Ruby Falls
Chattanooga, TN, 60°F inside, from $29.95
180 ft
below the surface
Bristol Caverns
Bristol, TN
45–60 min
on the main tour
$19.95
adult ticket
A Bristol cave open year-round whose Classic Show Tour goes 180 feet down several flights of stairs in 45–60 minutes.
The story
Formerly known as Bishop Cave, the caverns were first guided in the early 1900s. Work on walkways and stairs began in 1933, done mostly by World War I veterans under the New Deal, and after eleven years of construction the caverns opened on Highway 421 in 1944.
- Open to visitors since
- 1944
History source: bristolcaverns.com.
Tickets and timing
- Adults
- $19.95 (13–59), seniors $16.95
- Kids
- $9.95 (ages 5–12), free for 4 and under
- How long it takes
- 45–60 minutes
- Hours
- Mid-March–October Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 12:30–5pm; rest of the year Mon–Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 12:30–4pm. Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
- Booking
- Book online. Guests with mobility concerns should contact the cave first.
Getting around underground
- The walk
- Several flights of stairs, 180 ft down.
Special tours and events
Lights Out, Riverwalk, Gigantis and River Challenge off-trail tours.
Getting there
Bristol Caverns is in or near Bristol, TN.
Directions in Google MapsDistances are straight-line from each city center.
Questions people ask
How long does a visit to Bristol Caverns take?
45–60 minutes
Do you need to book Bristol Caverns in advance?
Book online. Guests with mobility concerns should contact the cave first.
Checked on 2026-10-22 against bristolcaverns.com (tour and general information pages). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.
Other caves in Tennessee
The Caverns
Pelham, TN, 59°F inside, from $22.95
Forbidden Caverns
Sevierville, TN, 58°F inside, from $25
Bell Witch Cave
Adams, TN
Tuckaleechee Caverns
Townsend, TN, from $28