Park Summary for Print - Florida Caverns State Park

Gold and brown limestone formations cover a cavern wall.

Welcome to Florida Caverns State Park

This is one of the few state parks with dry (air filled) caves and is the only Florida state park to offer cave tours to the public. The cave has dazzling formations of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, and draperies. Florida Caverns is also popular for camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, boating, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding (The park does not rent horses). Stables are available for equestrian campers. Cave tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and are considered to be moderately strenuous. An audiovisual program, touring the cave and other natural areas of the park, is available in the visitor center. Located three miles north of Marianna on State Road 166.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Florida Caverns State Park, please call 850-482-9598.

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Hours of Operation

8:00 AM to sunset

Driving Directions

Florida Caverns State Park is located 3 Miles North of Marianna, Off of U.S. 90 on S.R. 166. From Tallahassee: Take I-10 west to exit 142, turn right on Hwy 71 N to Hwy 90, turn left. Follow brown park signs. From Pensacola: Take I-10 East to exit 136, turn left on Hwy 276 N to Hwy 90, turn right. Follow brown park signs.

Park Fees

Park Entrance--$4.00 per vehicle. Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Extra passengers, Passengers in a vehicles with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Permit - Admission Fee $1.00.
Cave Tour Fees: Age 13 and up $8.00, Age 3 to 12 $5.00, Age 2 and under free. Organized groups of 25 or more with prepaid reservations will be $4.00 per person (Please read group reservation restrictions on the Park Activities page for full information).
Campsite Fees $17.00 plus tax.

Activities at Florida Caverns State Park

	Bicycling MULTI-USE TRAILS: Horseback riding, bicycling, and walking are just some ways to view the beautiful scenery of Florida Caverns State Park. Tour several miles of multiuse trails while viewing natural wonders such as floodplains, sinkholes, rivers and Karst topography. View a wide variety of plants and animals as you journey through these unchanged natural areas. A trail map is available at the designated entrances to these trails as well as the ranger station. The Upper Chipola Recreational Trail system has been established through a cooperative effort between Northwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Caverns State Park. Volunteers and staff maintain the trails and invite you to ride horses, bicycle, and walk while enjoying the Real Florida. Please remember that flowers are for everyone, insects bite, trails have wet areas and moving water is dangerous!
	Boating A boat ramp is located between the park entrance station and the family camping area. Only small boats are recommended to launch from this area due to water levels and possible underwater hazards along the Chipola River. Boaters can take a leisurely tour along the river and can also fish and view a variety of wildlife. Traveling south under the bridge at the boat ramp is not recommended.
	Canoeing & Kayaking Canoeing is available up the scenic Chipola River. Take a leisurely tour up this Florida Outstanding Waterway and experience more of the " Real Florida" . A wide variety of flora and fauna can be observed during your trip. Herons & Egrets, Alligators, Beavers, and snakes are just a few common sites you will see as you travel upstream through this wonderful natural community. Canoe rentals are available at the park entrance station and can be rented for ½ day and full day trips. Fees are $15.00 plus tax ½ day (up to 4 hours) and $20.00 plus tax full day. Large boats are not recommended in the river.
	Concessions The park's concession is located inside our historic Visitor Center. Refreshments and souveniers are available. This is also the location where you can purchase your tickets to go on a cave tour.
	Fishing Fishing is available at the boat ramp located on Blue Hole Drive. A variety of fish such as Bass, Catfish, Sunfish, Mullet, etc. can be caught from this area. A unique river sink is located here, where the Chipola River sinks 90 feet below the surface and finally reappears ½-mile downstream. Prior to the early 1900s a ½-mile natural land bridge existed where the Chipola River disappeared into a sinkhole. Evidently at that time a " log run" was created across the natural land bridge for the purpose of floating felled timber downstream to a nearby sawmill. Please be sure to know your limits and follow all rules and regulations while fishing at Florida Caverns State Park. Do you need a Fishing License? Do you need a Fishing License?
	Full Facility Camping This 1,319-acre park has 38 campsites with electric and water hookups available for reservation through Reserve America.
	Guided Tours Guided tours of the cave are offered every Thursday through Monday (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday) except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Tours leave from the Visitor Center, which opens at 9:00am each day. Tour sizes are limited to 25 people per tour. Reservations are available for groups of 25 or more with a pre-paid reservation. Group reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance of your arrival. Reservations for group tours are conducted Monday through Friday only. All tours on weekends are first come first served, and are at regular admission prices. Please contact the park at 850-482-1341 for group reservations. Call 850-482-9599 for general tour information. Tour fees are 0-2 years of age-free, 3-12 $5.00 plus tax each, 13 and up $8.00 plus tax each. Groups of 25 or more with prepaid reservations are $4.00 plus tax per person. The tour last for about 45 minutes and takes you along a path about 1600 feet long where you can view a number of beautiful formations as they are explained by your tour guide. NOTE: Cave tours regularly sell out and the last cave tour leaves at 4:00p.m. CST each day.
	Horse Trails An Equestrian Facility is Located in the center of the multiuse trail system. Horseback riders can enjoy the use of stables. A wash rack is located directly behind these stables to clean and cool the horses after a hard days work. Restrooms and picnic shelters are also nearby for your convenience. Three RV sites are located adjacent to the stables and are available for campers bringing horses. To make reservatins please call the Florida State Parks Toll Free Reservation Line at 1-800-326-3521. The horse stables may be reserved when camping. To reserve stable space, please call the park with your campsite reservation # after you have made your camping reservations with the Florida State Parks Toll Free Reservation Line. Please be sure to bring a current Coggin's test for each horse. Equestrian entrance fees at the park are $6.00 plus tax per horse. Family, per tow vehicle and trailer, four horse maximum $14.00. At this time the park does not rent horses. Horses are restricted to trails.
	Interpretive Programs Memorial Day to Labor Day, Park Rangers offer a wide variety of programs on Saturday evenings for your enjoyment. Please call 850-482-1228 the week of your visit to find out times and subjects.
	Nature Trails The park offers two nature trails that allow you to explore the beautiful rocky bluffs that tower above the river floodplain. Both trails start at the Visitor Center. The terrain is steep in places and considered mildly strenuous. Because the bluffs are such a unique environment many rare species of plants can be seen. The trails are for foot traffic only.
	Pet Camping Pet camping is available.
	Picnicking 6 picnic areas are located throughout the park for your enjoyment. Tables and grills are available on a first come first serve basis. There are 5 pavilions that may be reserved in advance for a special event. The Hickory Shelter has a restroom facility and a playground nearby. The Horse Camp Shelter is located directly across from the Blue Hole swimming Area. Other Shelters include Beech Shelter and the Sweetgum Shelter. Picnic shelter prices are as follows: Large shelter-Hickory Shelter (holds between 60-100 people) $60.00/day + tax and the small shelters- Sweetgum, Horse Camp, and Beech (holds between 30-60 people) are $30.00/day + tax. Contact the ranger station for shelter reservations and dates.
	Playground There is a playground within the park, which has state of the art equipment and bench’s to sit on.
	Showers Public showers are provided
	Swimming Located near the campground, a river vent rises to create the Blue Hole swimming area. This favorite warm weather attraction provides a great way to cool down during the hot summer months. The spring water is usually clear during periods of low rainfall. A retaining wall is located on the West Side of the swimming area with a beach while the East Side of the swimming area offers a wooden platform. Two bridges on the North & South end of the swimming area are good locations to view wildlife and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The river vent, located directly adjacent to the swimming area has been measured at 97.6 feet deep and during periods of heavy rain, flood waters may rise more than 10 feet above normal levels. There are No Lifeguards on Duty, Swim at your own Risk.
	Visitor Center The attractive Visitor Center provides historical interpretation in its walk-through museum and large screen video tour of the caverns. The Civilian Conservation Corps completed this park facility in 1942. The museum displays a large variety of exhibits offering cultural and natural resource information.
	Youth Camping The youth camp is designed to accommodate organized groups. The setting allow everyone a chance to experience primitive group camping. The camp is located near the Visitors Center has the capacity of 100 primitive campers. This area has 2 toilets, 1 cold shower, 1 water faucet, picnic tables, and 2 large fire pits. Fees for youth area are 2.00 per adult and $1.00 per child per night plus tax per night

Special Events for Florida Caverns State Park

There are no events listed at this time. Please call our park for more details on possible future events.

Florida Caverns State Park Ranger Programs

CAVE GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours of the cave are offered every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Tours leave from the Visitor Center, which opens at 9:00am each day. Tour sizes are limited to 25 people per tour. Reservations are available for groups of 25 or more with a pre-paid reservation. Group reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance of your arrival. Reservations for group tours are conducted Monday through Friday only. All tours on weekends are first come first served, and are at regular admission prices. Please contact the park at 850-482-1341 for group reservations. Tour fees are 0-2 years of age-free, 3-12 $5.00 plus tax each, 13 and up $8.00 plus tax each. Groups of 25 or more with prepaid reservations are $4.00 plus tax per person. The tour last for about 45 minutes and takes you along a path about 1600 feet long where you can view a number of beautiful formations as they are explained by your tour guide. NOTE: Cave tours regularly sell out and the last cave tour leaves at 4:30p.m. CST each day.
Call (850)482-9599 for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Caverns State Park

Question: What items are not permitted inside the cave?
Answer: Food, Drinks, Smoking, flashlights or headlamps, continual light sources, and other items deemed inappropriate by the tour guide. Reasons for this are to provide a consistent and quality tour to ALL visitors. The guide will be pointing to formations inside the cave. Flash photography is permitted.

Question: Are there any discounts given on cave tours?
Answer: Groups of 25 or more with a prepaid reservation Monday through Friday except for state holidays may receive a discount. Please call 850-482-1341 for a reservation.

Question: Do you sell tour tickets in advance?
Answer: Yes. Tour tickets may be purchase in advance of any tour for the current day and they must be purchased in person at the park. The park does sell pre-paid reservations for groups of 25 or more Monday through Friday except for state holidays. Contact 850-482-1341 for reservations.

Question: Are there lifeguards on duty at the swimming area?
Answer: There are no lifeguards on duty, SWIM AT OWN RISK.

Question: Do we need reservations to camp?
Answer: No. Although reservations are recommended, the park reserves 10% of its campsites for walk in customers. These sites may be purchased on a first come-first serve basis and are usually sold very quickly!

Question: Where can we rent canoes?
Answer: Canoes may be rented from the ranger station. You will pick up your gear and then proceed to the Chipola River Boat Ramp to pick up your canoe.

Question: Can small children go through the cave?
Answer: Yes, but strollers and backpack carriers are not permitted inside the cave. Young children must be accompanied by an adult.

Question: Can I take my pet through the cave?
Answer: No. (exception: Guide dogs or service animals are welcome in all areas of the park.)