Yogi Bear's Jellystone Parkâ Camp-Resort: Mammoth Cave

Our original plan was to stay in Mammoth Cave National Park's campground with no hook-ups, but ultimately we got scared off by the threat of cold temperatures in early April (and it was below freezing one night that we were there) and how unequipped we are for dry camping and went in the opposite direction with our first stay at a Jellystone.

The campground was big and busy and bustling with people and activity, but it quieted down at night and everything was well run and tidy. Location is very convenient to the National Park....it's on the same road as the entrance and maybe a 15 minute drive to the Visitor Center. We reserved a full hook up site, but they called us when we were on our way there to tell us there was a problem with our reserved site and offered us a W/E with a 25% discount instead, which was fine (price given is the W/E non-discounted price). Wi-fi wasn't very reliable, but our T-mobile signal was pretty good.

Sites are gravel; mostly pull-throughs that we saw. It's a hilly area and most of the sites will require some work to get level. Decent separation between the sites; we had a grassy area with a fire ring and a picnic table. Bathhouses clean and modern.

We were there on a weekend, and there were non-stop activities scheduled. Outdoor movies, hay rides, coloring contests, karaoke....we didn't have a lot of time, so we mostly went to the NP, but we did fit in a few things. There's mini-golf, two pools, a waterslide (not open yet when we went, but the heated pool was), a big camp store with a restaurant area, nice playground and pavilion. Not really our style of campground, but it was fun for a couple of days anyway.

Want a place close to mammoth? Great! Want none of the features people appreciate about camping? This is your place. Gas powered golf carts roaming aimlessly through the streets being driven by drunk parents or their underage kids. Inconsiderate neighbors with no camping etiquette shinning bright lights into your campsite. Poorly kept grounds. If that type of “RV resort” interests you, then this is your place. I’m so confused by the rave reviews we’ve heard. There is zero chance we would ever stay here again.

We have been traveling for the past month and have stayed all kinds of locations. This is far and away the worst and most expensive campground we’ve stayed at. I understand this is a family oriented “resort” but the basics are severely lacking. Bathrooms are disgusting, toilets that don’t flush, 3 out of 4 showers don’t turn on; gas powered golf carts that run all over the place being driven by little kids or drunk adults; staff that seems indifferent. We will never come back.