When is entrance fee-free at Mammoth Cave in 2026?

Direct answer

February 16, 2026, May 25, 2026, June 14, 2026, July 3, 2026, July 4, 2026, July 5, 2026, August 25, 2026, September 17, 2026, October 27, 2026, November 11, 2026

Published dates

February 16, 2026
May 25, 2026
June 14, 2026
July 3, 2026
July 4, 2026
July 5, 2026
August 25, 2026
September 17, 2026
October 27, 2026
November 11, 2026

There is no entrance fee for a pass to cover. What a pass DOES do here is discount cave tour tickets: the Interagency Senior Lifetime, Senior Annual, and Access passes give 50% off a cave tour ticket for the cardholder only, not the whole party. The listed fee-free days are entrance-fee-free days only and do NOT make cave tours free.

Official source

National Park Service · reviewed August 27, 2026

The park accepts the America the Beautiful Interagency Senior LIfetime and Senior Annual Passes, as well as, the Access Pass. [These provide] a 50% discount on cave tour tickets for the cardholder only.

Official fee-free-day policy