Indiana has several caves and caverns that turn a regular family day trip into something a little more memorable. For Indianapolis-area families, these underground stops are a good option when the weather is too hot, too rainy or just not cooperating with anyone’s outdoor plans.
Most Indiana cave tours stay cool year-round, so bring a light jacket even when it is blazing outside. Many tours involve stairs, wet walkways or uneven ground, and some are not stroller- or wheelchair-accessible. Check the official cave website before you go, especially during wet weather, holiday weekends or peak travel season.
For more family trip ideas around the state, visit our Let’s Go Travel guide to family-friendly destinations around Indiana, the Midwest and beyond.
Bluespring Caverns
1459 Blue Spring Caverns Road, Bedford, IN 47421
Bluespring Caverns in Bedford is built around the Myst’ry River boat tour, a one-hour guided trip through America’s longest navigable underground river. Families ride in custom electric boats through the cave, with a chance to spot rare blind cavefish, blind crayfish, salamanders and other cave life.
Above ground, families can add gemstone mining, a picnic stop and a walk on the half-mile Karst Natural Area Trail. The cave stays about 52 to 53 degrees, and closed-toe, non-slip shoes are recommended. The tour is not handicap accessible, and children younger than 4 are not recommended for the boat tour.
Hours: Open daily from March 16 through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours leave hourly or more often, with the last tour at closing time. Wet weather can occasionally make tours unavailable because the cave contains a natural underground river, so check ahead after heavy rain.
Admission: Adults are $26. Youth ages 15 and younger are $14.
Squire Boone Caverns
100 Squire Boone Road, Mauckport, IN 47142
Squire Boone Caverns in Mauckport gives families a one-hour guided cave tour with underground streams, waterfalls and cave formations. The site is tied to the Boone family story, but the main draw for kids is the mix of underground scenery and above-ground activities.
During the warmer months, families can also visit the Pioneer Village area, which includes the barnyard, gem mining sluice, candle making, rock shop and food options. The village operates seasonally, so it is worth checking hours before building the whole day around the extras.
Hours: From Memorial Day through mid-August, gates are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and guided tours leave every 30 to 40 minutes. From mid-August to Labor Day, weekend tours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekday tours are scheduled at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Spring, fall, January and February tours depart at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
Admission: Cavern tour tickets are $27 for adults, $17 for children ages 4 to 11 and $25 for seniors 60 and older. A park bundle that includes the cavern tour, gem mining sluice and barnyard food cone is also available.
Marengo Cave
400 East State Road 64, Marengo, IN 47140
Marengo Cave is a U.S. National Natural Landmark and one of Indiana’s best-known cave stops for families. The cave has two walking tours: Crystal Palace, a 40-minute tour through rooms filled with formations, and Dripstone Trail, a 60-minute tour known for soda straws, stalagmites and Penny Ceiling.
For families with younger kids, Marengo is useful because small children are allowed on the walking tours, children 3 and younger are free and reservations are not required for regular show cave visitors. Strollers, wheelchairs and baby backpack carriers are not allowed in the cave because of steps, narrow passageways and low ceilings.
Outside the cave, families can add activities such as gemstone mining, the Mega Maze, mini glow putt-putt golf, the Sky Climber and The Crawl. Those activities may have separate pricing and availability.
Hours: Open daily. From Labor Day through Memorial Day, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, extended hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Marengo Cave opens at noon on Easter and is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Admission: Crystal Palace is $22.95 for adults ages 13 and older and $13.95 for children ages 4 to 12. Dripstone Trail is $25.95 for adults and $15.95 for children. Combo tickets for both tours are $31.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. Children 3 and younger are free.
Indiana Caverns
1267 Green Acres Drive SW, Corydon, IN 47112
Indiana Caverns in Corydon is part cave tour, part family adventure park. The guided walking cave tour descends about 110 feet underground and includes a 25-minute underground boat ride. Along the way, families can see cave formations, Ice Age bones, an underground river and waterfalls when conditions allow.
Above ground, Indiana Caverns offers add-on activities such as gemstone mining, the Bat Chaser zip coaster, the Plunge, the Cavern of the Sabertooth and an escape room for ages 12 and older. Some attractions have height, weight or age requirements, so check the ticket page before promising anything to the kid who has already picked their favorite thing.
Hours: Open daily at 9 a.m. Eastern time, rain or shine. Indiana Caverns is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Cave tours leave frequently throughout the day. To secure a spot on the last tour, arrive by 4 p.m. Eastern time from Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, or by 4:30 p.m. Eastern time from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Admission: Cave tour tickets are $28 for ages 12 and older and $17 for ages 4 to 11. Bundle packages and add-on activities are available, with pricing varying by activity.
Bonus Cave Day Trip: Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
Mammoth Cave National Park is not in Indiana, but it is close enough to make sense for a long weekend or cave-focused road trip from Indianapolis. The park protects the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles of mapped passageways.
Families can choose from a rotating schedule of cave tours, from shorter introductory routes to longer and more physically demanding options. Tour availability changes by season, and the park may not release the full schedule until one to three months before a visit. Reservations are strongly recommended because cave tours can sell out weeks in advance.
There is no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park, but cave tour tickets are required. Tour pricing varies by route and age, so check the current schedule and ticket page before making the drive.
Families who want to stay longer can also camp, hike, canoe, kayak or explore above-ground ranger programs in the park. For more overnight ideas, check our guide to camping near Indianapolis.
Before You Go
Caves are not all the same when it comes to accessibility, temperature, stairs, tour length or stroller rules. Most stay cool year-round, and several recommend light jackets and sturdy shoes. If your visit depends on a specific tour, add-on attraction or accessibility need, confirm directly with the cave before you leave.
Wet weather matters, too. Some cave tours can be affected by flooding or high water, even when the weather looks fine above ground. A quick website or social media check can save a very long drive with a disappointed back seat.
Looking for more outdoor family ideas? Explore our guide to hiking with kids in Indianapolis and our roundup of waterfalls in Indiana.
