Caves in Missouri at a glance
Missouri is built on limestone and dolomite, rock that water slowly dissolves. Slightly acidic water widens the cracks, and mineral-rich drip water builds the formations you see on a tour. That is why the Ozarks and the hills west of St. Louis hold so many caves. About 20 of them run regular tours.
This guide covers the show caves and cave parks: Meramec Caverns on Route 66, Fantastic Caverns near Springfield, Marvel Cave inside Silver Dollar City, Lost Canyon Cave at Top of the Rock, Onondaga Cave State Park, Bridal Cave and the Lake of the Ozarks, Ha Ha Tonka and Mark Twain Cave. Prices are in US dollars for 2026, and they change. Every cave sets its own season, so check the current timetable before you go.
Our picks: caves and trips in Missouri
Lost Canyon Cave is the one cave here you drive through yourself, and Crystal Cave near Springfield has a cave package with gemstone mining for families. The Jeep tour and zipline in Branson are for a day above ground; neither is a cave tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Great Woodsman canopy zipline in Branson
- Local guide
- Two-hour canopy tour
A guided zipline tour through the treetops in Branson. It is an outdoor activity, not a cave.
Check availability →
Table Rock Lake and Baird Mountain Jeep tour
- Guided 4x4 drive
- Table Rock Lake and dam views
- Photo stop at the Branson Belle
Two hours in a Jeep on Baird Mountain. It is a scenery tour with no cave stop.
Check availability →
Crystal Cave Bronze Adventure
- Crystal Cave access
- Dino Trail access
- Gemstone mining and mini golf
The Bronze package adds a bag of gemstone mix and a round of putt-putt to the cave visit near Springfield. Plan on about three hours.
Check availability →
Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail by electric cart
- Electric cart rental
- Museum admission
You drive the route through the cave and along the nature trail yourself in an electric cart, so there is no live guide.
Check availability →Missouri cave tours and day trips
Guided cave tours, Branson tickets and day trips from St. Louis and Springfield, with live prices and availability.
Show caves and cave parks
One page for each cave, with prices, tour length, stairs and seasons.
Meramec Caverns
An 80-minute walking tour near Stanton, about 60 miles west of St. Louis.
Fantastic Caverns
A seated ride-through tour in Jeep-drawn carts, with wheelchair access.
Marvel Cave
The cave tour is part of the Silver Dollar City ticket. Expect many stairs.
Lost Canyon Cave
A cart tour on a 2.5-mile loop at Top of the Rock.
Onondaga Cave State Park
A lit path of almost a mile, plus lantern tours of Cathedral Cave in summer.
Bridal Cave
Daily tours, lantern tours on summer Saturdays and weddings in the chapel.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Castle ruins, a big spring and trails. The caves are closed to visitors.
Mark Twain Cave
A one-hour tour with no stairs, plus the flashlight tour of Cameron Cave.
Smallin Civil War Cave
A paved, step-free tour that welcomes wheelchairs and strollers.
Regions and planning pages
Pick a base, choose the season and compare the tour types.
Caves near Branson
Marvel Cave, Lost Canyon Cave and Talking Rocks sit in three different places.
Lake of the Ozarks caves
Stark Caverns, Ozark Caverns and Bridal Cave, plus what is closed.
Caves near St. Louis
Meramec Caverns and Onondaga Cave State Park, plus Route 66 stops.
Missouri cave tours
Walking, ride-through, lantern and wild tours compared.
Missouri, the Cave State
How many caves there are, how they formed and how bats are protected.
Weather and best time to visit
Monthly climate averages and which caves are open when.
Where to stay
Branson, Branson West, Springfield, the lake or Hannibal: which base fits.
Show caves compared
Adult prices and seasons for 2026.
| Cave | Tour | Adult price | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meramec Caverns | 80 minutes, walking | $30.50 | Closed 5 January to 27 February; call in November and December |
| Fantastic Caverns | About 55 minutes, ride-through | $36 | Daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas |
| Marvel Cave | About 60 minutes, stairs | Included in the Silver Dollar City ticket | Park season 13 March 2026 to 2 January 2027 |
| Onondaga Cave | About 75 minutes, lit path | $23 | Daily, 1 April to 31 October 2026 |
| Bridal Cave | Walking tour | $30 | Daily; closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas |
| Mark Twain Cave | About 1 hour, no stairs | $29.99 | Offered year-round; ask for current tour times |
| Talking Rocks Cavern | 50 to 60 minutes, 150 steps down | $33.95 | All year except Thanksgiving and Christmas |
| Smallin Civil War Cave | 1 hour, step-free | $34.95 | Closed Thursdays outside summer; Sundays from 1 p.m. |
For most first trips, base yourself where you can fit two caves into one day. From Branson, that means Marvel Cave with your Silver Dollar City ticket plus Talking Rocks in Branson West. From St. Louis, start with Meramec Caverns, about 60 miles west. Details are on the cave tours page.
A few things to know before you go
Seasons, closures and rules that shape a cave trip.
Cave counts depend on who counts
Missouri has about 7,500 to 8,000 known caves as of March 2026, depending on who counts. Known, mapped and open to visitors are three different numbers. About 20 are show caves.
Cave State facts →Ha Ha Tonka is a park, not a show cave
Entry to the park is free. The caves are closed, with one exception: Island Cave opens from 15 June to 15 September with a permit from the park office, so call ahead.
Ha Ha Tonka →Marvel Cave comes with the park ticket
The standard cave tour is part of Silver Dollar City admission. There is no separate cave-only ticket. Online tickets for selected days start at $79, and a flexible day ticket costs $95.
Marvel Cave →State park caves keep their own seasons
Onondaga runs daily from 1 April to 31 October 2026. Cathedral Cave tours run on summer weekends. Ozark Caverns has regular tours from mid-May to mid-September, and Fisher Cave is closed from 14 September 2026 to 14 May 2027.
Seasons and weather →Closed for now: Jacob's Cave and the Meramec zipline
Jacob's Cave is closed for renovation and offers private tours with at least 48 hours' notice. The Meramec Caverns zipline is closed for the 2026 season. The river boat runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather and river permitting.
Lake of the Ozarks caves →Protect the bats
At the four state show caves, do not bring clothing, shoes or gear that has been in another cave. Many wild caves in state parks are closed to protect hibernating bats.
Bats and white-nose syndrome →Missouri caves: frequently asked questions
How many show caves does Missouri have?
About 20 caves run regular tours, though not all of them are open at the same time. The total number of known caves is far larger: about 7,500 to 8,000 as of March 2026. See the Cave State page.
Which Missouri caves are open all year?
It differs by cave. Fantastic Caverns runs daily tours except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Talking Rocks runs all year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Meramec Caverns closes in January and February, and several state park caves are seasonal. Check the season guide and the cave's own timetable.
Which cave tours work with a stroller or wheelchair?
The standard tour at Smallin Civil War Cave is built for wheelchairs, scooters and strollers. Fantastic Caverns is a seated ride with wheelchair access, though you should check your own chair size in advance. Meramec Caverns, Talking Rocks and Mark Twain Cave are not wheelchair accessible. The cave tours page compares them.
How cold is it inside a Missouri cave?
Each cave has its own steady temperature. Mark Twain Cave is at 52°F (11°C), Onondaga at about 57°F (13 to 14°C) and Bridal Cave at 60°F (16°C). Dress for the cave, not for the weather outside.
Where should I stay for a Missouri cave trip?
Choose a base near the caves you want. Branson and Branson West suit Marvel Cave, Lost Canyon Cave and Talking Rocks. Springfield suits Fantastic Caverns, and Camdenton suits Bridal Cave and Ha Ha Tonka. See where to stay.
Is missouricaves.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Visit Missouri or any cave, and it has no connection to tour operators or hotels.