The Cave Guide
Stalagmites and columns inside Grand Caverns, VirginiaPhoto: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0

Grand Caverns

Grottoes, VA
70 min
on the main tour
$29
adult ticket

A cave in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with daily 70-minute walking tours for ages 3 and up, plus spelunking trips and an underground cinema.

The story

Grand Caverns was discovered in 1804 by Bernard (Barnette) Weyer while trying to retrieve one of his traps. Weyers Cave opened for tours in 1806, making it the oldest continually operating show cave in the U.S. The caverns were also called the Grottoes of the Shenandoah until named Grand Caverns in 1926. During the Civil War the cave was visited by both Confederate and Union soldiers, and there are over 200 verified civil war signatures in the cave. Grand Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1973, and on October 1, 2009, the Town of Grottoes took possession of the caverns.

Found
1804
Open to visitors since
1806

History source: grandcaverns.com.

Tickets and timing

Adults
Adult (13+) $29
Kids
Child (3-12) $17
How long it takes
70 minutes
Hours
October: Sun–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri–Sat last tour 1:30pm. November 1–March 31: daily 10am–4pm.
Booking
Tickets online; tours hold up to 25 people. Call 888-430-CAVE.

Getting around underground

The walk
Walking tours last 70 minutes.

Good to know

Minimum age
Ages 3 and up for walking tours; infants (0-2) no admission allowed.
Best time to go
Reservations are strongly recommended; tour times fluctuate seasonally.
On site
gift shop, picnic shelters, hiking trails, mini golf, sporting facilities, natural playground

Special tours and events

Spelunking trips from $65 (2 hours, 12+) to $120 (3–4 hours, 16+), and a Subterranean Cinema.

Getting there

Washington, DCRichmondRoanoke

5 Grand Caverns Drive, Grottoes, Virginia 24441

Parking: Park entry and parking are free.

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Before you go

  • Children under 3 aren't admitted.
  • Discounts for seniors and residents.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Grand Caverns take?

70 minutes

Do you need to book Grand Caverns in advance?

Tickets online; tours hold up to 25 people. Call 888-430-CAVE.

When was Grand Caverns discovered?

1804, according to the cave's own history.

Is there a minimum age for Grand Caverns?

Ages 3 and up for walking tours; infants (0-2) no admission allowed.

Where is Grand Caverns?

5 Grand Caverns Drive, Grottoes, Virginia 24441

Listed in: wild caving tours

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

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