Some caves turn the lights off: you walk by lantern, candle or handheld flashlight, the way early visitors did. These tours are usually smaller, longer and seasonal, and many have a minimum age.
15 caves. Each note is taken from the cave's own site or park page, checked 2026-10-22. Rules change, so confirm before you go.
A lantern-lit cave tour at Onondaga Cave State Park, more strenuous than the main cave and limited to 20 people.
Leasburg, MO, 57°F inside, from $15
A separate cave inside Mammoth Cave National Park with stalactites, gypsum crystals and helictites, seen only on the summer weekend Great Onyx Lantern Tour.
Kentucky, from $31
An unlit cave next to Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, toured by flashlight on a 90-minute guided tour.
Hannibal, MO, from $32.99
A Tennessee state park cave with summer tours by handheld flashlight past historic cave art; tours often sell out.
Tennessee, 56°F inside
A cave about eight miles north of Shoshone that you explore yourself by lantern, about a quarter mile in and out, with two natural history museums on the same ticket.
Shoshone, ID, from $15.00
Alongside the regular lit tour.
Historic Lantern Tour and Wild Caving Tour ($45, 16+, 3–4 hours) in summer.
Custer, SD, 49°F inside, from $16
Candlelight tour (10+), Kids & Family tour, and a 3-hour off-trail caving tour ($65, 15+).
Oregon, from $20
Lantern tours ($39.95) Saturdays at 7pm, Memorial Day–Labor Day; Black Light Adventure ($36) on select dates; weddings and vow renewals.
Camdenton, MO, 60°F inside, from $30
Lantern tours, adventure crawls and overnight packages.
McMinnville, TN, 56°F inside
Candlelight tours ($25) with tickets online from the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Whitehall, MT, from $15
Night lantern tours, a haunted hayride and paranormal investigations in October.
Adams, TN
