The park posts hours of operation of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (printed as CST) and no departure times, so only the hours are published. Service was suspended for low water on the park's alert as read October 16, 2026, with no reopening date. · Departures shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full schedule
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Mammoth Cave National Park (National Park Service)
Map – Green River Ferry (Mammoth Cave)
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Vehicle, one way (up to 12 tons and 16 feet) | Free |
| Hiker or cyclist, one way | Free |
The park's FAQ states that the ferry is free to use. Vehicles and trailers boarding must not exceed 12 tons and 16 feet in length, according to the park's Directions & Transportation page, which asks owners of large vehicles or trailers to call ahead. Commercial vehicles are prohibited on park roads.
The Green River Ferry is the National Park Service's vehicle crossing of the Green River inside Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. It joins the south side of the park, where the visitor center and cave tours are, with the north side, where Maple Springs and the backcountry trails lie. The park says there are no bridges between the two sides, so the ferry is the park's own link, and that the ferry was first developed in 1934. It calls it the last active river ferry in the park. Using it costs nothing: the park's FAQ states the ferry is free.
The park posts hours of operation of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., printed as CST, on its Directions & Transportation page, and says the ferry runs year-round except December 25. There is no timetable; the park gives hours and nothing else, so this page lists no departure times.
What decides whether it runs is the river. The park states that ferry operations are subject to high or low water, and its status can change without advance notice. On October 16, 2026 the park's alert read 'Green River Ferry Temporarily Out of Service', saying operation was suspended for low water and would resume once water levels rise and conditions are safe. The alert gave neither a date nor a reopening estimate. With the ferry shut, the park names Highway 70 through Brownsville as the nearest crossing. Status is posted on the park's alerts page, on its @MCNPRoadsFerry account on X and on the hotline, 270-758-2166.
Size is the other limit. Vehicles and trailers boarding must not exceed 12 tons and 16 feet in length, and the park asks owners of large vehicles or trailers to call first. Its transportation page adds that RVs and trailers may have difficulty crossing the ferry. In August 2026 the ferry account also posted a two-vehicle limit and, on certain days, closed the ferry to all RVs and trailers during low water.
National Park Service pages list a parking area at the landing, a kayak and canoe launch beside it, and the start of the one-mile Echo River Spring trail.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
Check the park's Current Conditions page on the day you travel. When it was read on October 16, 2026, the alert said 'Green River Ferry Temporarily Out of Service', suspended due to low water levels and set to resume once water levels rise and conditions are safe. No date was given. Call the ferry hotline at 270-758-2166 or check @MCNPRoadsFerry on X first.
Yes. The Mammoth Cave National Park FAQ says the ferry is free to use.
The park posts 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (printed as CST), and says the ferry operates year-round except December 25, subject to river level. No departure times are published.
The park says vehicles and trailers boarding must not exceed 12 tons and 16 feet in length, and that owners of large vehicles or trailers should call ahead. It also says trailers and RVs may have difficulty crossing.
Yes. The National Park Service describes the ferry as a shuttle for vehicles, hikers and bikers.
The park says operations are subject to high or low water on the Green River. The current suspension is attributed to low water; the park's ferry account also posted a suspension for mechanical issues in August 2026.
The park names the crossing via Highway 70 through Brownsville as the nearest alternative. The north and south sides of the park are not connected by any bridge.
At the end of Green River Ferry Road (SR 1352) in Mammoth Cave National Park. The park gives directions from the visitor center: leave by Mammoth Cave Parkway, turn right on Green River Ferry Road after a quarter mile, and take the ferry to the north side, where Maple Springs Group Campground is on the left.