Our Florida Caverns Adventure: Camping, Caves, and Natural Wonders

If you’re like us—forever on the lookout for those perfect getaways that balance chill camping vibes with the natural world’s best offerings—then Florida Caverns State Park is absolutely a must-do on your list! Tucked in among charming Marianna, this hidden gem is where the Sunshine State’s fabled sunshine makes a thrilling detour into underground enchantment. Don’t you just love when you can bring in your travel trailer to a lovely campsite and then head out to discover spooktacular caves all in one day? That’s the magic precisely that we had on our Florida Caverns trip that left us with so many wonderful memories! Trust us, this park is an adventure that you simply can’t find elsewhere in the Sunshine State—it’s camping with an interesting twist!

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Ready for an Amazing Cave Adventure? Here’s How to Get There!

• Florida Caverns State Park address is 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, FL 32446. We found this natural wonder just 3 miles north of Marianna, off U.S. Highway 90 on State Road 166.
• Coming from Tallahassee? Take I-10 West to Exit 142, make a right onto Highway 71 North to Highway 90, then swing left.
• Traveling from Pensacola? Hop on I-10 East to Exit 136, take a left onto Highway 276 North to Highway 90, then turn right. Keep your eyes peeled for those helpful brown park signs that will guide you right to the entrance.

What to Know Before You Explore Florida Caverns

• Park Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset (Central Time).
• Park entrance fee: $5 per vehicle (up to 8 people). Camping fees are separate.
• Reservations & Tickets: Book cave tours in advance: Available Thursday through Monday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. Insider Tip: Book your tour online ahead of time—spots fill fast, especially on weekends! Reserve online through the Florida Caverns Gift Shop. (850-526-2650)
• Best seasons: Spring (March–May) or fall (September–November) for mild weather.
• Pets: Well-behaved pets are welcome. They must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and supervised at all times.
• Cell Service: Download offline maps—cell service can be spotty in the park.
• RV camping: Campsites can be reserved up to 11 months in advance through the Florida State Parks reservations website.

For your Florida Caverns adventure, wear closed-toe shoes with good grip. Bring a light jacket, as the cave stay around 65°F year-round. Leave backpacks, food, drinks, and strollers behind. Only small essentials like a phone or camera (no flash) are allowed inside. Avoid wearing anything used in other caves to protect local bats. If you’re exploring above ground, pack water, snacks, insect repellent, sunscreen, and trail-appropriate footwear. Optional items like a flashlight, gloves, or dry bag can be useful, especially if you’re hiking, paddling, or camping. Prepare for both underground and outdoor conditions, and you’ll have a safe and memorable experience.

Important Note: Florida Caverns State Park was significantly impacted by Hurricane Michael in October 2018, when the Category 5 storm tore through the Florida Panhandle. You’ll notice more open sky in areas that were once shaded, and fewer mature trees in the campground. Park staff have done a tremendous job in bringing the park back. Your visit supports ongoing conservation and recovery efforts.

Setting Up Camp in Nature’s Backyard on our Florida Caverns Adventure

The peaceful feeling of the campground struck us immediately as we arrived with our camper. The park features 38 campsites, including 32 with full hookups (electric, water, and sewer) and 6 in the equestrian area. Site #38 was perfect for our setup. The restroom and showers are centrally located in the campground, ensuring comfort during your stay. After a quick leveling job and slide-out deployment, we kicked back, enjoying the sunshine, ready for a weekend of exploring.

Pro tip: Book early for a spot near the loop’s edge—you’ll get easy access to the hiking trails. Waking up to sunshine and birdsong? Pure bliss.

Kick Off Your Visit at the Historic Florida Caverns Visitor Center

Before we dived into the underground wonders, we got an early morning start to our adventure at the Florida Caverns Visitor Center. This historic stone building—originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It is not only the hub for purchasing cave tour tickets, but also a mini-museum. We found it packed with exhibits on the park’s geology, wildlife, and cultural history. It’s the perfect place to get your bearings, ask questions. Here we learned how these incredible caverns were formed over millions of years. Plus, the rangers and staff are super friendly and full of great tips to make the most of your visit!

Geology of Florida Caverns State Park

Inside are exhibits that detail the geology of this special place. Imagine 38 million years ago a shallow, warm sea, covering what is now Florida. As millions of sea creatures like coral, mollusks, and tiny plankton went about their business and eventually died. Their skeletons and shells sank gradually to the bottom of the sea, forming thick layers of calcium carbonate. Years passed by, and these layers formed the solid limestone bedrock we find here today.

Once the sea did eventually recede, something truly incredible began to occur! A bit of slightly acidic rainwater (thanks to dissolved carbon dioxide) flowed into cracks in the limestone (the Karst), slowly digesting these incredible caverns. This natural chemical weathering created the breathtaking underground wonderland you see today. They are incredibly complete. We saw beautiful stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites growing up from the floor, massive columns, and smooth, flowing flowstone formations!

Ancient Footsteps: The Chatot People and the Land Before the Park

We learned that prior to European settlers arriving in the area, indigenous Chatot inhabited the region surrounding Florida Caverns. Although there is no certain evidence that they explored the deep cave systems. Perhaps it was because of spiritual reasons or physical challenges on their part. They did, however, make full use of the surrounding lands. The fertile soils, rivers, and forests offered rich opportunities for hunting, fishing, and gathering. Archaeological discoveries, like ceramic shards and stone tools, give us a glimpse of their lives. They show us that this territory was significant long before the park was established.

Built by Hand: The CCC and the Birth of the Park

Imagine stumbling upon mysterious openings in the earth with cold air strangely drifting up from below. Such was the intriguing reality for early colonists, timbermen, and hunters who first encountered Florida’s hidden subterranean world. Such tantalizing glimpses of the earth’s secrets remained, to a large degree, untapped until the 1930s. This was when adventurous, youthful males of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived. Charged with the responsibility of developing the area as a state park, the laborers not only developed the soil—but stumbled upon an underground wonderland. As they went deeper into tunnels that had remained hidden in darkness for thousands of centuries they experienced the discovered these hidden wonders.

The Beginning of the Caverns: Chalifoux’s Incredible Discovery

Florida Caverns was opened to the public in 1942 after National Park Service geologist Oliver Chalifoux discovered it in 1937. Crawling through a small opening in a sinkhole beneath a fallen tree while exploring, he stumbled upon an undisturbed world of limestone formations. His discovery led to the park’s development, making Florida’s only publicly accessible air-filled cave system.

The Star of the Show: Florida Caverns Don’t-Miss Adventures Below Ground

Now let’s get down to business: the cave tour is not to be missed. Florida Caverns is the only state park in the entire state of Florida that has public access to air-filled caves. Touring them is absolute magic. We arrived at the Visitor Center gift store for our Florida Caverns adventure well before 9 am to secure a spot on the first tour of the day. Tour tickets are first-come, first-served and frequently selling out quickly. (20 per tour)

A Journey Underground: Touring the Florida Caverns

We took a 45-minute guided tour that began at the visitor’s center. The 3/4 mile tour took us deep into the park’s stunning limestone caverns. We made the short walk to the cave’s natural entrance, a moss-draped hole in the hillside. As we ducked through the low archway, the temperature dropped instantly. The path opens into a vast chamber known as the Drapery Room, with a 25-foot ceiling. Ranger Mark pointed his flashlight upward. Illuminating stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (rising from the floor) that glistened like frozen waterfalls. He pointed out the “Rock Garden,” a cluster of delicate soda straw formations—thin, hollow tubes that take centuries to form. A highlight for me on the tour.

Pro Tip: The trail is well lit and relatively easy to traverse. Although solid shoes are necessary (it’s slippery!), and you’ll be glad you brought a light coat—the caves stay a chilly 65°F year-round.

Next, we shuffled into a narrow passage that opened into a room draped with flowstone—rippling sheets of calcite that look like stone curtains. The Soda Straw Room, named for the thin, hollow formations that hang like glassy tubes from the ceiling. Ranger Mark turned off the lights for a moment, plunging us into total darkness. “This is how early explorers saw it—just candlelight and courage!”

The Wedding Cake Room: A Sweet Surprise Underground

The tour’s showstopper is the Wedding Cake! At the center of the chamber stands a stunning tiered column of flowstone that looks remarkably like a layered cake—frosted with centuries of mineral deposits. This towering formation resembles a multi-tiered cake, its white-and-gold layers created by mineral-rich water dripping for millennia. Our guide joked, “No tasting—this cake is 30 million years old!” I guess that couples have been getting married here since 1950.

The Cathedral Room: Nature’s Grand Hall

Perhaps the most stunning stop on the cave tour is the Cathedral Room—a massive chamber that justifies its name. Its vaulted ceiling, striking lighting, and soaring formations, it’s as if entering an underground cathedral sculpted by time itself. The acoustics in this space are incredible (some tours even include a brief echo demonstration!), and the room is often a tour favorite for its beautiful stalactites and flowstone walls resembling ancient organ pipes. It’s one spot where you can sit down, look around, and actually take in the ancient power of the underground world.

Cave Companions: Spotting Bats Underground

One of the coolest surprises during the tour? Bats! While Florida Caverns isn’t teeming with them like some deeper cave systems, it is home to a few species of small, insect-eating bats that roost in the dark crevices of the caverns.

Don’t worry—they’re shy, quiet, and completely harmless. In fact, they play a vital role in the cave ecosystem by helping control insect populations. During our tour, we spotted a couple hanging silently from the cave ceiling, barely moving and almost invisible unless you’re looking closely.

Tall Man’s Torment & Fat Man’s Squeeze

Not for the claustrophobic! This section requires ducking and sidestepping through a narrow, twisting corridor. The walls glimmer with cave coral (knobby mineral deposits), and the ceiling dips so low, even kids have to crouch. “Watch your head—and your sense of humor!” Ranger Mark warned.

The last stretch ascends a CCC-built staircase, emerging blinking into the sunlight. This contrast is surreal—one minute you’re in a silent stone cathedral; the next, you’re greeted by chirping birds and pine-scented air. Although these caves are nothing like Carlsbad Caverns or Mammoth Cave, they have a unique charm all their own.

More Things to See and Do Above Ground

While the caves are the star attraction, there’s plenty to explore above ground at Florida Caverns State Park. Whether you’re up for hiking, wildlife spotting, or simply relaxing in nature, here are some activities you won’t want to miss:

1. Fishing the Chipola River: A Peaceful Cast in Crystal-Clear Waters

We are so into fishing, and the Chipola River. The river winds right through Florida Caverns State Park—it’s a hidden gem. Known for its clear, spring-fed waters and scenic banks, the river offers excellent opportunities to reel in bass, sunfish, catfish. Even the occasional shoal bass, a rare catch prized by anglers, can be caught here. Peaceful surroundings and plentiful fish await, whether you cast from the bank, wade in, or fish from a kayak or canoe. Early morning or late afternoon are prime times. For us, the river’s beauty and tranquility are as important as the fishing itself.

2. Paddling the Chipola: A Perfect End to the Day

After a day of nature hiking and underground wonders, we packed our inflatable kayak and kayaked down the Chipola River, just minutes from the park entrance. The water was that crystal-clear type where you can see fish swimming under your paddle, and the current was slow, making for a peaceful, lazy float. As cypress borders the river and the sounds of nature envelop you wherever you go, it was a great way to unwind and experience the beauty of the Florida Panhandle. Rent a kayak locally or bring your own, be sure not to miss kayaking the Chipola.

Pro move: Pack a cooler with local treats (hello, Marianna’s peach cobbler!) and make it a picnic.

Hit the Hiking Trails: Explore Above the Caves

Florida Caverns aren’t just about what’s underground—the trails above offer their own kind of magic. Whether you’re after an easy stroll or a deeper journey into the forest, these paths showcase the park’s natural beauty and unique geology.

•  Bluff, Beech & Magnolia Loop Distance: 1.1 miles • Difficulty: Easy
  • We combined three short trails—Bluff, Beech, and part of Magnolia—into a 1.1-mile loop that winds gently through limestone bluffs and towering beech trees. It’s an easy walk with no elevation changes, perfect for a peaceful nature break. Our dog Sage especially loved it—plenty of sniffs, shade, and space to explore.
• Magnolia Trail Distance: 3.0 miles (loop) • Difficulty: Moderate
  • For those looking for a slightly longer trek, the Magnolia Trail is a quiet journey through the deeper forest. It offers solitude, birdwatching opportunities, and a real sense of immersion in nature. Keep an eye out for bald eagles overhead and wild turkeys foraging in the brush.
• Sinkhole Trail Distance: 0.75 miles (loop) • Difficulty: Easy
  • Short but packed with intrigue, the Sinkhole Trail winds past a dramatic collapsed limestone sinkhole and into a peaceful cypress swamp. Interpretive signs along the way help explain the park’s unique karst geology, making this a great option for curious hikers and families.
• Bumpnose Trail Distance: 6.2 miles (loop) • Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
  • The Bumpnose Trail is the park’s longest and most rugged route. It meanders through grassland meadows, limestone ridges, and quieter sections of the park far from the main cave area. This trail is a rewarding choice for experienced hikers looking for a deeper connection to the landscape and fewer crowds.

4. Swim at the Blue Hole Spring: Cool Off in Crystal Waters

Following a trek through caverns and trails, nothing quenches the heat quicker than a dip in Blue Hole Spring. This natural spring-fed swimming hole is renowned for its cool, crystal-clear water and peaceful ambiance beneath a leafy canopy of trees. The water stays around 68°F year-round, providing a cold but invigorating haven—just what’s required during Florida’s warmer months. It was so nice using the little dock to access the swimming hole. Nearby, a short green patch of land is ideal for relaxing, picnicking, or simply soaking in the tranquility. It’s a local favorite and an ideal way to relax after a day of touring.

Evenings at Camp: Reflection on our Florida Caverns Adventure

After many full days of exploring, we spent our last evening around the campfire. One night we grilled dinner and watched the stars peek out through the clouds—quiet moments that reminded us why we love RV camping so much. We even saw a few deer wander near the site and heard owls calling in the distance.

Final Thoughts on Our Florida Caverns Adventure

I remember when I was teaching (Earth Science) I always talked about the Karst topography of Florida. It’s difficult for students to understand so we watched the documentary film Water’s Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida, directed by renowned cave diver and filmmaker Wes Skiles. The film’s exploration of the Floridan aquifer provides context for visitors to Florida Caverns State Park. By visiting Florida Caverns State Park, I made the connection to the film. While gaining a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of Florida’s water systems and the importance of conservation efforts to protect these natural resources.

From wandering through mystical underground passageways to paddling quiet rivers and unwinding in cozy evenings at our trailer, this trip truly had it all. Florida Caverns State Park is a hidden gem—an ideal escape for couples, families, or anyone seeking nature with a unique twist.

Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or simply looking for a one-of-a-kind Florida adventure, we can’t recommend this park enough. Our time here was unforgettable—and we’re already dreaming about our return.

Have you experienced Florida Caverns? What is your best memory? Share with us in the comments below.