Top caves
CaveOnondaga Cave State Park
CaveBridal Cave
CaveFantastic Caverns
CaveCurrent River Cavern
CaveMeramec State Park
CaveGraham Cave
CaveMarvel Cave
CaveMeramec Caverns
CaveMark Twain Cave
CaveCave Spring
CaveOzark Caverns
CaveTalking Rocks Cavern
All caves (15)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Cave State Park | Crawford County | 201 m | Bourbon | 3 |
| Bridal Cave | Camden County | — | Camdenton | 3 |
| Fantastic Caverns | Greene County | — | Willard | 5 |
| Current River Cavern | Carter County | — | Winona | 2 |
| Meramec State Park | Franklin County | — | Sullivan | 4 |
| Graham Cave | Montgomery County | — | Montgomery City | 3 |
| Marvel Cave | Stone County | — | Kimberling City | 3 |
| Meramec Caverns | Franklin County | — | Sullivan | 4 |
| Mark Twain Cave | Marion County | — | Hannibal | 5 |
| Cave SpringOzark | Shannon County | — | Salem | 2 |
| Ozark Caverns | Camden County | — | Osage Beach | 3 |
| Talking Rocks Cavern | Stone County | — | Kimberling City | 3 |
| Bluff Dweller's Cave | McDonald County | — | Noel | 3 |
| Onyx Cave | Phelps County | — | Dixon | 3 |
| Barnes Enclosure and Cave Spring Interpretive CenterCalifornia | Jackson County | — | Raytown | 7 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph caves
Caves are lit artificially — show caves have fixed lighting, so a fast lens and high ISO beat flash, which flattens formations.
- Many show caves restrict tripods on tours; ask in advance or bring a small beanbag.
- Use manual focus with focus peaking in low light.
- Never touch formations — skin oils stop their growth.
- Follow White-nose Syndrome decontamination rules where posted to protect bats.
Season: Cave interiors stay at a constant temperature year-round; summer tours fill up, so book ahead.