When in Shenandoah - go to the caverns! Skyline Caverns is a must-visit if you're in the area and have the time. My boyfriend and I just walked in and there's basically a tour around every 45 minutes so fear not, if you have some time to kill their gift shop is enormous. Everything from sweet treats, apparel, stones, little trinkets to chess sets. Truly something for everyone. Once they announced our time we headed on over and met with our tour guide. It was very fun overall. I do recommend wearing sneakers, it's not an incredibly long walk but some parts of the ground were rocky. It's an incredible sight and everything is really detailed and explained. I loved the whole tour. You can take pictures of everything and I sure took advantage. My boyfriend got very into the tour and I can imagine everyone does. Very well thought out and rehearsed - these tour guides do a great job. I do have to mention because I think it's hilarious, as a woman if you go in with straight hair and you have a natural curl - prepare for it to curl. My hair was a fuzzball by the time I got out because the moisture in the caves is so high hahaha, just a warning! Still go though - it's a fun experience and a beautiful one too. read more

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Skyline Caverns is basically located in Front Royal. You spend over an hour exploring the cave with interesting formations. Our guide was spirited and did a nice job explaining the formations. It was interesting especially when you realize how long these formations have existed. Plan to bring a light jacket as it can be chilly. read more

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This place is amazing. $75 for 2 adults and one kid. Takes about two hours to cruise through. They take credit cards and have a great gift shop. Bought some cool stuff. Your guides are fun - tip at end - don't be cheap. Definitely worth a visit - discovered in 1937 on purpose - as they were looking for a tourist destination. read more

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Haven't been to see caverns since I was a child and it was such a good time being back. Our tour guide was so informative and actually pretty funny. Thoroughly enjoyed my time, plus it was nice to get out of the heat being the caverns are much cooler. Would definitely head back to visit. read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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Skyline cavers is a unique cavern system . Made by water running thru and cutting rock over time . It is not full of Stalactites and Stalagmites but more like you are walking thru a dried underground river bed . We were lucky enough to have an extremely small group of only 4 people so we got to really listen to our guide and ask questions . It is really worth going on the tour one time especially if you can go in the off season read more

Beautiful cave! Glad we toured it. Tour guide was nice and cool stuff to see along the way. I enjoyed the fish pond. Nice gift store too.

Our tour guide was very informative, and the area is absolutely gorgeous. The shop has tons of crystals, and something for anyone visiting the area or passing through. read more

There was a lot to offer in the cavern and we saw it all! The tour was a bit over an hour and there was so much to see. But outstanding to see was the trout, yes a trout swimming in the lake. The lighting was pretty spectacular. It was my first time seeing anthodites, which looked like crystal chandeliers. There were two other people on the tour and our guide was knowledgable and entertaining. All in all it was one of my favorite caverns to date. read more

Tony and I visited Skyline Cavern in Front Royal, VA. The cavern opens at 9am and first tour is at 930am. We had a private tour because no one else was there. It cost us $48 for both of us. The tour lasts about an hour. Our tour guy Samantha "SAM" was very young but very informative. She did a wonderful job. It was so sad seeing something from my youth which used to be packed so empty. It is very sad. The souvenir shop is full of lovely items. The parking lot is large. We enjoyed ourselves so much. Highly recommend to everyone. read more

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My husband and I (23yo) did this tour. You don't need any special clothes/ shoes but it is quite chilly down there. There are stairs, "ramps" up and down and a few low ceiling areas but nothing crazy. Definitely good for little children, no adrenaline junkie appeal. The cavern has a lot of historical significance and many scientific aspects that were very appealing to us- however it was only lightly touched on. You can tell that it isn't catered towards any real educational purpose- but very good family experience. Overall, it was $30 a person and about a mile walk through the cavern, taking about an hour and some change. I don't necessarily think it's worth $30 going to, but I don't regret the memories made :) read more

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This place was really cool. We had just done the caverns at luray yesterday so I wasn't expecting them to be much different. These were much smaller, but it was so neat because it was so much more intimate. When we came inside, we purchased our tickets and were told the next tour didn't start for 20 minutes. I was like oh great. I hate tours. We browsed the gift shop until it was our time. Luckily we're in the offseason so we had a private tour. I can see why they do tours here. You definitely need one to walk around. Plus all the lights are off, so your tour guide turns them on for you. We learned so much on the tour and our guide, Courtney, was outstanding. She was so funny and so smart. I really loved her and was really glad we got her as our tour guide. These caverns were so cool. They even had trout inside! Apparently there's also salamanders, snakes, and crickets. So glad I didn't see any snakes or crickets, but I'd be down to see a salamander. She said to come after it rains as the salamanders like the water. Good to know! I would definitely come back here. It was soo cool! read more

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Looking for a rainy day activity, my air bnb host pointed me towards Skyline Caverns. I have been to Luray Caverns, so my host said while Skyline is much smaller it's also less crowded. I was sold once he said he had a $5 off admission coupon. As a note, you can get the same coupon on their website. I went on the tour, which is about one hour. Our tour guide was new but she had the script down pat for sure. There are lots of fun facts along the way-a government agency has placed a fish in a pond area in the caverns. I love the lighting in the caverns! It's chilly down there-even when it's warm outside. I think that while it may not be as overwhelming as Luray Caverns, it has its own charm. Apparently they have a lot of wedding requests. When bringing children, you should consider if they will follow the "no touching" rule. Also if they can stand, walk, and climb a flight of steps for an hour. I know I couldn't take my toddler, mostly due to the former. I definitely recommend stopping by for a visit. It's a great side trip while in the area. read more

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A group of nine adults came for a tour on a late Saturday morning. Our tour, along with maybe 10 other people, was surprisingly interesting and was fitting for a range of ages and abilities. The tour was also a good length, not too long or short, worth the money. We learned about a unique rock formation called anthodites, this cavern is one of the few places in the world to see them! Tristan was a personable guide with lots of jokes. There's an extensive gift shop, many non carven adjacent items. Would recommend but it wasn't as extravagant as we had hoped. read more

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This could have been a dull experience, but the staff made it so fun! Our tour guide, Andrew, was super cool and we had a great time! Super fun for all ages :) read more

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The caverns were beautiful and our tour guide was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and funny and was great with the group. The credit card machine was down which caused some stir as we tried to Find cash and we ended up going to 711 twice to get it sorted but it was worth it. Highly worth checking out if you're in the area and try to find a coupon online like we did to save some money! read more

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Finally found an activity during covid times that was safe. Hubby and I went on a weekday so there were no crowds and just one other couple with us! Pro's -Friendly service! Was greeted and directed to the right area immediately. -Covid safe activity. Masks worn at all times, even on the tour. Social distancing strongly encouraged. Hand sanitizer right when you walk in the door. -Large parking lot -Across is a mirror maze... Fun for smaller kids -Our tour guide, I think her name was Kate, was super knowledgeable, funny, and kind. -The tour itself was beautiful and magnificent! I learned so much history and knowledge of different types of rock formations. -Tour is walking heavy about a hour with no bathrooms. So you may need to go before the tour takes off. -A bit chilly in there. I think it's about 50 degrees in the cavern. A light jacket or a sweatshirt would do. Con's -Gift shop was a bit cramped with a lot of stuff but guess folks have tons of choices! I would definitely revisit but this time with the kids! read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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Lovely place!!! Surrounded by trees and wildlife. The caverns are really pretty and cool. The tour is pretty long. The train is cute. People were friendly. Fun! read more

We had a very knowledgeable and funny tour guide named Andrew! We thought that the caverns themselves were beautiful and loved seeing the unique formations! read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Fascinating geological site in Front Royal, Virginia. One hour drive from Dulles Airport area. Definitely worth the time and trip. Nice guided tour, informative and friendly tour guide. Coupons on their website. Did you know that this is only one of a few places in the world where you can find an Anthrodite?? It sure is. We saw one that is carbon dated at 126,000 years old and it's only 18 inches in length. So that's an extremely slow growth rate. Family fun. Nice for anyone who enjoys natural beauty. read more

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The caverns are not quite as extensive and interesting as Luray but they are still worth a visit. There were stalactites and stalagmites but very small. The personal guide for groups is a big plus. She was very informative as well as, at times, quite amusing. read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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Was a fun tour with lots of good information. Cool lights and creative creatures in the caverns. Would recommend. Had a nice time with family. read more

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Only 1 1/2 hour from DCA - why did I wait so long to visit! Absolutely amazing! One of the most unique things there is to do. Friendly staff! read more

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It's a roughly an hour tour of the cave, they say we only see 20% of the cave. The guided tour for $24 per adult is pretty good. The guide was very informative. The formations were pretty cool also. A good activity for a winter day. My 6 year old nephew also enjoyed thoroughly. They have miniature train ride, it's great if you are going in summer or spring. It was too cold for us. All in all a good place to enjoy and explore nature underground. read more

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We came here at the end of October 2021. This cavern is smaller than Luray cavern but it is still worth a visit. The ticket includes a guided tour which was very informative but our guide talked so fast it was hard to catch some of the things she said. The price is cheaper than Luray caverns. Overall it was a great rainy day activity and recommended to visit this place if you're in the area. read more

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Other reviews about this caverns not being "extravagant" compared to others (I presume they're talking about Luray Caverns or Shenandoah Caverns) seem a bit odd. Not every caverns in Virginia has to be like DisneyWorld. Skyline Caverns is about 30 minutes north of Luray and is a very good backup if Luray Caverns is too crowded. The two experiences could not be more different. Whereas Luray Caverns is so popular that they stopped offering guided tours (you are basically just free to roam in the caverns as if you're in a museum), and has incredible views in all directions, Skyline Caverns, like most others in Virginia, still has guided tours. There may not be as many jaw-dropping cave views in Skyline compared to Luray, but the unique formations Skyline offers, including the largest collection of those fascinating anthodites, surpass some of the formations in Luray. The tour is also more rustic in nature - it reminded me of Grand Caverns in that regard. There is a gift shop but it is not as elaborate and crowded as Luray's or Shenandoah's (and not as kitschy). The lighting in the caverns was tastefully installed as well. Be careful walking on the paths in the cave - some of the dips are sudden. Our guide was Peyton and she had a very powerful voice - sometimes too powerful - but necessary I guess so the entire group (about 18 in our group) could hear her. She was informative but seemed to be going through the motions - not as much amusing interaction with the group as I experienced at Grand Caverns or Natural Bridge Caverns. This all said, I still give Skyline 5 stars. I may live in Luray but Skyline Caverns is usually my go-to caverns when entertaining friends and family who visit me in Luray. read more

The caverns were great! The tour guide (male - cannot remember his name with long brown hair and glasses) did an amazing job. He was very very informative and explained the cavern's history and geological formations very thoroughly. I would definitely recommend going to these caverns before Luray as Luray Caverns are more self-guided than these caverns, which had a guided tour with no additional cost of your ticket. They had some great colored lights and it made everything so pretty. Go early in the morning (9 AM) and you will get a smaller tour group. read more

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A review of my visit on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Very welcoming staff! The two gentlemen at the desk were smartly dressed, with ties, which surprised me. Must be a "business" protocol for this place. Both football fans, like myself. One a Dallas Cowboys fan, the other a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan. Trendy teams, I won't hold that against them... LOL! Gift shop has a decent assortment of stuff. I don't know about the other attractions (mirror and train); however, they do have a military discount for the cavern tour, and the same discount for a military retiree, like myself, as well. Thanks, ya'll! The cave was interesting. Anthrodites. A very rare formation, only found in limited quantities in very few locations across the globe. The "history lesson" is interesting. Easy walking, not challenging. Nice little walking adventure to work up an appetite before some good food and/ or drinks! Anyhoo, our group was assigned a cheerful tour guide named Regan. She did a nice job explaining and story telling. Awesome job! A quick FYI. If you're primarily looking for stalagmites and stalactites (floor to ground, and in abundance), this cavern isn't for you. This cave is about anthodites. However, you should take a tour to appreciate something different. At the tail end of the tour, noticed a sign posted that tips are appreciated. I don't have a problem with tipping, where/ when deserved, but advertising it seems a bit aggressive. Nice visit! If in the area again, I'd stop by for another tour. read more

Took my 12yr old niece here on Saturday for something to do and we enjoyed every bit of the tour. It's about an hour long and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The caverns were really pretty especially when they had the colored lights hitting them. I recommend you wear sneakers and maybe a light sweater because it was pretty chilly down there. There's also some steps that you have to climb at the end of the tour which I heard some people complaining about (it's really not that bad) so just keep that in mind. Also, since these are covid times you do have to wear a mask throughout the tour. The entrance and exit to the caverns is through the gift shop which has a lot of cool things for purchase. I recommend checking this place out. read more

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This was a great attraction! Our tour group was small, which made it easy to see everything and hear our guide. Our guide was great! He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The caverns are incredible, and the Anthrodites, which are exceedingly rare, were amazing to see. I highly recommend a visit. It is cool and very humid in the caverns, dress warmly, and be prepared for your glasses to be fogged up. read more

Skyline Caverns - Interior of Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

A little pricing but definitely worth it! Be sure to bring a jacket! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBWi-jduMI read more

I loved our visit to Skyline Caverns this weekend. I'd never been to Skyline Caverns and I was pleasantly surprised. I love the gift shop, which is where you enter the caverns. It's really kitschy and dated but I think that adds to the charm. I really found it very cute and not overcomplicated. The tour through the caves was so much fun! Our tour guide Sonny was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and made the tour really fascinating, and he seemed like he loves his job. I found the part about the anthrodites and the partial vacuum in the cave incredibly compelling, definitely worth a trip over. The colored lights make for some really nice photos all throughout the cave as well. It's a little chilly in the cave (mid 50s) so remember to bring a light jacket! They're open every single day so head over anytime for an interesting tour. read more

Awesome caverns! Great information about how they came to be and the formations inside. kids had a great experience, especially in the gift shop! The species of beetles that were discovered in the cave was quite interesting. The men found several that were alive in the waters inside the cave and then the killed them, somehow, and the beetle has never been seen again. Discovered and then sent into extinction! AMAZING! They have a mini train that runs along a track above the parking lot, and I wish I would've sent the kids but time was not on our side that day. There is also a mirror maze, which I have no idea about but I can give you an educated guess to what it's all about. read more

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We were camping two weekends ago at Shenandoah River State Park and decided to stop through here. We were so glad that we did! The tour was super personable, the caverns were gorgeous, and a few people we were with preferred them over neighboring Luray for the more "authentic" feel. read more

I had wanted to visit the caverns since moving to Virginia and finally got a chance to go over the weekend. The drive from Northern Virginia to the caves was just over an hour, making it a perfect day trip. Conveniently, the tours run throughout the day, so we only waited a couple minuted before we were led to the cavern entrance. While I didn't buy anything, the gift shop had an eclectic mix of souvenirs, toys, jewelry and geology related items. Our tour guide, Sonny, was very knowledgeable above the cave creation and history. He left plenty of time for photos and exploring the more open areas. In addition to the interesting rock formations, we saw lakes, a unique type of crystal and windy paths nearly 400 feet underground. A great experience and perfect amount of time for individuals or families. read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Billy was an amazing tour guide who was very informative and passionate about the cave. He helped to make it such a memorable experience for everyone in our group of 6. I definitely recommend coming here! read more

Skyline Caverns - Tours Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

My family and I came here after popping by Luray Caverns and feeling extremely discouraged by the extended wait time. There was no wait for Skyline but we did have to wait about 15 min until the next tour was ready to begin. It was no problem at all to while the time away as they have a gigantic gift shop for you to browse through while you're waiting. Our tour guide, whose name escapes me, was dynamic, self-deprecating, and funny. He definitely made the tour more enjoyable. The entire walk took around an hour and we had a great time seeing all kinds of neat formations. I will say this may not be the best place to bring an energetic toddler (in hindsight) but we made it work! read more

Amazing cavern flowers. Nice spring for fish! It's okay for informational purposes but overpriced! read more

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Skyline Caverns both is and isn't the typical roadside attraction. It is adjacent to Shenandoah National Park, so if you're in the area for the above ground views, take some time and check out what is underneath the park. There's some kid friendly stuff here, like a miniature train ride and a mirror maze (which we didn't partake in) and there's the tour of the cavern. The cavern is home to some beautiful formations, along with some rare types that are only found in one other cave in the world so far, Anthodite formations. These delicate little formations look like little sea urchins, stuck to the cavern walls, and took thousands of years to form. It is nice and cool inside, so bring a jacket if you get cold easily, and bring a camera -- they encourage photography! The tour itself is a little bit hokey, depending on who is doing the tour, but it is all in good fun and I think it's a great thing to do for both grownups and kids, as long as the kids don't mind a bit of a walk. Gift shop is full of tons of tourist trap merchandise, nothing that really caught my eye for purchase. read more

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This was beautiful! The tour guide was super knowledgeable and was able to answer most questions and provide a lot of background on the formations and history of the caverns. I really liked how they capped your groups to a manageable size because it allowed everyone to be able to hear the guide and take in the wonders. I wish they didn't use rainbow lighting in the one section, and it wasn't the longest tour in the world, but there was a ton to see and everything was gorgeous! read more

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Andrew was our guide and he was outstanding! Very knowledge and patient (there were kids in the group haha). The caverns have way more than we were expecting in a 1 hour tour. You learn the whole history of the cavern and the fairly harrowing adventure they took to discover and make the cavern safe to explore. And there are gems and other sights you won't see anywhere else. We highly recommend it. read more