Updated October 2026
Mammoth Cave National Park Weather by Month
Mammoth Cave National Park is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 91°F and a low of 68°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 48°F and an average low of 29°F. May is the wettest month, with about 5.2 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in February, at about 1.4 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 4.7 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Mammoth Cave National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
91°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
29°F avg low
Wettest month
May
5.2 in avg
Snowiest month
Feb
1.4 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.5 h of daylight
Average weather at Mammoth Cave by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48°F | 29°F | 3.7 in | 0.7 in | 9.7 h |
| February | 53°F | 32°F | 4.5 in | 1.4 in | 10.6 h |
| March | 62°F | 40°F | 5.0 in | 0.6 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 73°F | 48°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 13.0 h |
| May | 81°F | 57°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in | 14.0 h |
| June | 88°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in | 14.5 h |
| July | 91°F | 68°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 14.3 h |
| August | 90°F | 67°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 13.4 h |
| September | 85°F | 60°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 74°F | 49°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 11.0 h |
| November | 61°F | 40°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 10.0 h |
| December | 51°F | 33°F | 4.8 in | 1.3 in | 9.5 h |
| Year total | 53.5 in | 4.0 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00155097, 4.7 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Mammoth Cave is at that time of year.
Mammoth Cave weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 48°F in January, between 51°F in December and 53°F in February, with average lows between 29°F and 33°F. The average low is at or below freezing in January and February. Together the three months average 13 inches of precipitation, about 24% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 3.4 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.5 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 62°F in March to 81°F in May, with average lows between 40°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 15.1 inches of precipitation, about 28% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 0.6 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.0 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 91°F in July, between 88°F in June and 90°F in August, with average lows between 64°F and 68°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in July and August. Together the three months average 13.5 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.5 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 85°F in September to 61°F in November, with average lows between 40°F and 60°F. Together the three months average 11.9 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.0 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
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 description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Mammoth Cave
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 37.20°N, 86.13°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Mammoth Cave National Park →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 2.0× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Mammoth Cave.
Where to stay near Mammoth Cave
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Mammoth Cave National Park, with an average high of 91°F and an average low of 68°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.7 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Mammoth Cave National Park, with an average low of 29°F and an average high of 48°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 5.2 inches of precipitation. January is the driest, at about 3.7 inches. The station records about 53.5 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.7 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 4 inches of snow a year. February is the snowiest month, at about 1.4 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 4 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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93 mi away · warmest in August (83°F)
93 mi away · warmest in July (89°F)
94 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00155097), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.