Complete Tennessee Caves Guide

Tennessee has the most caves of any state in the USA.

The caves are rich in US history. Indians, Civil War soldiers, and animals have all used them as shelter. Caves acted as strategic outposts during the war due to the rich mineral deposits. Armies dug caves to make gunpowder.

You'll find that children of all ages are welcome in most cases. Just keep in mind that strollers and wheelchairs won't be permitted due to the tight spots and slippery surfaces. Please check each listing below for details.



Tennessee Cumberland Caverns

The Cumberland Caverns are located in McMinnville, Tennessee, approximately 1.5 hours drive from Nashville. They are open year-round from 9 am – 5 pm.

The caves offer about 27 miles of underground passageways, rock formations, waterfalls, and pools. Parking is easy, and you can bring your kids. The tours are really informative, and you'll be stunned by the expanse. This is truly a family-friendly experience.

These caverns are famous for the underground live music. Stop by and see a Tennessee Caves concert!

They offer three types of tours: an easy 1.5-hour walk that leaves hourly, a moderate 2.5-3-hour walk that requires an age requirement of 6+, and a hard, 4-hour walk. You need to be 16+, and there is only one scheduled each day.

The Cumberland Caverns are kid/family-friendly, and tours are available.

Learn more about Cumberland Caverns here.

The Lost Sea

Deep in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains, you'll find The Lost Sea. This is one of the most popular Tennessee caves and caverns. The caves are located in Sweetwater, Tennessee, about 3.5 hours drive from Nashville and about 50 miles south of Knoxville. This cave has the largest underground lake in America and attracts about 2000 visitors a day. The Lost Sea is also known as Craighead Caverns.

When you arrive, you will walk down a long, winding tunnel through a beautiful underground cavern. You'll then arrive at the lake that they call The Lost Sea.

The Lost Sea is open year-round and is family-friendly. Bring your kids and grandparents.

The water is at least 70ft deep and covers 4.5 acres. It remains at a temperature of 56 degrees. During a tour, you will have the opportunity to take a boat ride on the lake, where you'll get a chance to feel the water. The lake itself sits 140 feet below the ground.

In the Lost Sea, you'll find Rainbow Trout. There are about 300 fish in the Lost Sea and because of the lack of sunlight they lose a portion of their eyesight and their color.

This place is great for the whole family. I'm definitely putting it on my must-visit list.

Learn more about the Lost Sea here.

Bell Witch Cave

The Bell Witch site is a historic site in Adams, Tennessee, about a 40-minute drive from Nashville. It's nestled in the beautiful Tennessee hills and farmland. You'll really like the drive and peacefulness of the area.

The story of the Bell Witch is creepy. it's the story of John Bell's youngest daughter, who was tortured by the witch for several years. She was believed to be the spirit of Kate Batts, an unfriendly neighbor of John Bell.

The Bell Witch Cave tour is about 40 minutes long. The guided tour takes you through the cave that was owned by John Bell.

The season runs from May through October each year. Since the site is privately owned and can be closed for unforeseen circumstances (like flooding), I suggest you check out their website for details before you leave.

Learn more about the Bell Witch Cave here.

Appalachian Caverns

The Appalachian Caverns are located in Blountville, 5 hours drive from Nashville, TN.

This cavern has been used by humans for many thousands of years, including native Indians and soldiers during the Civil War. A crazy fact is that bat droppings were used to make gun powder.

This is a family-friendly place. They allow family members of all ages; you can even bring your dog. The tour guides are well trained. The tours last about 45-60 mins, and the pathways are concrete and gravel.

During your stay you'll see some incredible formations including stalagmites, stalactite's, cave ribbons, columns, dragon eyes.

Learn more about the Appalachian Caverns here.

Bristol Caverns

Bristol Caverns is about 5.5 hour drive from Nashville and is open seven days a week.

Although the outside looks quaint and uninviting, the caverns themselves are expansive. The formations are impressive. You'll be taken to three levels of caverns, all the way down to the underground river, 180 feet below.

This caves, although impressive, are not as impressive or family friendly as the other caves in Tennessee. I would definitely like to visit but will try out the others first.

Learn more about Briston Caverns here.

Tuckaleechee Caverns

Tuckaleechee Caverns (also known as the Blue Spring Cave) are estimated to be 20-30 million years old. They are located in Townsend, about a four-hour drive from Nashville. They are operated year-round, seven days a week, and are visited about 50,000 times a year.

One of the caverns, “The Big Room,” is so big you could almost fit a football stadium inside it. On the other side, you'll find Silver Falls, which is about 210 feet from top to bottom. In the 1 1/4-mile round-trip tour, you'll also find the tallest subterranean waterfall in the eastern United States and millions of incredible formations.

At the beginning and end of the tour, you'll find 87 stairs. Fortunately, the tour goes slowly, so take your time. There are no tight squeezes or claustrophobic moments, although tall people will have to watch their heads in some spots.

The “Big Room” is a highlight of the tour. It's huge and has stalagmites up to 24 feet high. The grand finale is the waterfall, which falls 210 feet from the surface.

Learn more about the Tuckaleechee Caverns here.

Ruby Falls

Ruby Falls Cave is a very well-run, major tourist attraction in Chattanooga, about a 2.5-hour drive from Nashville.

Chattanooga itself is a beautiful city, but at Ruby Falls, you can go deep inside Lookout Mountain to see the tallest and deepest underground waterfall that is open to the public in the USA.

After buying tickets, you'll ride an elevator down 260 feet into the caves, where your tour guide will be waiting. The walking tour is amazing. On a paved footpath, all you'll do is look up and around at the formations you see.

Ruby Falls (the waterfall) is named after Leo Lambert's wife, Ruby. The falls are about 90 feet tall. Many people ask, where does the water come from, and where does it lead out to? Most of the water comes from rain. If it rains hard enough, the waterfall can grow 2-3 times as big. The water also comes from mountain runoff, small streams, and ponds. The water leads underground into the Tennessee River.

There are also a bunch of other cool things to do at Ruby Falls, like the zip line and lookout over Chattanooga.

Children of all ages are welcome. It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. You would need to carry an infant if they couldn't walk.

Learn more about Ruby Falls here.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns

Raccoon Mountain Caverns are located in Chattanooga, about 2.5 hours from Nashville.

The site allows RVs, camping, and panning. You can also stay in cabins, ranging from primitive to premium.

The caverns have 5.5 miles of underground passageways to explore. They are open 7 days a week with regular tours, but you must make a reservation. They offer a unique “Wild Cave Expedition Tour” where you can go crawling through small holes to explore other parts of the caves.

Important note: Children under 3 years of age cannot go on a tour, and the cave is not wheelchair—or stroller-accessible.

Learn more about Racoon Mountain Caverns here.

Forbidden Caverns

Forbidden Caverns is located in Sevierville, next to the Great Smokey Mountains, 4.5 hours from Nashville.

Parking is easy, with a large lot. They are open 10-5, but they are closed on Thursdays and Sundays. Children of all ages are welcome, but strollers and wheelchairs won't fit through.

Visitors are provided with an entertaining and educational tour past sparkling formations, towering natural chimneys, numerous grottos, and a crystal clear stream. Special lighting effects and well-trained tour guides combine to make this a most enjoyable experience.

Learn more about the Forbidden Caverns here.

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park

Cumberland Gap Cave is in the tri-state area of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. It is about 4.5 hours from Nashville. It used to be called Cudjo's Cave.

At first the caves were called the “Big Saltpeter Cave” due to the usefulness it had for making gun powder. The gap in the mountains played an important role in the Civil War as thousands of troops marched through here.

If you're interested, there's a really interesting video about the cave here.

The cave, so far, is known to cover 18.5 miles.

The tour is 1.5 miles long and includes 3 cave levels and 183 stairs.

Tours are open to ages 5 and up only. They are not accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

Learn more about Cumberland Gap cave here.

Dunbar Cave

The Dunbar Cave State Park is located in Clarksville, about 2 hours drive from Nashville. At the entrance of the cave, decades ago, roaring parties were held to take advantage of the cool air coming out of the cave.

Roy Acuff, a big name in country music, purchased the cave in 1948. He would hold dances and Grand Ole Opry style shows at the cave.

Dunbar cave tours are offered seasonally and require a reservation, which can be made on their website.

Children 4 and under are not allowed.

Learn more about Dunbar Cave State Park here.

Worley's Cave

Worley's Cave is located about 5.5 hours from Nashville in Bluff City. This cave appears to be more the adventurer type. It's touted as one of the best spelunking spots with over 4000 feet of caverns and tunnels.

It's a wild cave that is open to the public. It costs $8 that includes parking, entrance to the cave, access to a picnic area, camping and a dirty clothes area.

This is not the most family-friendly place. Kids, strollers, and wheelchairs can't access it as it requires a hike to the entrance.

Learn more about Worley's Cave here.

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