There are plenty of unique experiences to have outdoors but caves and caverns are a special category. Going underground feels like visiting another planet at times. Unique colors and geological formations beneath the earth are something to marvel at. If you haven't been to a major cave or cavern system, add it to your RV bucket list.
There are several exceptional cave-based parks and destinations that align perfectly with RV road trips across the country. In fact, some of the world's most extensive cave systems are located in the heart of the United States! Buckle up and hit the road on a cave-exploring adventure.
What to Expect When Going Underground
Every cave trip should be prefaced with a few warnings. While most cave and cavern systems that have tours are very safe, some individuals are not suited to life underground. If you suffer from claustrophobia and struggle with small spaces, some trips should be avoided.
I personally am very claustrophobic and I avoid small spaces, especially when they are crammed with other people. I have done a number of cavern and cave trips however and enjoyed them without issue. The ones with large underground spaces were very comfortable and well worth visiting.
Understand that caves are often damp, wet and just different. Guided tours are excellent because they know the routes and have safety protocols. They can also teach you a ton about the caves throughout the tour sessions.
Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana
Located near Three Forks in Southwest Montana, this park is operated by the state. They have great RV sites with hookups and a dump station. The general location also has a ton of other recreational options. It's full of rivers for fishing and rafting or trails for hiking and biking. The park itself also offers some unique events like candlelight cave tours.
The caverns are formed in limestone and the sheer size is impressive. Visitors can take guided tours, attend interpretive displays and watch the schedule for special events and unique experiences. RVers exploring the great state of Montana should consider adding this to the long list of must-see places.
Lehman Caves, Nevada
The cave system is located within Great Basin National Park. It's the longest in Nevada and they offer tours all summer. I took this tour as a kid and remember it well. The Lodge Room and Grand Palace are both open for tours and you can reserve spots in advance. The Lodge Room is an hour-long tour and it also runs year-round.
Great Basin National Park is also a great RV destination in general. The park has amazing trails and scenery. They also have six different campgrounds and some nice RV sites for visitors. The maximum length for RVs runs around 40 feet at the campgrounds. If you have a larger rig, the town of Ely has several private campground options with full hookups.
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
In the world of caves, this one trumps all others when it comes to length. It's the longest known cave system in the entire world. As such, the cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's also operated by the National Park Service. Located in southern Kentucky, it's one place every cave enthusiast must visit.
The park not only hosts the extensive cave system, it's also surrounded by forests with trails, lakes and a ton of recreation. Bring the horses, mountain bikes, hiking shoes and the canoe because you're going to be busy recreating between trips below the ground.
Cave tours are available and the ranger-led programs are the best way to learn about the caves as you navigate through them. They do have self-guided tours but the guided options lead into many cave segments only accessible while on a guided tour.
You must plan ahead and research the different options as they book quickly. September through November are prime tour months and you will need to make reservations months in advance. The Violet City Lantern tour is a favorite way to experience Mammoth Cave in the park.
For the adventurous cavers who don't mind crawling through narrow passages, the Wild Cave Tour is a full-day exploration. It reaches areas where the other tours don't go and you can experience caving on a more advanced level.
Onondaga Cave State Park, Missouri
Like Kentucky, Missouri has the right geological features to create extensive cave systems. Located in the Meramec River corridor, the state-operated park has exciting caves and plenty of recreation on the surface. When you aren’t in the cave system, go hiking or fishing in the river. You can also kayak and canoe in the river.
For the cave system, take a guided tour from the park rangers. It’s less than a mile of walking for the full tour. They also do lantern tours of the Cathedral Cave. These go a little farther and longer. They also have smaller group sizes. If you want a more intimate and unique experience, book the lantern trip. Of course, you can stay a few days and do both tours.
RVers love this park because it offers year-round camping. RV sites with electricity and water are available although water is a seasonal thing. It gets shut off in November and turned back on April 1. You can reserve sites and stay a while because it’s a hard park to leave. The river access and cave tours make it perfect for a long weekend or even a few weeks.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
The impressive caverns are accessible to everyone with trail and elevator entrance options. There are more than 100 total caves but visitors will focus on the primary Carlsbad Cavern which is a big room full of interesting features like big stalactites. The Big Room is a self-guided tour with a basic entrance fee. It actually has a timed entry ticket system that you can reserve in advance.
Ranger-led tours are often available into deeper segments of the caves. The King’s Palace tour takes you into places like the big Queen’s Chamber. There are a variety of tour options running throughout the year and most have small group sizes.
Visitors here should also consider attending Night Sky Programs. The desert air has no light pollution and exceptional visibility for stargazing. They also have hiking trails that are perfect for the fall, winter and spring when temperatures are moderate.
RVers will need to find parking outside of the park. There are no campgrounds or overnight parking spaces available. The town of Carlsbad is a short drive and there are numerous private RV parks. It’s a good region to explore for a while from a comfortable base camp at a private park.
Are You Ready to Go Caving?
While there are actual cave explorers who crawl through small passages and enter the deepest parts of cave systems, most of us will focus on the established routes. If you want to elevate your caving game, do some research on the equipment and join private groups that train and educate on the topic. For the average cave visitor like myself, a light jacket and pair of shoes with traction is sufficient to enjoy the wonderful caves scattered across the United States.
