, and the expansive Mammoth Cave with grand-scale chambers and long, winding passageways.
This remote campsite is quiet, peaceful and ideal for those who want to be immersed in nature. Wildlife includes deer, turkey, and coyotes.
Nearby Attractions
Take a tour of Mammoth Cave and see landmark cave areas like the Cathedral Domes and Mammoth's famous formation, Frozen Niagara. Or hike above the caverns to explore sinkholes like Cedar Sink.
Charges & Cancellations
Group Facilities - Overnight -$10.00 cancellation fee AND forfeit the first night's use recreation use fee if cancelled less than 14 days before the arrival date (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation).
For rules and reservation policies please follow the link below:
https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 27° | 0° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 48° | 32° | 10° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 40° | 20° | 80° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 69° | 48° | 32° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 62° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 67° | 53° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 71° | 64° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 61° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 66° | 53° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 49° | 36° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 57° | 40° | 20° | 76° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 48° | 33° | 13° | 67° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Mammoth Cave Campground · National Park Service · 3 mi · 111 sites
- Nolin Lake State Park · Kentucky State Parks · 8 mi · 65 sites
- Dog Creek (Ky) · Army Corps of Engineers · 8 mi · 70 sites
- WAX · Army Corps of Engineers · 9 mi · 110 sites
- Moutardier · Army Corps of Engineers · 9 mi · 167 sites
All public campgrounds in Kentucky · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-15. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.