Big Bone Lick State Historic Site is a 512-acre state-managed park and paleontological site located at 3380 Beaver Road, Union, in Boone County, northern Kentucky. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
Guide last updated: May 2026. Many older guides and listing sites describe a swimming pool as an active amenity at the campground. The pool is currently closed indefinitely, according to the Kentucky State Parks reservation system. Visitors planning to combine camping with swimming should note this before booking.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3380 Beaver Road, Union, KY 41091 |
| Park grounds hours | Daily, dawn to dusk, year-round |
| Museum and visitor centre (in season) | 16 March – 12 November: daily, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Museum and visitor centre (off season) | 13 November – 15 March: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Admission | Free (park, museum, and visitor centre) |
| Parking | Free |
| Nearest public transport | None – car required |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site opening hours
The park grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk throughout the year. The museum and visitor centre keep different hours from the grounds and vary by season.
| Period | Museum and visitor centre hours |
|---|---|
| 16 March – 12 November (in season) | Daily, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 13 November – 15 March (off season) | Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
The gift shop is closed in February and March. The bison herd is viewable year-round from the Bison Trace section of the Discovery Trail, regardless of whether the museum is open.
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site admission prices
Admission to the park, museum, and visitor centre is free for all visitors throughout the year. There is no general admission charge at any Kentucky State Park, including Big Bone Lick.
There are no entrance fees, timed-entry slots, or booking requirements for day visitors.
Admission status was confirmed on the Kentucky State Parks official website and via the NPS listing, and last verified in May 2026.
Paid activities on site include: miniature golf (18-hole course) and campsite bookings (from approximately $38 per night for a water and electric site, bookable online through the Kentucky State Parks reservation system). Military visitors receive a discount on camping fees.
How to get to Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
The site is located in Boone County, approximately 20 miles south-west of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 30 miles south of downtown Cincinnati. There is no public transport to the park. Visitors must travel by car, and can stop by as part of a Louisville to Cincinnati road trip.
From Cincinnati and I-75/I-71 southbound: take the Richmond/KY-338 exit and follow KY-338 west for approximately seven miles. Signed directions from the highway guide drivers to the park. Note that GPS may occasionally direct vehicles to Boone’s Landing on Boat Dock Road, which is not part of the park; follow signs for KY-338 to avoid this.
The site is in the Eastern time zone.
Parking at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Parking is free throughout the site. A main car park is located adjacent to the museum and visitor centre. Additional parking is available near the lake and picnic areas. The main museum car park is paved and suitable for standard vehicles and most RVs.
How long to spend at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Most day visitors spend two to three hours at the site, which is sufficient to visit the museum, walk the Discovery Trail to the salt springs, and view the bison herd from the Bison Trace. Visitors who also hike additional trails, attempt an orienteering course, or bring a picnic should allow three to four hours.
Accessibility at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
The Discovery Trail is paved and accessible to wheelchair users and pushchair users, and includes interpretive panels throughout. The trail leads to the outdoor bog diorama, the salt springs, and the bison viewing area. Benches are provided at regular intervals along the trail and near the bison pasture overlook.
Accessible restrooms are available at the visitor centre and in the campground service building. An adult-accessible changing station and family restroom facilities are also on site. Wheelchairs are not available to rent at the park; visitors requiring a mobility aid should bring their own. For specific accessibility queries, contact the park directly on (859) 384-3522.
Inside Big Bone Lick State Historic Site: what to see
The museum and visitor centre contains displays of fossilised bones from Ice Age megafauna excavated at the site, including the American mastodon, the Columbian mammoth, and the giant ground sloth. Exhibits cover local geology, the Ordovician fossil record of northern Kentucky, and the history of Native American use of the salt springs. The museum has been developed in partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center. A gift shop selling Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs adjoins the museum (closed February–March).
The outdoor bog diorama and Discovery Trail begin directly behind the museum. The diorama is a life-size reconstruction depicting mammoths, a mastodon, a giant ground sloth, and other Ice Age animals in and around a swamp, shown at the point of being trapped by the marshy ground. A boardwalk rises above the diorama floor to give visitors a close view. Interpretive panels along the 1-mile paved section of the trail describe the prehistoric ecology, Native American history, and the significance of the site to early American science.
The salt-sulphur spring is visible along the Discovery Trail. It is the same type of mineral spring that attracted megafauna to the site thousands of years ago and that gives the park its name. A “lick” refers to a natural salt deposit; animals licked the mineral-rich earth around such springs.
The bison herd is viewable year-round from the Bison Trace section of the trail, a short walk beyond the Discovery Trail. The herd represents a conservation effort to reintroduce American bison to Kentucky, where the last wild bison was recorded around 1800.
Additional activities include 4.5 miles of hiking trails across five routes ranging from easy to moderate, two orienteering courses (beginner: 2.7 km; intermediate: 4.5 km), an 18-hole miniature golf course, tennis courts, fishing in the park lake, and nearly 40 acres of picnic grounds with two reservable shelters. A campground with 62 utility-hookup sites is open from mid-March to mid-November. Note: the campground swimming pool is closed indefinitely as of 2026.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Arrive close to the museum’s opening time if you want to view exhibits without competition for space; the museum is small and can feel crowded when school or scout groups are present on weekday mornings. |
| The bison herd may shelter in wooded areas during hot or cold weather; early morning and late afternoon visits offer the best chance of seeing the animals in the open field. |
| The Discovery Trail is the clearest route through the site; self-guided tour leaflets are available inside the museum and include a map of all trails. Pick one up before heading outdoors. |
| Wear sturdy shoes even on the Discovery Trail; sections beyond the paved boardwalk and along connecting trails involve uneven, sometimes muddy terrain, particularly after rain. |
| The site has no on-site café; a camp supply store is open April–October for campers. Day visitors should bring food and water, or plan a stop in Union or along KY-338. |
Frequently asked questions about Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Big Bone Lick State Historic Site suitable for children? | Yes. The outdoor diorama, bison herd, and interpretive trail are well suited to children. The museum contains tactile exhibits. The miniature golf course and playground add further child-friendly options. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Big Bone Lick State Historic Site? | No. Admission is free and no advance booking is required for day visits. Campsites must be booked separately through the Kentucky State Parks reservation system. |
| Is Big Bone Lick State Historic Site open on Sundays? | Yes. Park grounds are open every day. The museum and visitor centre are open on Sundays during the in-season period (16 March – 12 November), but are closed on Sundays during the off-season (13 November – 15 March). |
| Are dogs allowed at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site? | Yes. Pets are permitted in the park and campground but must be kept on a lead and be current on rabies vaccination. |
| Is there a swimming pool at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site? | The campground pool is closed indefinitely as of 2026. This affects both campers and day visitors. Confirm current status with the park by calling (859) 384-3522 before visiting. |
Things to do near Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Boone County Arboretum – A free public arboretum approximately five miles from the park at 9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union. It contains labelled tree and shrub collections across a landscaped site, suitable for a short walk.
Rabbit Hash General Store – A historic general store on the Ohio River in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, approximately ten miles from the park. The building dates to 1831 and sits in a small riverside community listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Newport Aquarium – Located approximately 25 miles north-east in Newport, Kentucky, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The aquarium houses sharks, penguins, stingrays, and a walk-through shark tunnel.
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal – Approximately 25 miles north-east in Cincinnati, Ohio. The art deco Union Terminal building houses a natural history museum, children’s museum, and history museum under one roof. Particularly relevant for visitors who want to extend the palaeontological theme of a Big Bone Lick visit.
Creation Museum – Located approximately 30 miles north in Petersburg, Kentucky. A privately operated natural history museum presenting a biblical interpretation of Earth’s origins; it includes botanical gardens, a planetarium, and live animal exhibits.
What to visit tomorrow: similar historic and natural sites within two hours
Mammoth Cave National Park – Approximately 110 miles south of Big Bone Lick in Edmonson County, Kentucky (around two hours by road). Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; guided tours of the cave passages are the primary visitor activity.
Falls of the Ohio State Park – Located approximately 100 miles west in Clarksville, Indiana, on the Ohio River (around 1 hour 30 minutes). The park protects a 390-million-year-old Devonian fossil bed – one of the largest exposed in the world – visible at low water. An interpretive centre explains the site’s geological significance.
Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park – Approximately 90 miles south-east in Robertson County, Kentucky (around 1 hour 45 minutes). The park preserves the site of the last battle of the American Revolutionary War on Kentucky soil and contains a natural history museum and working salt springs similar in character to those at Big Bone Lick.
Daniel Boone National Forest – A large national forest in eastern Kentucky, accessible from multiple entry points within approximately two hours of Big Bone Lick. The Red River Gorge Geological Area within the forest features sandstone arches, cliffs, and rock shelters, and offers hiking from easy walks to challenging multi-day routes.
More Kentucky travel
Other Kentucky travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville.
- The information you need to visit the Frazier Kentucky History Museum in Louisville.
- What to expect at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Tour in Louisville.
- Exploring the Camp Nelson National Monument near Lexington, Kentucky.
- Getting to Lexington: The best stops on the Louisville to Lexington drive.
