Mammoth Cave National Park is a National Park in Kentucky. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 6 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Mammoth Cave
We matched 6 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Mammoth Cave. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (5)
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CaveState Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Mammoth Cave the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:51 PM | 244° | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:11 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:25 PM | 255° | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:52 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:37 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:47 PM | 295° | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:07 PM | 301° | 14h 42m |
| July | 5:37 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:05 PM | 298° | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:02 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:38 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:54 PM | 274° | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:09 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 7:02 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:36 PM | 247° | 10h 11m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:32 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:29 PM | 241° | 9h 37m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.1976, -86.1309); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Mammoth Cave, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:43 AM – 5:03 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 3:49 AM – 5:19 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 1:52 AM – 4:32 AM | 2.7 | 24° |
| May | 11:51 PM – 3:51 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:01 PM – 3:31 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 9:55 PM – 2:05 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:15 PM – 12:05 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:23 PM – 10:03 PM | 1.7 | 20° |
| October | 7:36 PM – 7:56 PM | 0.3 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Kentucky has a moderate climate with warm, yet moist conditions. Summers average in the high 80s; winters average in the low 40s. Southern Kentucky, where Mammoth Cave is located, receives the highest average precipitation for the state, about 50 inches per year, mostly in spring. Winter can bring mild to moderate snow and ice. Storms happen year-round, and can include tornadoes and flooding in low-lying areas, but severe weather is infrequent. The temperature deep in the cave is a constant 54°F (12°C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
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.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Caving
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
Nearby parks
KY
KY
IN
TN
KY/TN
KY