Onondaga Cave State Park

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Park Information

Missouri State Parks has implemented a number of measures designed to maintain required social distancing and protect visitors, volunteers and staff. We ask our visitors to view our Park Hours to confirm operating hours. A full list of temporary closures can be found here. The latest information from Missouri State Parks on COVID-19 can be found here.

Descend into the depths of Onondaga Cave State Park and drop into a world of wonder: towering stalagmites, dripping stalactites, and active flowstones help make the cave a National Natural Landmark and illustrate why Missouri is often called “The Cave State.” Visitors can take guided tours into the underground wonderland. But if you prefer the surface, the park’s Vilander Bluff Natural Area provides a panoramic view of the Meramec River. Easy access to the Meramec River allows visitors to canoe or fish in a peaceful and scenic setting.

Park Hours

The park is open year-round for camping and day use.

Onondaga Cave hours

COVID-19 Temporary Hours

  • Missouri State Parks continues to monitor the ecological impact of COVID-19 in cave ecosystems. Caves contain various sensitive and protected species; the possibility of spreading COVID-19 viruses into such environs is still under review. At this time, a date for cave tour operations has not been determined. We hope to be able to provide an update to this in April.

2019 Onondaga Cave tours

  • Public tours are offered April 1 through the close of business on Oct. 31 at scheduled times throughout the day, depending on the season and available staffing. 
  • At a minimum, tours are offered every two hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As the season progresses, scheduled tours increase to mostly every 45 minutes during the week and every half hour on the weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
  • Please call 573-245-6576 for a definitive tour time schedule.

2019 Cathedral Cave tours

  • Cathedral Cave will open for school group tours starting April 1 and public tours starting May 10.
  • Mid-May through mid-October: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m., Sunday
  • Additional tour times of 10 a.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday are offered from mid-June through mid-September.
  • Pay your tour fee at the visitor center; tour meets at the woodlot in the campground.
  • Tours may be available by special arrangement during the regular operating season.  Please call 573-522-3760 to speak to the park naturalist for more information.
  • Click here for more information and the tour fees for Cathedral Cave.

Visitor Center hours

COVID-19 Temporary Hours

  • Beginning Saturday, April 10, 2021, the visitor center and gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the month of April. No more than 10 people will be allowed in the gift shop at one time. Face coverings will be encouraged and provided for those who need one.

Summer Hours (On-Season)

  • March - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday
  • April through October - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily

Winter Hours (Off-Season)

  • November through February - Closed

Store hours

Summer Hours (On-Season)

  • March - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday
  • April through October - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily

Winter Hours (Off-Season)

  • November through February - Closed

Park Office hours

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round