{"id":1014,"date":"2017-03-09T08:28:48","date_gmt":"2017-03-09T14:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmowp.local\/articles\/missouri-caves\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T18:24:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T23:24:58","slug":"missouri-caves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitmo.com\/articles\/missouri-caves","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Caves: A Visitor’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Missouri is filled with natural beauty \u2013 lush forests, towering bluffs and sparkling streams \u2013 but there\u2019s even more spectacular scenery underground \u2013 in the state\u2019s caves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known as the \u201cCave State,\u201d Missouri is home to more than 7,500 recorded caves. About 20 of those are \u201cshow caves\u201d that offer regular guided tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout history, people have been drawn to caves for many reasons, from primitive shelter to mining operations to social gatherings. Take a cave tour to explore Missouri\u2019s vast subterranean world and its intriguing stories from the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Missouri Caves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a constant temperature of 50 to 60 degrees, caves are a great place to visit any time of the year, rain or shine. You\u2019ll want to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt and comfortable walking shoes. Fantastic Caverns is a ride-thru cave, so it is a good option for people with limited mobility and young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost for most cave tours in Missouri ranges from $10-$34, depending on the cave. (Marvel Cave tours are included the price of admission to the Silver Dollar City theme park.) You can purchase tickets for most tours on each cave\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caves Open Year-round<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ten Missouri caves are open for regular tours throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meramec Caverns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most visited caves in Missouri, Meramec Caverns<\/a> is located along historic Route 66 near Stanton. First explored in the 1720s, the cave has a long and varied history. Saltpeter (an essential ingredient in gunpowder) was mined in the cave during the Civil War. In the 1870s, Jesses James and his gang are believed to have used the cave as a hideout. Decades later, local residents hosted parties there to escape the summer heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cave\u2019s seven levels feature many impressive formations such as the 70-foot-tall Stage Curtain in the cave\u2019s Theatre Room. Meramec Caverns\u2019 grounds include picnic areas, a restaurant, a candy store and a sluice. Rent a canoe or raft for a trip down the Meramec River. Soar through the treetops on a zipline adventure and tour the Jesse James Wax Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meramec Caverns is one of the most visited caves in Missouri.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fantastic Caverns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Board a jeep-drawn tram for a trip through Fantastic Caverns<\/a>, America\u2019s only \u201cride-thru\u201d cave, located in Springfield. Travel along the path of an ancient underground river and see massive cave formations created thousands of years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fantastic Caverns was discovered in 1862 by an Ozark farmer and his dog (who climbed into a small opening in the hillside). Exploration didn\u2019t take place until five years later when a group of 12 women from the Springfield Women\u2019s Athletic Club answered a newspaper ad seeking explorers to venture into the cave and map its passageways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stark Caverns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located near Lake of the Ozarks<\/a>, Stark Caverns<\/a> takes you on a journey through the ages filled with geological formations, Native American artifacts and ancient bear beds. See formations such as Moonshiner\u2019s Dam, the Grand Canyon and one of the largest stromatolite fossils in North America. You might even spot a crayfish, a bat or the elusive cave salamander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cave also offers specialty tours, including a black light tour that highlights the cavern\u2019s fluorescent minerals. Test your problem-solving skills at Bootlegger\u2019s Bequest \u2013 the country\u2019s only escape room in a cave. Above ground, take in the view from the wrap-around porch at the visitor center, enjoy a picnic lunch, try your hand at sluice mining or crack open a geode.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Mark Twain Cave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Missouri\u2019s oldest show cave, Mark Twain Cave<\/a> was made famous by one of America’s most renowned authors. Located just south of historic downtown Hannibal, the cave is part of the storyline in five of Twain\u2019s novels including \u201cThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cave, one of just a few labyrinth-style caves in the world, features a series of connected passageways. It\u2019s Missouri\u2019s oldest show cave and is a National Natural Landmark. The cave complex also includes Cameron Cave (a seasonal cave), a campground and a winery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Missouri Caves You Can Visit Year-Round<\/h3>\n\n\n\n