The Cave Guide
Coralloid formations inside Onyx Cave, KentuckyPhoto: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Onyx Cave

Cave City, KY
60°F
inside, all year
60
steps on the tour
30 min
on the main tour
$12.50
adult ticket

A small cave in Cave City, Kentucky with quick 30-minute tours at around 60°F.

The story

Onyx Cave was found in 1971 during the construction of a parking lot for a larger attraction. It opened as a show cave for the public in 1973. The cave was developed and managed by Cleon Turner, who also developed and managed nearby Crystal Onyx Cave. The first owners were Dan Broady, Ford Smith, TJ Adams, and Otis Edwards, who also owned Guntown Mountain. Dan Broady subsequently bought out the other owners to become sole owner.

Found
1971
Open to visitors since
1973

History source: onyxcave.com.

What you'll see

  • Waterfall Wall
  • Drippy Room
  • Big Column
  • Cave coral
  • Cave bacon

Tickets and timing

Adults
$12.50 (12+)
Kids
$8.50 (ages 5–11), free for 4 and under
How long it takes
30 minutes
Hours
Sat–Sun 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm.
Booking
Walk-ins only; no reservations. Tours run roughly every 30 minutes.

Getting around underground

The walk
The tour is 30-35 minutes with roughly 60 steps down into the cave and another 60 back up. The pace is slow to moderate.
Wheelchairs
Not handicap accessible.

Dogs, weather and what to wear

Dogs
Well behaved dogs are allowed in the rock shop. Registered service animals are welcome in the cave. Other well behaved dogs are allowed in the cave only if contained inside a bag or pack for the entire tour.
Temperature
About 60°F year-round

Good to know

Photos
Photography is allowed and encouraged, including flash photography if polite. Video recording is not allowed. Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are not permitted.
Food and drink
Only water in a sealed container is allowed inside the cave.
On site
Rock Shop, public bathrooms

Getting there

NashvilleLouisvilleLexingtonBowling Green

93 Huckleberry Knob Road, Cave City, Kentucky 42127

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Onyx Cave take?

30 minutes

How cold is it inside Onyx Cave?

About 60°F year-round.

Can you visit Onyx Cave in a wheelchair?

Not handicap accessible.

Are dogs allowed at Onyx Cave?

Well behaved dogs are allowed in the rock shop. Registered service animals are welcome in the cave. Other well behaved dogs are allowed in the cave only if contained inside a bag or pack for the entire tour.

Do you need to book Onyx Cave in advance?

Walk-ins only; no reservations. Tours run roughly every 30 minutes.

When was Onyx Cave discovered?

1971, according to the cave's own history.

Where is Onyx Cave?

93 Huckleberry Knob Road, Cave City, Kentucky 42127

Checked on 2026-10-22 against onyxcave.com (official site). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.

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