It's an experience that is a little high priced at $30 but it's well worth it you only go once. it's not really something you're going to go multiple times in unless you bring kids. I think it's something adults will enjoy more so than the kids just because of the science behind it all. Another reviewer mentioned that the God Bless America segment was too long and she did not like it I will say I didn't think it lasted long enough! read more

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Jackson was our guide. He was very informative and had a great sense of humor when giving us the information and he has the best flashlight ever. Very glad we had him as our guide. read more

Meramec Caverns - Part of the cave tour - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. I recently went floating here on July 4, 2026, and a huge, unexpected storm rolled in while we were on the river. We were caught in severe thunder, lightning, and extremely painful hail. The conditions became so dangerous that we could barely see, paddling was no longer effective, and our raft was rapidly filling with water. We ultimately had to call 911 because we genuinely feared for our safety. About 30 minutes later, firefighters rescued us by boat. What I can't understand is where Meramec Caverns was during all of this. As a customer, I expected the outfitter to have some type of emergency response or plan to help get people off the river when conditions become life-threatening. Instead, we were left relying on emergency responders. This wasn't my only disappointing experience here. On several previous float trips with Meramec Caverns, the staff at the launch area stood by while customers struggled to carry coolers, load rafts, and get situated. Rather than assisting, many appeared to be standing around talking or looking at their phones. It gave the impression that customer service simply wasn't a priority. As someone who loves floating, I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Customer service matters, and safety matters even more. Meramec Caverns has lost a loyal customer. If you're looking for another option, I'd recommend Lucky Clover Campground. In my experience, their staff has always been professional, helpful, and responsive. Based on what I experienced, I would feel much more comfortable floating with them in the future. read more

We had an awesome time at the caverns! Every staff member we encountered was genuinely so nice. We had a lot of fun on the Zipline, the boat tour, and in the cave tour. The workers at the restaurant were also very nice and the food tasted good. Great time and can't wait to come back! Hopefully to do a float trip! read more

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My partner and I did the cave tour which was abbreviated due to flooding. Honestly, it was plenty of time and I would have gotten bored if it were any longer. The tour was really good and our guide was knowledgeable and funny. The cave felt very safe to walk through. it was gorgeous. It was chilly of course but not unbearable with a light jacket. The only part I didn't appreciate was the long "god bless america" montage at the end. read more

We just wrapped up the 5th Annual Boobs and Tubes Float Trip on July 5th, and once again Meramec Caverns delivered an incredible experience! Our group of 46 people felt like VIPs the entire day -- the whole team made it feel like we were the only ones on the river. Les was absolutely amazing -- attentive, organized, and so helpful throughout the day. Crystal, our bus driver, brought the energy with her fun and engaging personality, setting the tone for a perfect float. And of course, Carly welcomed us with her usual bright smile and warm attitude. Meramec Caverns continues to be one of the easiest and best float trips near Saint Louis. It's a quick, stress-free day trip, and the staff makes it feel like a summer tradition worth repeating. THANK YOU, Meramec Caverns, for another fantastic float! Already looking forward to year six! read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

Our tour guide Carter was amazing, really good with my two kids and kept the tour interesting and fun! He provided enough facts for the adults with a few jokes to keep it from getting too boring for my boys. Definitely worth the trip from St. Louis for the day - we grabbed a few snacks afterwards from the cafe. read more

This place is family owned and operated and they do a great job. Brady- our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Great place to cool off. read more

Every visit is great! - - - - - - - - August, 2025 Visit My wonderful wife planned a getaway to Branson Labor Day weekend 2025, and we had a great time. Our first stop: Meramec Caverns - - - I have visited, with our son and his Scout pack a few years, but my wife hadn't been yet. She enjoyed her visit the first way our son and I had - amazed! While the tour is standard, it always amazes... so much natural beauty under Missouri and some of our neighboring states. 66 degrees year round the world's largest stalagmite - Onyx Mountain - 20 feet tall, 500 feet circumference, and still growing the Bridal Veil - 35 feet thick and 77 million years old the room with all the stalagmites the underground river that is so calm and peaceful - - - After the cave tour we went to try the zip line but were to late given their full reservations; next summer we'll revisit for both! ----- ----- ----- read more

Cool tour! I found it very interesting. We went during the off season so had a nice small group. Tour was about an hour long.

My family enjoyed the tour more than we expected. The caverns were so beautiful and the path made it accessible for many people. Our tour guide was knowledgeable. It is well worth a visit! read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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We drove from Southern Illinois to check this place out. The various rock formations (stalactites, stalagmites, etc) were incredible. Our tour guide was awesome, sharing stories about Jesse James and movies filmed on site. The only real knock on Meramec is the cost. For two adults and two children, we paid over $100 after tip, for a one-hour tour. The boat tour of the river and the restaurant were also a bit pricey. It's worth doing once every few years. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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We visited on a very hot day, and the cool air inside the cave was a welcome relief. This was by far the largest cave we've ever toured--massive rooms and expansive areas made for a visually impressive experience. Unfortunately, our tour guide wasn't very engaging. He spoke too softly for the size of our group, and it was difficult to hear much of what he said. The cave itself is fascinating, but the stories and delivery could definitely be improved. It didn't feel like the guide was enjoying the experience, which made it harder to stay engaged. There were quite a few children on our tour, and while that's understandable, it did make things loud and a bit chaotic at times. It would be nice if the cave offered a couple of adult-only tours each day for those who prefer a calmer, more focused experience. Overall, the cave is well worth seeing, but there's room to enhance the tour experience. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

The business states it supports veterans. When asked if they had a military discount we were told their department did not but all the other departments have a military discount . When we ask another department they said they did not have a discount but all the others departments did. What a scam to pull in military veterans. read more

The tour was well conducted. Stories were engaging and made it more interesting. I do feel that sometimes there's too much done to keep the crowds entertained rather than just letting people enjoy what nature made as they are. There was a cartoon character at one point. There was an area where different colored lights were used to create effect. After the third color change, it got to be a bit much. The patriotic movie projected onto the wall of the cave felt a bit "propaganda-ish" Overall, I enjoyed it. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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My family and I enjoyed our tour this morning. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and their spiel was peppered with cheesy but fun one last need that had the ring of having been well rehearsed. You can buy tickets online or at the caves. I'd purchased ahead of time but was very grateful that they allowed us on the earlier tour as our plans had changed. The cafe is paved and except for being a bit slippery in places was very easy to walk through, and the ceiling is high throughout. My 4 year old son was with us and he had no problems , although he did end up wanting to be carried towards the end. We camped overnight, which worked well. The sites are pretty primitive. You can buy firewood at the camp store (it was pretty bad yesterday and mostly smoked, had to work hard to get enough gland for my son to roast a marshmallow). It VERY buggy, so make sure you're prepared to deal with that. They have a playground and showers, which were pretty filthy (and also very buggy last night) but I had shower shoes so it was much better than no shower. But seriously, they could use a good scrubbing. read more

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First time visiting the caverns even though I've lived in/around St Louis almost all of my life. I had so much fun and never wanted our tour to end! Our tour guide had a semi-bland and dry wit about her which made the experience that much more memorable. We stopped for ice cream at the end of our tour and it was delicious. I would have gone back again the very next day for another tour! read more

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We really enjoyed our time here! The rock mining was very fun along with the cave tour!! Staff was friendly and we felt very informed by our tour guide. Highly recommend read more

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Definitely worth the visit! Absolutely beautiful formations dating as far back as 70M years for "the curtain". It is an easy walking tour and our guide was very knowledgeable of both the scientific history and the local history. You will learn a bit about Jesse James and see what is believed to be his cave hideout and escape route. If you like Hollywood insights you will learn the caverns role in the making of "The Adventures of Huck Finn" and "Lassie". read more

Fun experience for my 5 year olds! We will have to come back when they are older so they can do the ropes course. We did the tour which lasted an hour and then spent some time in the gift shop. It appears this place gets busy so I suggest going early or on a weekday. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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Really neat experience! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The video played at the end was a bit odd, but overall, I enjoyed getting to see the cave. read more

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I went to Meramec Caverns on a guided tour from St. Louis and had a nice trip. We had the shortened tour through the caves which was really nice but there were a lot of older people in our group that it was kind of dangerous with how wet the ground is with handrails only on one side in some places. I really enjoyed the riverboat tour it was a really nice way to see the river. Next time I'll make sure to bring the family and enjoy some of their other offerings. read more

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We go here for the river to hang out and BBQ, we went today and was told this is something we can no longer due as it's now private property. Very disappointing as it was a great hang out spot for us. Unless you go spend money at the facilities you're no longer welcomed. ​ read more

Meramac Caverns. I grew up spelunking as a young person and I have always love going into caves. They are all so different, very unique. One of my favorite things is what is called cave bacon. No wonder people used to live in caves in the past because they have the same temperature here around. Do you know the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite? I do. There is so much history at this particular cavern. It is noted for one of Jesse James is hideouts, I did find some loot. TV shows and a lot of music have been performed at this location. I have been in this particular Catherine at least 11 times. Beautiful area, great to camp,they even have a zip line, and a river cruse. I WOULD RECOMMEND. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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I was really looking forward to this cave tour, and had such high hopes of liking it. While it was neat to see the different kinds of rock formations, this felt like a very gimmicky tourist attraction...which I feel like says a lot coming from someone who lives around all the theme parks in central Florida. While I am glad I got to see it, I'm unsure if I would recommend a friend to come here. This tour is definitely geared towards families and tourists. While the story line of Jesse James was integrated into parts of the tour, we were left sort of confused as to his importance. Maybe it's because we aren't from the area, but we weren't really sure what made him a "notable" person to begin with. The tour guide seemed very well versed in knowledge and skills related to the cave. read more

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This isn't just another hole in the ground. This is a CAVE. But it's not just a CAVE. It's a BIG CAVE with lights, and sidewalks, and natures air-conditioning, and a river, and even a big, huge (former) dance floor! It's got a log cabin, and a couple of neon signs, a video with music honoring America, and fortunately not too many stairs. I have made two trips here within the last couple of years to show some of my grandchildren a bit of the awesomeness of God's creation. They have ranged from about six years old all the way up to early teenagers. They've all loved it! All tours through the cave are led by guides. I've noticed some guides are better than others. It's just the luck of the draw. But as long as they all get you through the cave and back out again, I suppose they've done their job. There are tons of stalactites and stalagmites, and they are very adamant that you do not touch them. I don't know what will happen to you if you do, but it probably will not be pretty. So be sure to tell the children to behave themselves. Quite seriously, the cave is beautiful and I strongly recommend that you take an hour to spend in this national treasure. If you bypass the gift shop and the restaurant, it is not cost prohibitive. But it is also not free so you might want to go to the website and check that out ahead of time. There seems to be plenty of free parking. Viva la CAVE! (Be sure to tell your kids that there are bats. Not the baseball kind. The kind with wings. You may not see them, but ... they see you...) read more

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Basically a "middle of the country" tourist attraction; with gift shop, restaurant, and one-hour guided cave tour that is well-maintained. You are allowed to walk about 300 feet into the cave to the main ticket entrance. The actual tour was a little over a mile. The sights were beautiful and the way that they use the colored lights made it really interesting. The water that is so pure you don't even know that it's there. Guides do a nice job of telling stories. The last leg of the caverns has a steep staircase to climb and the air is thick/hotter at the top. It's not a difficult climb, but it was enough to make my asthma flare up. Wear shoes with traction. Some areas are slick. read more

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We did the cavern tour with Aiden as our guide. He was great! Definitely recommend. We also rented the kayaks and had an amazing time . read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

the structure of the cave is really interesting. you enter through these huge grand halls and get to see some gorgeous rock formations. the lighting in many areas creates some gorgeous optical illusions. I'd give the caves a higher rating however we were plagued by an older tour guide that mumbled the entire time. I could barley understand what he was saying. when he would start to talk coherently his speech pattern would then pick up speed and he'd rush through the information. also at the end they make you watch this religious american propaganda video. it has the notoriously racist kate smith singing god bless america accompanied by random stock footage and pictures of american monuments. it was so jarring and out of place read more

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Came here on a weekday. Not much crowded. Tickets are $27 per person. Tour is about 1.5 hour. After the tour there is a gift shop for souvenirs. They have a snack bar section if hungry. Bathrooms are clean and keep tidy. They close around 4pm, so come early. Experience was a five star. Recommend. read more

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Although advertised as kid friendly and all ages welcome, this was not our experience for the cave tour. Our tour guide singled out fussing children throughout the tour and even removed a family at the end for their children being "disruptive". With strollers not allowed and no food or water allowed on the tours, you are bound to get kids that cry. Really disappointing how it was handled. It's understandable the tour guide had valuable information that perhaps some could not hear. However, the group was fairly large and she did not have a microphone/headset. read more

Very interesting and the tour was well informed. Our guide Glen was super sweet and very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Will definitely be back! read more

Couldn't float with our own kayaks, and staff were rude to rivergoers breaking on a nearby bank for lunch, even though they were in the water. I suggest going with a different outfitter that is less of an "owner" and more of a steward to the beautiful public resource that is the Meramec River. read more

We we have been driving by this place for years now on the road and I finally made him STOP today. He really doesn't like caverns and closes spaces but he said he would try. It was awesome and he did fine. Just a big baby... lol. We just got in and it wasn't busy seasonally yet. They said July is busy. The tour started right away which was great. We wound up and around in there. The guide stopped every so often and had commentary. Jesse James and Frank has a kewl place to hide out back in the day! The formations were awesome and they did colored lights on them and all!! So glad we came. It was a bit chilly in there ( till I climbed the 58 stairs)! Haha. So bring a light jacket. And wear shoes. Then I was hot. But after that they had a seating area with the screen ( stalactites ) and showed an America the beautiful video. It was nice to sit! After that we had an ice cream. Then we went down to the river and took the little boat tour. It was short but pretty. They had the fishing derby going on so a few speed boats were passing us by. Lol. Good fun day. read more

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If you are looking for something "cool" to do on a blazing hot day...how about a cave that's 60 degrees year round? Pun intended... About a one hour drive from St. Louis, this privately owned cave takes about a 1 1/2 hours to walk through and offers some pretty amazing sights. It's pretty pricey at $22.50 for an adult, less for kids, but you'll still drop about $80 or so to get a family through it. They do have a small discount available through their FB page, so that will save you enough to grab a small snack on the way out in their on-site cafe where you can get sandwiches, pretzels, drinks, etc. The cave itself has well built pathways with good lighting which make it easy to navigate and safe to travel. It is chilly and damp (as are all caves). I was very comfortable in just shorts and a T-shirt but others in our group were happy they brought along a light jacket. The tour guides are knowledgeable, but they repeat the same information all day so it does come off as highly overly rehearsed which can make it difficult to understand at times. This was guide dependent as we encountered a number of them on our tour. The light and sound show at the end was particularly enjoyable, and I liked how family friendly the whole experience was. A must do for a day trip from St. Louis. read more

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Contrary to what was previously reviewed, we visited the cave, socially distanced, everyone was masked and so was the tour guide. The cave was amazing and a really neat piece of Mother Nature to enjoy and witness. Also contrary to what a couple of the below hippies mentioned, there is no heavy religious overtones or anything else that a thin-skinned liberal should be offended by. You are taking a tour in a small town in the middle of one of the most 'red' states in America. If you are surprised to see America the Beautiful played with images of Americans (of all colors) and one or two military personnel, then probably best just not come to Missouri to begin with. Some people are just too easily offended these days, the trouble with America as a whole right now. A really cool place to visit and witness Mother Nature at her best! read more

Good time with the grandkids. Pretty place. Tour size doesn't seem to be controlled so we were with like 45 people and missed most of the guided tour comments being in the back. Suggest doing no more than 25 people at a time and wait for the back to catch up... read more

The tour is definitely worth it for the price. It's about an hour and a half long and the scene is beautiful. Our tour guide Faith, was very knowledgeable and she did a great job of ensuring our large group stayed together and giving us sufficient time to take photographs. read more

Meramec Caverns - Tours Near Me - Sullivan, Missouri

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What a fun trip. My oldest son hadn't been there since he was young and took his three kids with us this time. We all had a really good time and the tour guide was very informative we will definitely be bringing them back in a couple of years to experience this as the grandkids get older. They live in Ohio now and come to Missouri for vacations and holidays read more

Out tour guide mumbled and was very hard to understand. He ignored questions; no one could hear his jokes. We were a cross-section of ages and none of us could hear him. I was eager to learn more about the beautiful cavern. I was not interested in long muffled stories about Huck Finn, Jessie James, and Lassie. Nothing in the video at the end of the tour was related to the cavern. The only words I clearly heard from the tour guide was his request for a gratuity following the video. Take your own photos; don't waste your money on the photo package. MERAMEC CAVERN earns a GOLD STAR for its beauty and magnificence. read more