There are 2 places in Kentucky where you can see animals from a vehicle. One is a federal prairie where wild elk and bison roam around a paved loop for just $5 a car. The other is a small Amish-owned safari park near Mammoth Cave.
- Elk & Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes (Golden Pond)
- Dutch Country Safari Park (Horse Cave)
ELK & BISON PRAIRIE AT LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
Type: Self-guided drive through a fenced native prairie in a national recreation area run by the USDA Forest Service
Location: Elk & Bison Prairie Rd, Golden Pond, KY 42211 (just north of the Golden Pond Visitor Center, off the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway / KY-453, in western Kentucky between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley)
Phone: (270) 924-2000 (Land Between the Lakes)
Website: landbetweenthelakes.us – Elk & Bison Prairie · Friends of LBL
Social Media: No site-specific accounts
Size: A 700-acre fenced enclosure of native tallgrass prairie, inside the 171,280-acre Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Drive: A 3.5-mile paved loop with pull-offs and interpretive signs. You can drive the loop as many times as you want without leaving.
Drive Time: About 30 minutes to an hour
Animals: About 50 bison and 40 elk roam free, plus white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, snakes, birds, and other prairie wildlife. Bison often walk right beside or across the road.
Admission: $5 per vehicle, paid at the gated entrance by cash or card. No reservations are needed. Once you leave, re-entry requires another fee.
Hours: Open 365 days a year, sunrise to sunset. It’s subject to weather-related closures.
Best Time:
- The first and last 2 hours of daylight are best.
- In summer, go early morning or late afternoon, when the animals are most active.
- Fall is elk rut season, with bugling bulls.
Rules:
- Stay inside an enclosed vehicle the whole time.
- Pets must stay in the vehicle.
- Don’t feed or approach the animals.
Tips:
- It’s great for visitors with limited mobility.
- Pair it with the nearby Golden Pond Visitor Center & Planetarium or the Woodlands Nature Station.
DUTCH COUNTRY SAFARI PARK
Type: Small Amish-owned safari park with a drive-thru section, a guided wagon safari, a petting zoo, and a mini train
Location: 2125 L&N Turnpike Rd, Horse Cave, KY 42749 (Hart County, just miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, about 30 minutes from Bowling Green)
Phone: (270) 925-4417
Website: dutchcountrysafari.com
Social Media:
⚠️ Status: The park’s Facebook page said it was closed for the 2025 season, and we couldn’t confirm a 2026 reopening. Call before you go.
Drive: A ¾-mile safari trail
Animals: Camels, zebras, water buffalo, and other exotic hoofstock in the safari area. There are also baby goats and small animals in the encounter areas.
Admission (last published, 2025):
- Adults: $17.99
- Children (4–13): $10.99
- Ages 3 & under: Free
- Seniors (55+) and military: $15.99
- Season passes and group rates are available. Call for group pricing.
Hours (when open): Usually Monday – Saturday, about 9 or 10 AM – 5 PM. It’s closed Sundays and operates seasonally, roughly late March through October.
Experiences:
- Guided wagon/hayride safari where you feed the animals. Reviewers say it’s the highlight, at about 30 minutes.
- Drive-thru option for visitors with mobility issues
- Animal encounter and feeding areas, a petting zoo, and a mini train ride
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