Explore the Florida You Never Expected at Florida Caverns State Park

Florida is famous for sunshine and beaches, but one of its most memorable adventures takes place underground. At Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, visitors can join a guided tour through limestone caverns filled with stalactites, stalagmites, columns and flowing stone formations. It’s the only Florida state park offering guided tours through a large cave system. Florida State Parks

Visited this site on a summer road trip. Found it intersting to find caves in Florida when we are below sea level. It was a fun one hour guided tour and looked just like the caves in more northern states without the drive. Would recomend a combo day with Falling waters state park just a few miles down the road. 

The cave tour takes about an hour. As you move through its underground rooms, look for chisel marks left by Civilian Conservation Corps workers, who widened passages by hand in the 1930s. Their work helped make the caverns accessible for the tours visitors enjoy today. Florida State Parks

There’s plenty to explore above ground, too. Walk a wooded trail, enjoy a picnic, or visit the Blue Hole swimming area. The park also offers camping and access to the Chipola River for paddling and small boats. It’s easy to turn a cave tour into a full day outdoors. Florida State Parks

Plan your visit: Florida Caverns State Park is at 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, FL 32446. The day-use area opens at 8 a.m. Central Time and closes at sunset. Cave tours are generally offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time, but the park lists scheduled maintenance dates when tours are unavailable. Tickets are primarily sold in person on a first-come, first-served basis, and tours can sell out on busy days, so arrive early and check the park’s website before heading out. Florida State Parks

If you’re looking for a Florida day trip with a little wonder and a lot of natural beauty, Florida Caverns State Park deserves a spot on your list.