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Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

August 12, 2023 by Brittany Ballard Leave a Comment

Caverns in Texas - 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Looking for caverns in Texas? Want to explore the best caves in Texas? Luckily, there’s a great mix of both in Austin!

Before we dive into the different bat caves in Texas or caverns Texas has to offer, what’s the difference between the two? Well, while used interchangeably, a cave is a naturally occurring cavity in the ground that is large enough for a human to enter. On the other hand, a cavern is a larger cave, typically with high ceilings and open chambers.

Let’s check out the best “salt cave near me” or cool tavern that everyone should visit at least once! Here’s our list of Austin Caves and Caverns in Texas for your next adventure!


Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.

Also, check out our recent articles Swimming Holes in Texas, Austin Lakes, and Waterfalls in Texas.


Deal Alert – Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide

 

Get a comprehensive overview of Austin on this sightseeing tour. See famous landmarks along with hidden gems, real neighborhoods, and food trucks. Learn about Austin’s history and culture with commentary from your guide and hear fun facts about the city that even the locals don’t know. Plus, choose a morning or afternoon departure to easily fit this tour into your schedule.

Get more information and book your Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide TODAY!!!


Caverns in Texas – Austin Caves

Inner Space Cavern

caverns in texas

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Inner Space Cavern

This cavern is known for its well-preserved fossils, including the remains of a saber-toothed cat and a giant ground sloth. If this showed up in the results for “cavern near me,” it also has a variety of other unique formations, including cave bacon!

Location: 4200 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Georgetown, TX 78626
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: Adventure Tour $21.95 per adult (Monday – Thursday); $15.95 per child (4-12 years old) & $22.95 per adult (Friday – Sunday); $16.95 per child (4-12 years old); Children under 3 years old FREE | Hidden Passages Tour $26.95 per adult (Monday – Thursday); $18.95 per child (7-12 years old) & $27.95 per adult (Friday – Sunday); $19.95 per child (4-12 years old) | Wild Cave Tour $125 per person (13 years old+) | Ice Age Tour $28.95 per person (13 years old+); $20.95 per child (6-12 years old)

Driving time from Austin: ~28 minutes


Longhorn Caverns State Park

This is one of the Texas caverns that are known for its large, open chambers and its colorful formations. Longhorn Caverns was once used as a hideout by the infamous outlaw Sam Bass.

Location: 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Saturday – Sunday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Cost: Cavern Walking Tour $22.25 per adult (12 years old+); $18.25 per child (4-11 years old) | Wild Cave Tour $100.25 per person

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 8 minutes


Natural Bridge Caverns

caves in texas

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Natural Bridge Caverns

Looking for “cave tours near me?” These are the largest known commercial caverns in the U.S. state of Texas. The caverns are home to a variety of unique formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and cave pearls. They also have a 60-foot natural limestone bridge that spans the entrance to the caverns.

Location: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Operating Hours: Daily 8:30 am – 7:30 pm
Cost: St. Mary’s Adventure Tour $129.99 per person | Discovery Adventure Tour $169.99 per person | Adult Cavern Tour $26.50 – $32.75

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 5 minutes


The Cave Without a Name

texas caves

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: The Cave Without a Name

A top contender for “caverns near me,” this one is known for its unusual formations, including cave popcorn, which are small, round formations that look like popcorn kernels. Cave Without a Name also has a variety of other unique features, including a waterfall that flows through the cave and a room that is filled with thousands of bats.

Location: 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
Operating Hours: Daily 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Cost: Children under 6 years old FREE | Standard $22 per adult; $11 per child (6-12 years old) | Military/Senior $20 per adult; $10 per child (6-12 years old) | Group Rates (12 or more paying guests) $17 per adult; $9.25 per child (6-12 years old)

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 37 minutes


Caverns of Sonora

texas caverns

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Caverns of Sonora

Another one of the caverns in TX, the Caverns of Sonora is known for its beautiful formations, including helictites, which are twisted, spiraling formations that are rarely found in other caves near Austin Texas. These Texas caverns also have a variety of wildlife, including bats, cave crickets, and cave salamanders.

Location: 1711 Private Rd 4468, Sonora, TX 76950
Operating Hours: Daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: Crystal Palace Tour Children under 4 years old FREE; $28 per adult; $22 per child (4-11 years old) | Horseshoe Lake Tour Children under 4 years old FREE; $24 per adult; $18 per child (4-11 years old)

Driving time from Austin: ~3 hours & 30 minutes


Cascade Caverns

caves texas

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Cascade Caverns

These could be the “best caverns near me” as the Cascade Caverns are known for their waterfalls and their variety of formations. Cascade Caverns is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bats, cave crickets, and cave salamanders.

Location: 226 Cascade Cavern, Boerne, TX 78015
Operating Hours: Daily 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: Daily Downunder Tours Children under 4 years old FREE; $19.95 per adult; $14.95 per child (4-11 years old)

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 33 minutes


Deal Alert – Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour

Want to see the best of Austin and Hill County in the comfort of an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz sprinter van with a local guide? Look no further! In 90 minutes, this signature tour covers 30 miles and 50+ points of interest, including the Texas Capitol and East Austin’s Six Square District, to give you a taste of the city’s rich culture and history. For even more exploration (with stops), check out the 2.5-hour version of this tour. Route subject to changes or substitutions.

Get more information and book your Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour TODAY!!!


Caverns in Texas – Best Caves in Austin

Colorado Bend State Park

texas cave

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Colorado Bend State Park

This park has some of the best Texas caves near Austin and is also a popular spot for camping, hiking, and fishing.

Location: 2236 Park Hill Dr, Bend, TX 76824
Operating Hours: Daily 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
Cost: Adventure Tour $25 per person (8 years old+)

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 42 minutes


Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park

caves in texas map

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Wonder World Cave Adventure Park

Choose this option out of all of the different suggestions in “cave near me.” Wonder World Cave is known for its colorful formations and its variety of wildlife!

Location: 1000 Prospect St, San Marcos, TX 78666
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm | Saturday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm | Sunday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Cost: Cave Tour Children under 4 years old FREE; $23.95 per adult; $17.95 per child (4-12 years old) | Train Ride Children under 4 years old FREE; $14.95 per person | All-in-one Ticket $7 Children under 4 years old & $5 per military child; $31.95 per adult & $26.95 per military adult; $23 per child (4-12 years old) & $18.95 per military child; $26.95 per Senior Citizen (65 years old+)

Driving time from Austin: ~36 minutes


Kickapoo Cavern State Natural Area

caverns in tx

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Kickapoo Cavern

This cave Texas is home to is known for its large, open chambers and its colorful formations. The State Park is also a popular spot for camping, hiking, and fishing.

Location: 20939 Ranch to Market Rd 674 N, Brackettville, TX 78832
Operating Hours: Saturday 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Cost: Cave tour $10 per person

Driving time from Austin: ~3 hours & 46 minutes


Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area

caverns texas

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Devil’s Sinkhole

Enjoy one of the coolest cave tours in Texas and the Devil’s Sinkhole, a cavern that’s more than 350ft deep!

Location: Rocksprings, TX 78880
Operating Hours: Sunday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: Morning Bat Flight Tours $20 per adult; $10 per child (1-11 years old) | Evening Bat Flight Tour Children under 4 years old FREE; $14 per adult; $11 per senior (65 years old+); $6 per child (4-12 years old)

Driving time from Austin: ~2 hours & 55 minutes


Bracken Cave

best caves in texas

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Bracken Cave

This is one of the “caves to explore near me” that is home to the largest colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in the world. Bracken Cave is also a popular spot for cave tours and bat-watching.

Location: 26101 FM3009, San Antonio, TX 78266
Operating Hours: Not stated
Cost: Member Bat Flights $10 per adult | Public Bat Flights $30 per person

Driving time from Austin: ~1 hour & 15 minutes


Frio Bat Cave

Caverns San Antonio - 12 Best Texas Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas | Image Credit: Frio Bat Cave

As one of the most popular caves in Texas, the bat flight is a popular tourist attraction, and visitors can watch the bats from a viewing platform located near the cave.

Location: Farm to Market 2690, Concan, TX 78838
Operating Hours: Daily 7:00 pm
Cost: Bat Tour Children under 6 years old FREE; $12 per adult; $10 per child (6-10 years old); $11 per military/veteran/first responder; $11 per senior (60 years old+)

Driving time from Austin: ~2 hours & 29 minutes


If you were trying to search for Austin caverns or Austin caves or or Austin cave or  Texas caverns near Austin TX or caverns near Austin Texas caves near me or salt caves near me or cavern tours near me or cave tour near me or crystal caves near me or cave in Texas, then we hope you found this post useful! Feel free to comment below and let us know how we could improve our articles.

Looking for Caverns in other cities? Check out these articles – Caverns Houston and Caverns San Antonio.

Stay up to date on all fun things going on in Austin with our weekly updates to Things to Do in Austin this Week, Things to Do in Austin this Weekend, & Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend

And to have these updates delivered directly to your feed, give us a follow on Facebook by clicking on the …next to the search lens icon

Filed Under: Day Trips, Discoveries, Outdoor, Things to do, Travel Tagged With: boerne, burnet tx, georgetown, san antonio, sonora

How to Have a Perfect Day in Georgetown, TX

February 13, 2018 by Danielle Fritz 5 Comments

Day Trip to Georgetown Texas

What will you discover in Georgetown? (Credit: Ashley Alkek)

The charming town of Georgetown is just 30 minutes north of downtown Austin. It’s perfect for a day trip–you’ll find establishments and attractions suited for a variety of visitors.

Spend the day exploring the area, eating at local restaurants, and catching performances in intimate venues. Below are a few of my recommendations when you’re ready to plan your trip!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Day Trips, Discoveries Tagged With: georgetown

Monument Market Puts a Fresh Spin on Going Local

February 18, 2014 by Samantha Champion 1 Comment

Monument Market Georgetown

Monument Market is located at 500 S Austin Ave. in Georgetown

Hello, we are Austin, and we are addicted to food.

Fortunately for us, we’re addicted to the good stuff: local, organic, sustainably farmed foods that promote our health and economy. We live in a city that is proud of its backyard gardens, chicken coops, and home-brewed kombucha. We are aspiring farmers, brewmasters, and butchers (well, some of us).

Our passion for local food is reflected on the menus of the many restaurants around town that boast local, organic produce, meat, and dairy. One of my favorite restaurants with a commitment to responsible eating is [Read more…]

Filed Under: Discoveries, Local Business Tagged With: georgetown

Day Trip to a Distant Past: Inner Space Caverns

February 25, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Inner Space Caverns entrance

Entrance to the Inner Space Caverns

Driving around Austin, there is so much to see to engage your imagination. Flashy neon signs, funky graffiti, natural parks.

But you may have missed one of the most natural beauties in the Austin area, just feet away. Seventy feet, to be exact, down below you as you pass along I-35 right outside of Georgetown.

The Inner Space Caverns were discovered in the 1960’s. Construction crews bore down while expanding the highway, only to realize that not only was their drill much deeper than they’d expected, but it was stuck! They drilled a 24″ hole nearby and lowered a man down to see exactly what was going on. Imagine drawing the short straw that day! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Day Trips, Discoveries Tagged With: georgetown

Texas Hill Country Town of Andice Claims World’s Best Burgers

September 11, 2012 by Eric Highland 26 Comments

Tucked away in practically the middle of nowhere is a tiny little town. You won’t find much in this town, yet people make the trek out there quite frequently.

To give you an idea of how small this place is, in the 2000 census, the population was 25. In 2005, the population was still…25.

Nothing in this little town changes much, except the name. Originally called Stapp, then later renamed to Barry’s Creek, this spot is now on its third name: Andice, TX.

Funny thing is, Andice is not the name the town wanted. They wanted Audice. But postal officials misread the name and Andice became official in 1899.

Why People Make the Trek to Andice, Texas

Andice General Store Texas a destination for cyclists

Andice General Store (Photo via bikenoob.com)

Our friend Tyler told us about this little town near Georgetown.

Tyler regularly bikes long distance, and one of his favorite destinations is the general store in Andice. It’s a 38 mile trip one way from Austin, and there isn’t much out there besides a couple of churches and the store. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: georgetown

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