Virginia is home to some of the best caves in the eastern United States, particularly in the Shenandoah Valley region in the western part of the state.
Caves are some of the great natural wonders on Earth. The underground rock formations inspire awe, beauty, wonder, and mystery, and allow us to peer millions of years into the past!
Many cave visits feature a tour guide who will lead visitors through the stone formations and provide additional information about how the caverns were formed.
Luray Caverns is definitely one of the most famous caves in Virginia, but there are many other great caves to visit.
Many of the best caves in Virginia are within a short drive of Luray, VA, so you can stay in Luray, and then easily visit many of the nearby caves, including Shenandoah Caverns and Endless Caverns!
Below are my top recommendations for the best caves in Virginia.
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Top photo by Julia_S from Pixabay.
7 Best Caves in Virginia
Map of the Best Caves in Virginia
7 Best Caves in Virginia
1. Luray Caverns
| Where to Stay: Best Budget Hotel Pick: Luray Cavern Motels * * * Best Mid-Range Hotel Pick: The Mimslyn Inn * * * Best Luxury Hotel Pick: Hotel Laurance |
Location
101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA 22835
Tickets
You can purchase tickets online.
Description
Luray Caverns are definitely some of the most popular caverns in Virginia, and for good reason! The impressive caverns are easily accessible, with lighted, paved walkways throughout.
The caverns feature immense underground structures that are 10 stories high in some locations! They’re a gorgeous natural beauty to behold.
Some of the striking formations in the caverns include Titania’s Veil, which features stunning white stalactites. Dream Lake is the largest underground body of water in the caverns and acts as a mirror of the stalactites up above.
Other noteworthy forms include Saracen’s Tent and Giant’s Hall, which features the tallest form in the caverns: Double Column (47 feet in length!)
Another highlight of the caverns is The Great Stalacpipe Organ, which has the distinction of being the world’s largest musical instrument!
You definitely won’t want to miss a visit to the immensely photogenic caverns!
The Luray Caverns ticket also includes admission to the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, which features vintage cars and carriages; Toy Town Junction Museum; and the Shenandoah Heritage Village.
| Learn all about my favorite things to do in Luray, VA! Including Shenandoah National Park, The Garden Maze, Rope Adventure Park, and much more! |
2. Shenandoah Caverns
| Where to Stay: River Bluff Farm Bed and Breakfast (Click to Book) |
Location
261 Caverns Rd, Quicksburg, VA 22847
Tickets
You can purchase tickets online.
Description
Shenandoah Caverns are located about 20 miles west of Luray, which makes them a great destination when you are visiting the town!
As an added bonus, Shenandoah Caverns are also the only caverns in Virginia with elevator service, which makes them very accessible to everyone!
Shenandoah Caverns are located 200 feet below ground level. They offer guided tours of the caverns where you can explore and learn more about the history and geography of the caves. The guided tours will take you through 17 cavern rooms.
Along the way, you’ll get to see famous formations like “Breakfast Bacon”, Capitol Dome, Rainbow Lake, Beyond the Veil, and Diamond Cascade.
There are even more attractions at Shenandoah Caverns, which makes it a great destination for the whole family. The caverns also feature a children’s playground, Caverns Cafe, Main Street of Yesteryear, and the Gemstone Mining Sluice.
3. Endless Caverns
| Where to Stay: River Bluff Farm Bed and Breakfast (Click to Book) |
Location
1800 Endless Caverns Rd, New Market, VA 22844
Tickets
You can find more information about booking a tour online.
Description
Endless Caverns are located in New Market, VA, about 20 miles southwest of Luray.
The Caverns are located in the Massanutten Mountain range. They were discovered back in 1879 and are about 6 miles in length.
Guided tours of the caverns are held throughout the day. You can learn about booking a guided tour online.
The Caverns are actually part of a larger campground where you can go camping in the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains!
| Learn all about my favorite family tents and stargazing tents! |
There are a number of great amenities at the campground, which makes it a great outdoor vacation destination! There is a zero-entry swimming pool, play
4. Skyline Caverns
| Where to Stay: TownPlace Suites by Marriott Front Royal (Click to Book) |
Location
10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, Front Royal, VA 22630
Tickets
You can purchase tickets online.
Description
Skyline Caverns is one of the best caverns to visit in Virginia. The caverns are located in Front Royal, VA, which is about 22 miles north of Luray.
The main attraction at Skyline Caverns is the unique Anthodite formations. It is one of the only caverns in the world to feature these formations, which are special crystal formations that form in all directions. The Chandelier Anthodite formation is the longest in the world at 18 inches!
Skyline Caverns have one-hour guided tours through the stunning cave formations. Some of the highlights at Skyline include The Capital Dome, Rainbow Trails, Painted Desert, Wishing Well, Grotto of Nativity, Cathedral Hall, Shrine, Fairyland Lake, and Anthodite Clusters. There is even a 37-foot Rainbow Waterfall!
Along with the caverns, you can also visit the nearby Skyline Arrow Miniature Train and the Enchanted Dragon Mirror Maze.
5. Grand Caverns
| Where to Stay: Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Staunton (Click to Book) |
Location
5 Grand Cavern Rd, Grottoes, VA 24441
Tickets
Reservations are required for a tour. You can purchase tickets online.
Description
Grand Caverns are located further south in the Shenandoah Valley. They are located about 15 miles south of Harrisonburg, and about 42 miles south of Luray.
Grand Caverns were discovered way back in 1804, which makes them America’s oldest show cave.
One of the special features of Grand Caverns is that they offer a wide variety of different tours depending on your interests.
You can book a 70-minute guided Walking Tour of the caverns, a History Tour, or a Geology Specialty Tour. For the more adventurous, you can even book a more intense Gauntlet Adventure Tour, Grottoes Crawl, or Rock Bottom Adventure Tour.
You can learn more about all of these tours and book your tour online.
If you’re interested in even more fun and adventure, you can check out the park at Grand Caverns, which has a seasonal outdoor pool (open in the summer), a miniature golf course (open year-round), a playground, fishing, and fitness trails.
6. Caverns at Natural Bridge
| Where to Stay: Natural Bridge Hotel (Click to Book) |
Location
6313 S Lee Hwy, Natural Bridge, VA 24578
Tickets
You can purchase tickets online.
Description
The Caverns at Natural Bridge have the added bonus of being located at one of the most incredible natural sites in Virginia: Natural Bridge!
The Natural Bridge Caverns are 34 stories deep and are considered some of the best caverns on the east coast. Guided tours of the caverns last about 45 minutes.
Please note that the caverns have different hours throughout the year. They are open every day from March to November, and only on Weekends from December to February.
While you are in the area, you will definitely want to visit Natural Bridge State Park to see Natural Bridge. The limestone bridge is 215 feet tall! The park also has 7 miles of hiking trails for you to explore the area.
For the perfect family vacation, you can book a special Natural Bridge Two-Night Adventure Package, which includes a two-night hotel stay, free breakfast, plus four tickets to all of the top attractions in the area: Caverns at Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge State Park, Natural Bridge Zoo, and Dinosaur Kingdom II.
7. Dixie Caverns
| Where to Stay: Hampton Inn Salem (Click to Book) |
Location
5753 W Main St, Salem, VA 24153
Tickets
You can purchase tickets online.
Description
Dixie Caverns are located in Salem, VA, which is just outside of Roanoke, VA in southwestern Virginia.
The caverns offer hourly guided tours. You can also stop by the rock and mineral shop to find items from all over the world.
Along with exploring the underground caves, you can also camp at the nearby campground.
And another local attraction is the antique mall, where you can find antique furniture, books, clothing, comic books, and much more.
FAQs
What is the biggest caverns in Virginia?
Luray Caverns are the biggest caverns in Virginia.
Which is better Grand Caverns or Luray Caverns?
Both Grand Caverns and Luray Caverns are great and unique destinations. Luray Caverns is much bigger and includes other attractions nearby. Grand Caverns can feel more intimate because of their small size.
Are Luray Caverns worth it?
Luray Caverns are definitely worth visiting. They are the largest caverns in Virginia and the largest in the eastern United States. The caverns feature many beautiful and unique formations like Titania’s Veil and The Great Stalacpipe Organ.
Conclusion: 7 Best Caves in Virginia
Caves are an awe-inspiring natural wonder that will take your breath away. As you can see, there are many extraordinary caves in Virginia that are definitely worth exploring.
Learn about more great things to do in the Shenandoah Valley!
The Best Things to Do Near Luray, VA
Best Tubing Near Luray, VA
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