“Drop into a world of wonder”
Descend into the depths of Onondaga Cave State Park and drop into a world of wonder: towering stalagmites, dripping stalactites, and active flowstones help make the cave a National Natural Landmark and illustrate why Missouri is often called “The Cave State.” Visitors can take guided tours into the underground wonderland. But if you prefer the surface, the park’s Vilander Bluff Natural Area provides a panoramic view of the Meramec River. Easy access to the Meramec River allows visitors to canoe or fish in a bucolic setting.
I went on the cave tour in summer 2017. Onondaga caves have a lot of steep paths which left a lot of the tour group out of breath, but I think most of our breaths were taken away by the 1 & 1/2 hour stalagmite scene. The tour guide was knowledgeable of the caves and seemed very enthusiastic about her job. She even turned the lights off for a minute and allowed us to experience complete silence and darkness; it was cool experience, cooler than the caves temperature (50F year round, so bring a jacket!). They make everyone clean their shoes and kindly inform people who travel to other caves to not wear the same articles of clothing in order to prevent spread of fatal disease in the bat population. There was an admission price of 20-something dollars per adult, but it is definitely a sight worth seeing especially for those first-time cave visitors.
Amazing campground with big sites that are shaded.
I thoroughly enjoyed my cave tour. But very cold underground! Bring a thick jacket or coat, even in the summer.
Although the tour itself is a bit corny and too fast for my pace the cave is actually breathtaking and worth the trip and money.
Great place to camp. Spacious sites and clean. Several trails to choose from and the cave tour was awesome. My kids (14, 11 and 3) loved it. Plan to spend about 90 minutes in the cave. Wish we had had more time but hopefully we can make it back there our next trip out west.
Onondaga Cave State Park is a Missouri state park about 80 minutes from St. Louis. The park was established in 1929, and features Onondaga Cave, one of the most extensive caves in the state. The tours here are great, and we love the hiking trails too.
We think a visit here makes a great day trip from St. Louis!
Be the first to add a review to the Onondaga Cave State Park.
Onondaga Cave State Park
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
-
Parking
-
Pets Allowed
-
Restrooms
-
Wifi
-
Wheelchair Accessible
-
Credit Cards Accepted
- Max Stay
- 15
- Max Length
- 45ft
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Sites Count
- 64
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 27
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 20
-
Sites
-
Laundry
-
Propane
-
Showers
-
Big Rigs
-
Boondock
-
Firewood
-
Fifty Amp
-
Tent Sites
-
Cabin Sites
-
Full Hookup
-
Paved Sites
-
Dump Station
-
Mobile Homes
-
Public Water
-
Pull Through
-
Reservations
-
Sewer Hookup
-
Water Hookup
-
Potable Water
-
Age Restricted
-
Dispersed Sites
-
Open Seasonally
-
Permit Required
-
Back In RV Sites
-
Group Tent Sites
-
Fulltime Residents
-
Standard Tent Sites
-
Pull Through RV Sites
-
Vehicle Wash Permitted
Campground, Parking
Nearby Hotels
Related Trip Guides
Route 66 Leg 2: St. Louis to Tulsa
- 61 Places
- 18:31
- 876 mi
The top things to do on an I-40 road trip
- 35 Places
- 49:44
- 2,851 mi
A road trip along the Great River Road
- 35 Places
- 37:29
- 1,907 mi