The Cave Guide
The excavated rock shelter at Meadowcroft, PennsylvaniaPhoto: Jbarta, CC0

Meadowcroft Rockshelter

Avella, PA
1 hr
on the main tour
$15
adult ticket

An archaeological rock shelter about an hour from Pittsburgh, toured on hour-long guided visits along with recreated Native American, frontier and 19th-century villages.

The story

Meadowcroft Rockshelter is described as the oldest site of human habitation in North America. The rock overhang was used 19,000 years ago for shelter by the region's first inhabitants. It is a National Historic Landmark and an internationally-renowned archeological treasure. Visitors can tour the Rockshelter and learn about prehistoric hunters and gatherers. The site also includes interpretive villages showing rural life over the past 500 years.

History source: heinzhistorycenter.org.

What you'll see

  • Rockshelter
  • Eastern Woodland Indian Village
  • Log cabin
  • Open-sided trading post
  • Historic Village
  • Church
  • One-room schoolhouse
  • Blacksmith shop

Tickets and timing

Adults
$15 (seniors $14, students $7)
Kids
Free for 17 and under
How long it takes
About 1 hour for the Rockshelter tour; plan 3 hours for the whole site
Hours
May weekends; Memorial Day–Labor Day Wed–Sun; then weekends to late November. 10am–4pm.
Booking
Sign up for Rockshelter tours at check-in; general tickets online. Call 724-587-3412.

Good to know

Food and drink
Bring a picnic lunch
On site
picnic area

Getting there

PittsburghPhiladelphiaHarrisburg

401 Meadowcroft Road, Avella, PA 15312

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Before you go

  • Bring a picnic.
  • Military get $2 off.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Meadowcroft Rockshelter take?

About 1 hour for the Rockshelter tour; plan 3 hours for the whole site

Do you need to book Meadowcroft Rockshelter in advance?

Sign up for Rockshelter tours at check-in; general tickets online. Call 724-587-3412.

Where is Meadowcroft Rockshelter?

401 Meadowcroft Road, Avella, PA 15312

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

Other caves in Pennsylvania

See all 10 caves in Pennsylvania