The Cave Guide
The Volcano Room with its chandelier, Cumberland Caverns, TennesseePhoto: RL0919, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cumberland Caverns

McMinnville, TN
56°F
inside, all year
1.5 hr
on the main tour

A cave in McMinnville open year-round with walking tours, crawling adventure tours and overnight stays, at 56°F.

The story

Aaron Higgenbotham discovered a new cave on Cardwell Mountain near McMinnville, TN in 1810, about a mile from the already-known Henshaw Cave, and named it Higgenbotham Cave. Remnants of earlier saltpeter mining were noted in Henshaw Cave, likely from the War of 1812 or the Civil War. In 1953, NSS members found a connection between Henshaw Cave and Higgenbotham Cave, creating Cumberland Caverns. Development of portions of the connected cave system began in 1955, and on July 4, 1956, Roy Davis officially opened Cumberland Caverns to the public for tours. In 1981 the World's First Underground Theatre opened in the Volcano Room, and in 2008 the first Bluegrass Underground concert took place there.

Found
1810
Open to visitors since
1956

History source: cumberlandcaverns.com.

What you'll see

  • Volcano Room
  • Hall of the Mountain King
  • Chandelier

Tickets and timing

How long it takes
Discovery tour about 1.5 hours (1.5 miles); Cardwell Mountain History tour about 45 minutes (0.75 mile)
Hours
Open year-round, 7 days a week.
Booking
Reservations highly recommended; online booking closes 2 hours before departure. Check in 15 minutes early. Call 931-668-4396.

Getting around underground

The walk
Discovery: 350 natural stone steps on uneven dirt floors. Cardwell Mountain: no stairs but some steep hills. Plus a quarter-mile walk to the entrance.
Wheelchairs
Not accessible; wheelchairs aren't allowed.
Strollers
Not allowed (nor walkers).

Dogs, weather and what to wear

Dogs
Not allowed, including emotional support animals. ADA service animals on walking tours only.
Temperature
56°F, 99% humidity

Good to know

Food and drink
Food and drink are not allowed in the cave during regular tours. Food and drink is served at the Cave Cafe only during special events, like concerts and overnight adventure packages.
Wildlife
Wildlife lives in the cave; signs were added so guests can see what the wildlife looks like. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed on tours.
On site
gift shop, gem mining station, Cave Cafe

Special tours and events

Lantern tours, adventure crawls and overnight packages.

Getting there

NashvilleChattanoogaKnoxvilleMemphisHuntsville

1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville, Tennessee 37110

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Before you go

  • Wear lace-up walking shoes.
  • Bring a rain jacket for the walk to the entrance; there are hangers inside the cave door.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Cumberland Caverns take?

Discovery tour about 1.5 hours (1.5 miles); Cardwell Mountain History tour about 45 minutes (0.75 mile)

How cold is it inside Cumberland Caverns?

56°F, 99% humidity.

Can you visit Cumberland Caverns in a wheelchair?

Not accessible; wheelchairs aren't allowed.

Are dogs allowed at Cumberland Caverns?

Not allowed, including emotional support animals. ADA service animals on walking tours only.

Do you need to book Cumberland Caverns in advance?

Reservations highly recommended; online booking closes 2 hours before departure. Check in 15 minutes early. Call 931-668-4396.

When was Cumberland Caverns discovered?

1810, according to the cave's own history.

Where is Cumberland Caverns?

1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville, Tennessee 37110

Listed in: lantern and flashlight tours, wild caving tours

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

Other caves in Tennessee

Ruby Falls

Chattanooga, TN, 60°F inside, from $29.95

See all 12 caves in Tennessee