Go RVing to These Top Caving Destinations

• Caves of Sonora in Sonora, Texas: These caves, which opened to the public in 1960, are located 15 miles south of Sonora, which is the halfway point between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park. Tours are available through nearly two miles of highly decorated caves. Children’s activities include digging for fossils and panning for gemstones in the outdoor mining sluice.
• Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, Texas: Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. Cave tours are offered of two distinct and stunning caverns. More of the cavern is still being discovered. The Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive system. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site and National Natural Landmark of Historic Places. The property also features above ground adventures of a different kind, including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor maze, and an interactive “gem panning” activity.

(Photo courtesy to Natural Bridge Caverns Media Assets)

Endless Caverns Resort in New Market, Virginia: Discovered back in 1879 as simply a deep, dark hole covered by boulders, this beautiful underground treasure has been fascinating visitors for nearly 150 years. Sitting at the base of the Massanutten Mountain range, this six-mile cave system still has areas that have yet to be explored. Experienced guides lead visitors on tours through the caves.

Karchner Caverns State Park near Benson, Arizona: This network of caves wasn’t discovered until 1974 and wasn’t opened to the public until 1999, with the lower caverns opening in 2003. Various tours are available, including one that enables visitors to experience the cave as the discoverers did in 1974 , using only the light provided by the headlamp on your helmet. There are campgrounds inside the park. Additional campgrounds in the vicinity include:

• Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory in Benson
• Tombstone RV Park & Campground in Tombstone
• Willcox / Cochise KOA Holiday in Willcox

(Photo courtesy to Butterfield RV Resort and Observatory in Benson, Arizona)

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky: Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored. It’s also one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. Numerous tour options are available. Nearby campgrounds include:

• Cave Country RV Park in Cave City
• Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Cave City
• Singing Hills RV Park in Cave City

(Photo courtesy of Jellystone Park in Cave City, Kentucky)

• Black Chasm Cavern in Volcano, California: Visitors to this cave in the Sierra Nevada’s Gold Rush County will not only see stalactites and stalagmites, but helictites, which are unique crystal formations that twist and turn and curl in every direction from the cave’s walls. Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Gold Country Campground in Pine Grove
  • Jackson Rancheria RV Park in Jackson
     
• Lake Shasta Caverns in Lakehead, California: This is one of the most widely visited and new National Natural Landmarks of all the cave systems. The tour of the caverns includes a ferry boat ride across beautiful Shasta Lake. Nearby campgrounds include Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding.
   
• Lava Beds National Monument near Tulelake, California: This Northern California monument features over 800 explorable “lava tube” caves. The National Park Service has categorized many of the more popular caves based on the level of difficult to explore them. Visitors to the more challenging caves are encouraged to bring cave maps, compasses, knee pads, gloves, and other protective equipment. Nearby campgrounds include Lassen RV Resort in McArthur.
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• Moaning Caverns in Vallecito, California: This is the largest single cave chamber in California. Adventurous visitors can take a 10-story spiral staircase to the base of the chamber. Exploratory caving tours are available. Nearby campgrounds include Angels Camp RV Resort in Angels Camp.
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• Subway Cave at Lassen Volcanic National Park, California: This cave features a 1/3-mile-long, self-guided trail. Visitors need to bring flashlights and jackets as the cave is complete dark and a chilly 46 degrees, but no hardhats or crawling are required. Nearby campgrounds include The Village at Highlands Ranch in Mill Creek..

(Photo of Lassen RV Park Campground, McArthur, California)

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico: One of the most famous cave networks in the world, this park offers both self-guided and guided cave tours. Nearby campgrounds include:

• Bud's Place in Carlsbad
• Carlsbad KOA Holiday in Carlsbad
• Carlsbad RV Park in Carlsbad

(Photo courtesy of Peter Jones, National Park Service)

• Jewel Cave National Monument in Custer, South Dakota: Jewel Cave, for its part, is the world’s third longest cave, with over 210 miles of mapped and surveyed passageways. Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Big Pine Campground in Custer
  • Custer Crazy Horse Campground in Custer
  • Custer's Gulch RV Park and Campground in Custer
  • Custer's Last Chance RV Park & Campground in Custer
  • Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday in Custer
  • Fort Welikit Family Campground in Custer
     
• Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs, South Dakota: Wind Cave is one of the world’s longest cave systems. “The cave is still being explored with no end in sight,” according to the National Park Service website. Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Allan Ranch Campground in Hot Springs
  • Hot Springs South Dakota / Black Hills KOA Holiday in Hot Springs
  • Sunrise Ridge Campground in Hot Springs

Ape Cape Interpretive Site in Cougar, Washington: This cave is inside a lava tube that was created by an eruption on Mount St. Helens almost 2,000 years ago. It extends more than 2.5 miles and is one of the largest continuous known lava tubes in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to nearby Forest Service campgrounds, nearby private campgrounds include Cougar RV Park & Campground in Cougar.