How many national parks are in Kentucky?

1: Mammoth Cave National Park. Kentucky also has 8 other National Park Service sites, such as Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.

Do national parks in Kentucky charge an entrance fee?

No: it's free to enter, per the National Park Service. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.

What is the closest national park to Louisville?

Mammoth Cave National Park, about 72 miles from Louisville in a straight line, roughly 1 h 40 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Louisville is Kentucky's largest city.

Kentucky · 1 national park · 8 other NPS sites

National parks in Kentucky

Last verified October 1, 2026Sources ↓

Kentucky has one national park, Mammoth Cave National Park. 8 more National Park Service sites round out the map, from Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park to Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

Numbered by 2025 visits. ★ Louisville, Kentucky's largest city.

At a glance

Kentucky, by the numbers

National parks in Kentucky at a glance
National parks	1: Mammoth Cave
Other NPS sites	8 see nps.gov
Most visited park, 2025	Mammoth Cave 660,734 visits (#34 of 63)
Entrance fees	Free
Established	July 1, 1941
Nearest to Louisville	Mammoth Cave 72 mi straight-line, ≈ 1 h 40 min drive (est.)

1 national park

Kentucky's national park

Busiest first, by 2025 recreation visits.

Photo: NPS Photo / J. Cooper
Est. 1941
Mammoth Cave National Park
2025 visits
660,734
Entrance
Free entry
Busiest month
July
Quiet month
May
“The world's longest known cave system…” (NPS)

From Louisville

The closest national parks to Louisville

Measured from Louisville, Kentucky's largest city (641,962 people, Census 2025 estimate). Straight-line miles; drive times are our rough estimate.

Nearest national parks to Louisville
Park	Straight line	Drive (estimate)
Mammoth Cave National ParkKY	72 mi	≈ 1 h 40 min
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNC · TN	213 mi	≈ 5 h
Gateway Arch National ParkMO	248 mi	≈ 5 h 50 min
Indiana Dunes National ParkIN	252 mi	≈ 6 h

National parks near Louisville →

8 other NPS sites

Beyond the national parks

Monuments, historic sites, trails and more: every other place the National Park Service lists for Kentucky, grouped by type. Links go to nps.gov.

2 National Historic Trail · 2 National Historical Park · 2 National Monument · …Show all 8

National Historic Trail · 2

Lewis & Clark National Historic TrailIA · ID · IL · IN · KS · KY · MO · MT · NE · ND · OH · OR · PA · SD · WA · WV
Trail of Tears National Historic TrailAL · AR · GA · IL · KY · MO · NC · OK · TN

National Historical Park · 2

National Monument · 2

National Battlefield · 1

Fort Donelson National BattlefieldKY · TN

National River & Recreation Area · 1

Big South Fork National River & Recreation AreaKY · TN

From the NPS Data API; the same list as Kentucky's page on nps.gov. Trails and other multi-state sites appear under each state they cross.

FAQ

Kentucky, answered

How many national parks are in Kentucky?: 1: Mammoth Cave National Park. Kentucky also has 8 other National Park Service sites, such as Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.
Do national parks in Kentucky charge an entrance fee?: No: it's free to enter, per the National Park Service. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.
What is the closest national park to Louisville?: Mammoth Cave National Park, about 72 miles from Louisville in a straight line, roughly 1 h 40 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Louisville is Kentucky's largest city.

Sources · 5

1.Kentucky: parks and places (nps.gov) · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
4.City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
5.2025 Gazetteer Files: Places · U.S. Census Bureau

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