The Cave Guide

Raccoon Mountain Caverns

Chattanooga, TN
58°F
inside, all year
45–55 min
on the main tour

A Chattanooga cave with a 45–55 minute guided walk through the first quarter mile, plus wild cave expeditions.

The story

The caverns have been open to visitors since 1932, and explorers have mapped more than 5.5 miles of passages beyond the tour route. Dr. Steven Perlaky, who bought the cave in 1995, donated it to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2024 for research and teaching. Public tours continue, run by a separate business.

Open to visitors since
1932

History source: utc.edu.

What you'll see

  • Crystal Palace

Tickets and timing

How long it takes
45–55 minutes
Hours
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
Booking
Book online via the booking engine; check the booking engine for latest availability and timing.

Getting around underground

The walk
The first quarter mile, on lit paths with steps and handrails.

Dogs, weather and what to wear

Temperature
58°F year-round

Good to know

Best time to go
Arrive early, especially for Wild Cave tours that require time to gear up.
On site
Gem panning, Gift shop

Special tours and events

Wild cave expeditions deeper into the cave.

Getting there

NashvilleKnoxvilleMemphisAtlantaHuntsville

319 West Hills Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37419

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Raccoon Mountain Caverns take?

45–55 minutes

How cold is it inside Raccoon Mountain Caverns?

58°F year-round.

Do you need to book Raccoon Mountain Caverns in advance?

Book online via the booking engine; check the booking engine for latest availability and timing.

Where is Raccoon Mountain Caverns?

319 West Hills Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37419

Checked on 2026-10-22 against openroadresorts.com (Raccoon Mountain Caverns page). 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