Florida Caverns State Park is a Florida State Park in Marianna, Florida 32446. It is the only Florida state park to offer public cave tours and one of very few state parks in the south-eastern United States with dry, air-filled show caves. This guide covers opening hours, cave tour times, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026. Tours are paused on specific fortnightly maintenance dates throughout 2026 — a full list appears in the cave tour section below. Many visitors arrive expecting a tour and find the caves closed; this guide includes every affected date.
Quick facts: Florida Caverns State Park
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, FL 32446 |
| Park hours (day-use) | 8:00am to sunset, daily |
| Cave tour hours | 9:00am–4:00pm (last tour), 7 days a week |
| Day-use vehicle admission | $5 per vehicle |
| Pedestrians and cyclists | $2 per person |
| Cave tour — adult (13+) | $16 + tax |
| Cave tour — child (3–11) | $9 + tax |
| Cave tour — children 2 and under | Free |
| Parking | Free, 4 lots on site |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours (cave tour + grounds) |
Florida Caverns State Park opening hours
The park’s day-use area is open every day from 8:00am to sunset. The park is in the Central Time Zone — an important detail for visitors arriving from Eastern Time areas.
Cave tours run seven days a week from 9:00am to 4:00pm (last tour). Tours depart at least once an hour.
Cave tour maintenance closure dates — 2026: Tours are suspended on the following Wednesdays for routine cave cleaning. The park is still open for all other activities on these days; only the cave tours are paused.
- May 13 and 20
- June 3 and 17
- July 8 and 22
- August 5 and 19
- September 2, 16, 23, and 30
- October 7, 14, 21, and 28
- November 4 and 18
- December 2, 9, and 16
- January 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2027
Tours resume the following day (Thursday) after each closure.
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Florida Caverns State Park ticket prices
Day-use admission (required for all visitors entering the park) is paid separately from cave tour tickets.
| Visitor type | Day-use fee |
|---|---|
| Vehicle (up to 8 people) | $5 |
| Single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle | $4 |
| Pedestrians and cyclists | $2 per person |
| Florida State Parks Annual Pass holders | Included |
Cave tour tickets are in addition to the day-use admission fee:
| Visitor type | Cave tour fee |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 13+) | $16 + tax |
| Children (ages 3–11) | $9 + tax |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
Cave tour tickets are available first-come, first-served at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop (open 9am–4pm). A limited number of tickets can be booked in advance online. Tours sell out regularly on weekends and public holidays; arriving early is strongly recommended. Ticket sales open when the gift shop opens at 9am.
Florida State Parks Annual Pass covers day-use entry. A Military Entrance Pass (free for life) is available for qualifying US military veterans; check floridastateparks.org for eligibility.
Camping: $20 per night plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. RV and hook-up sites add a $7 per night utility fee covering water, electricity, and sewer. Tent camping does not incur the utility fee. Florida residents aged 65+ or with qualifying disability documentation receive a 50% discount on base campsite fees.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official Florida State Parks website and the official cave tour operator site (floridacaverns.com) and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to Florida Caverns State Park
The park is approximately five minutes north of downtown Marianna and is reached via Caverns Road.
By car: From Interstate 10, take exit 142 and follow SR 71 north. At US 90, turn left (west) and continue to downtown Marianna, where signs direct you to turn right on SR 166/Florida Caverns Road. Continue north, crossing the Chipola River; the park entrance is 1.3 miles beyond the bridge on the left.
From the park entrance, take a left at the fork to reach the cave visitor centre and main parking lot. A right at the fork leads to the Blue Hole swimming area and campground.
By rideshare: Uber and Lyft both operate in the Marianna area. The park is approximately five minutes from the town centre.
Parking at Florida Caverns State Park
Parking is free and is included in the day-use admission fee. Four parking lots are distributed across the park: one near the cave visitor centre and gift shop, one near the Blue Hole swimming area, and additional lots near the campground and trailheads. The parking area at the cave visitor centre can fill on busy weekends; arriving by 9:00am is advisable if you want an early tour.
How long to spend at Florida Caverns State Park
Allow two to three hours for a visit that includes the cave tour, a walk to the Blue Hole, and time on one of the hiking trails. The cave tour alone takes approximately one hour. Visitors who plan to kayak on the Chipola River or spend time at the Blue Hole swimming area should allow a half day or more.
Accessibility at Florida Caverns State Park
The cave tour is not accessible for visitors with mobility limitations. The tour covers approximately 0.75 miles and includes stairways, ascending and descending slopes, slippery walkways, ceiling heights of as low as 4.5 feet, and passages as narrow as 2.5 feet. Strollers and infant back carriers are not permitted inside the cave. Visitors who use wheelchairs or who have limited mobility, vertigo, or claustrophobia should assess whether the tour is suitable for them before purchasing tickets.
The park grounds above the cave — picnic areas, trails, and the Blue Hole area — are more accessible, with paved paths and accessible restrooms and campsites. Contact the park on (850) 526-2650 to discuss specific requirements before visiting.
Service animals certified to assist visitors with disabilities are permitted. Pets are not allowed in the cave or in the Blue Hole swimming area; leashed pets are welcome on the park trails above ground.
Inside Florida Caverns State Park: what to see and do
The cave tour is the park’s principal attraction and the only public show cave tour offered anywhere in the Florida state park system. The cave temperature is 65°F (18°C) year-round — bring a light layer regardless of outside temperature. Tours last approximately one hour and are fully guided. The cave contains limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, draperies, and columns formed over thousands of years. Tricoloured bats roost inside the cave and are regularly visible during tours.
Before entering the cave, read the safety and conservation rules carefully:
- Wear closed-toed shoes with grip soles. Flip-flops and sandals are not permitted.
- No backpacks, large bags, or bulky totes — lockers are available at the visitor centre.
- No strollers or infant back carriers.
- No food, drink, gum, candy, or tobacco.
- Do not touch any cave formations. Oils from skin accelerate damage to the limestone.
- No tripods or monopods (cameras and phones are permitted).
White-Nose Syndrome — a critical conservation rule: White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease spread through spores that attach to clothing and shoes worn in cave environments. It is harmless to humans but has killed millions of bats across North America. If you have visited any other cave anywhere in the world, do not wear the same shoes or clothing at Florida Caverns. This policy is strictly observed to protect the park’s bat colonies.
The Blue Hole is a spring-fed swimming area in the northern section of the park, near the campground. Swimming is permitted in the designated area only; there is no lifeguard. The water is spring-temperature — cool even in summer — and the site is popular with campers. Leashed pets are not permitted in the swimming area.
Hiking trails include the Sinkhole Trail (1.2 miles), which starts near the Blue Hole and campground and provides views of Sugar Mill Run and its cypress swamp. Additional trails wind around the cave area and through the karst landscape — a terrain of sinkholes, springs, and limestone outcrops rare in Florida. Pick up the interpretive trail guide at the ranger station.
Cycling is permitted on the park’s paved road. Bicycles must stay on paved surfaces. Helmets are required for cyclists aged 16 and under under Florida law.
Practical visitor tips for Florida Caverns State Park
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check your visit date against the closure list | Cave tours are suspended on specific Wednesdays throughout 2026 for maintenance. The full list is in the opening hours section above. Arriving on one of these dates means the cave is closed; the park remains open for all other activities. |
| Arrive early on weekends | Tours sell out, particularly on weekends and public holidays. Arriving when the gift shop opens at 9am to purchase tickets for your preferred tour is the safest approach. |
| Do not wear cave shoes from other visits | White-Nose Syndrome fungal spores spread via clothing and footwear from other caves. This is not a suggestion — it is park policy, designed to protect the bat population that lives inside the cavern. |
| Bring a layer — the cave is 65°F year-round | Even in Florida summer, the cavern is cool and humid. A light jacket or long-sleeved shirt makes the hour-long tour more comfortable. |
| The tour is physically demanding | The moderate-to-severe rating on the official site is accurate. There are stairs, slopes, low ceilings, and narrow passages. Anyone with mobility limitations, a fear of confined spaces, or difficulty on uneven ground should consider whether the tour is appropriate before purchasing tickets. |
Frequently asked questions about Florida Caverns State Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Florida Caverns State Park open every day? | The park grounds are open every day, 8am to sunset. Cave tours run seven days a week from 9am to 4pm (last tour), with the exception of specific Wednesday maintenance days listed on the official site and in this guide. |
| Do you need to book cave tour tickets in advance? | Walk-up tickets are available at the gift shop from 9am. A limited number of tours can be pre-booked. Tours sell out on weekends and holidays; arriving early or booking online is strongly recommended. |
| Are children allowed on the cave tour? | Children aged 3–11 may join the tour (with an adult). Children under 3 are not recommended due to the physical demands. All children must stay with an adult at all times. No strollers or infant back carriers are permitted inside the cave. |
| Can I bring my dog to Florida Caverns State Park? | Leashed pets are welcome on the park’s above-ground trails and in the campground. They are not permitted in the cave, in the Blue Hole swimming area, or in any park buildings. |
| What should I wear to the cave tour? | Closed-toed shoes with grip soles are required. The cave is 65°F and humid; bring a light jacket or layer. Do not wear shoes or clothes that you have previously worn in any other cave anywhere in the world. |
Things to do near Florida Caverns State Park
Marianna Civil War Battlefield (Marianna, ~5 minutes’ drive south) marks the site of the 1864 Battle of Marianna, one of the few Civil War engagements fought in Florida. A small park with interpretive signs and a walking path.
Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail (near Marianna, ~10 minutes) is a short heritage trail along the Chipola River, accessible to paddlers from the river and to hikers from a trailhead on SR 162. It passes a historic iron bridge and a centuries-old Spanish-moss-draped cemetery.
Jackson County Farmers’ Market (Marianna, seasonal) operates in the town centre with local produce, crafts, and regional food products.
Florida Caverns Golf Course (adjacent to the park) is a nine-hole public golf course on the park boundary, available to visitors during park hours.
What to visit tomorrow: caves and caverns within two hours of Florida Caverns State Park
Falling Waters State Park (Chipley, FL, ~30 miles east, ~40 minutes) contains Florida’s highest waterfall — a 67-foot cascade that drops into a cylindrical sinkhole. The short trail to the falls passes through a karst landscape similar to Florida Caverns, though there is no cave tour.
Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park (Woodville, FL, ~80 miles south-east, ~1.5 hours) is a Civil War site on the St. Marks River, where a natural limestone bridge crosses the river. The site includes trails, historical interpretation, and a river swimming area.
Wakulla Springs State Park (Wakulla Springs, FL, ~90 miles south-east, ~1.5 hours) is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, with glass-bottom boat tours over the spring basin and swimming in a crystal-clear natural pool. No caves, but the spring and karst system is closely related geologically.
Caves at Vortex Spring (Ponce de Leon, FL, ~35 miles west, ~40 minutes) is a privately operated dive resort and snorkelling spring, popular with cave divers and snorkellers. Not a state park, but a clear-water karst site on the same geological formation.
Torreya State Park (Bristol, FL, ~55 miles south-east, ~1 hour) protects one of the most botanically rare habitats in North America — a ravine ecosystem on the Apalachicola River bluffs with species found nowhere else on earth. Steep hiking trails and a historic plantation house.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- First time visitor’s guide to Gator Beach in Destin, Florida’s Emerald Coast.
- Top beaches near Destin: Henderson Beach State Park and Grayton Beach State Park.
- Guide to the St Andrews State Park to Shell Island ferry.
- Florida state park guides: Manatees and water sports at Blue Spring State Park between Orlando and Daytona Beach and Investigating the giant sinkhole while visiting Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville.
- The distance, driving time and best stops on a Jacksonville to Tallahassee drive.
