Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Houchin Ferry Campground is a 20-minute drive from the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center where all cave tours begin, whereas the main campground, Mammoth Cave Campground, is within walking distance. If you are at the park for cave tours, as long as the main campground is open and there are campsites available, I cannot think of any reason not to make it your first choice for camping. Houchin Ferry Campground is convenient if you came to fish, for it is on the Green River, but that’s the only benefit I can think of.

CAMPING SEASON

The Houchin Ferry Campground is the only campground at Mammoth Cave that is open year-round. Rates are the same at all times.

Campsite at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

TYPE OF CAMPING

The Houchin Ferry Campground is for tent camping only. If you have a van or similar self-contained sleeping vehicle, be sure you have a tent with you just in case the Rangers enforce the tents-only rule. If you were to pitch a tent yet sleep in your vehicle, I seriously doubt anyone will care or know. Full-size RVs are not allowed at the campground.

Campsite 9 at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

NUMBER OF CAMPSITES

There are 12 campsites at the Houchin Ferry Campground. Each can accommodate up to eight people. There is no group site here, so if you have more than eight people in your party, reserve multiple campsites. Campsites 2 and 3 are very close together and are the best for groups. If all you need is a single site, avoid these two if possible.

Campsite 2 at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

TERRAIN

There is a dirt road down the middle of the campground with campsites 1 through 9 along the Green River and sites 10 through 12 on the other side of the road next to the forest. The National Park Service claims that all campsites at Houchin Ferry have a view of the river, and this may be true in theory, but it is not the case in reality. There is a lot of vegetation between the campsites and the river, so during the spring and summer it may be difficult to get a clear view. The best views are from campsites 6, 7, and 8. As for sites 10, 11, and 12, you can still see the river, though you will be looking through somebody else’s campsite and equipment to do so.

Campsite 8 at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

Campsites along the Green River have small fields of grass in front of them, but these areas are sloped and not well suited for tents. The actual campsite is marked off with railroad ties, and signs ask campers to keep their tents within these areas and out of the grass. However, there were tents pitched in the grass when I visited. I get the feeling that Rangers rarely come out here, so most likely anything goes.

Sloped grassy area in from of the riverside campsites at Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

The campsites on the forest side of the road do not have a grassy area, but the terrain is flat, allowing tents to be pitched just about anywhere.

Campsites 10 and 11 at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

Campsites are close together and there is no vegetation between them, so there is no privacy.

Keep in mind that there are walnut trees at the campground, so there are golf-ball size nuts all over the ground in the fall. I can’t count the number of times I nearly twisted an ankle on one of these during my brief visit to photograph the campground. Be sure to bring a rake with you so that you can clear your campsite.

AMENITIES

Each campsite at Houchin Ferry has a driveway for parking, a picnic table, fire pit / grill, and lantern post. There is no electricity or modern restrooms. Portable toilets are available.

Campsite amenities at the Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

If you have a large group that occupies multiple campsites, when it comes time to eating together, there is a picnic area with a covered pavilion on the opposite side of the street from the campground entrance.

Pavilion and tables at the Houchin Ferry Picnic Area in Mammoth Cave National Park

There are extra parking spaces along the main road just outside the campground entrance, so if you have more than two vehicles, you can use these spaces.

Coin-operated showers are available at the campground store near the Visitor Center. There is a change machine that only takes $1 and $5 bills. You can break larger bills at the store when it is open (until 7 PM). The showers themselves are open 24 hours a day.

RESEVATIONS AND FEES

Reservations are required to camp at the Houchin Ferry Campground. There is no Ranger presence and no way to make a payment there. Make your reservations online at Recreation.gov up to six months in advance.

At the time of this writing all campsites are $20 / night. The current rates are given on the reservation website.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Check-in time is 12 PM.
• Check-out time is 11 AM.
• Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM

Houchin Ferry Campground in Mammoth Cave National Park

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