Linville Caverns – Enjoy North Carolina's Only Show Cave

Linville Caverns Near Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina © Katrena

Linville Caverns, located on highway 221 in Marion, North Carolina, provides a look at the Tarheel State from down under. The show cave of McDowell County offers a unique look at a beautiful, active cavern that is constantly changing with growing formations inside. This great family destination is a North Carolina Natural Heritage Area inside of Humpback Mountain located four miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Wheelchair Accessible Cavern in North Carolina © Katrena

Planning a Trip to Linville Caverns

The Linville Caverns web site recommends using directions provided on their site because GPS directions are not always accurate when trying to locate a location such as this. The drive is beautiful, but if you have kids who get carsick, be aware that these are winding mountain roads and plan the trip accordingly. You might want to eat after arriving – a stream is located right by the parking area that makes a peaceful location for a picnic.

Several other areas of interest are located near the cavern, so it may help to break up the trip to visit other sites nearby en route. One nearby area of interest is Linville Gorge. The drive from Boone is not terribly long, so folks might want to visit the cavern and plan to go to Tweetsie Railroad in the afternoon, especially if they are still offering the next day free special if visiting after a certain time.

Enjoy a Picnic Lunch Near Trout Stream at Linville Caverns © Katrena

What to Expect When Visiting Linville Caverns

The temperature within the cavern remains constant at 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Those of us who live in the south will more than likely want to wear a sweater or sweatshirt while touring the cave. The cavern may be wet, especially if frequent heavy rains have been in the area, so a raincoat or other waterproof protector may be wise depending on recent and current weather conditions.

Strollers and most baby carriers are not permitted within the cave, so it helps to have the kids well-rested before going on the tour. Visiting the restroom before the tour is also a prudent idea when traveling with kids. Non-skid, comfortable shoes are a good choice when visiting any active cavern. The group will stop every few feet so that everyone can get a chance to see the various formations and learn some history of the cave during the tour.

The hours at Linville Caverns vary throughout the year. During colder months, Linville Caverns is open only on weekends, but they operate on a daily schedule during most times of the year. This cave is mostly wheelchair accessible with only two short portions of the tour that would not accommodate a wheelchair. They have very reasonable prices with children under 5 admitted free with a paying adult and discounts for groups of 25 or more.

Stalactite in Linville Caverns

As with all other live caverns, this cave is protected by the federal government and visitors cannot touch or harm the live formations, but there are a few places in which the group is invited to touch certain walls if they wish. My kids loved that part! If traveling with young kids, you may need to remind them about the rules of not touching because many of the beautiful formations are quite tempting.

There is one part of the tour in which all lights are turned out for a few moments so that the group can experience total darkness, an experience only offered naturally deep within some caverns and in some parts of the ocean. It is a good idea for the kids not to wear light-up shoes or other clothing that glows. If they are wearing these items, it helps to remind them not to move or to cause the lights to come on. Children who are scared of the dark may wish to be held, but the tour guide will tell everyone before turning the lights out.

Awesome Tour Guide for Linville Caverns © Katrena

Great Guides at Linville Cave

All tours are guided and may be limited to 15 people, but tours leave on a scheduled basis throughout the hours of operation. We last visited during a busy time of year, and they had several guides working that day and our wait time was minimal.

I have been to Linville Caverns several times over the years, and I particularly remember our last guide named Orion. He mentioned that he had been doing tours for several years and he was outgoing and offered an very educational and interesting tour during our visit. I could readily see that he seemed to have a love for the cave's natural beauty and the animals that call Linville Caverns their home.

If you have never toured a cavern, the experience is amazing. The view from within a mountain can be just as breathtaking as the view from atop one. Summer months can get mighty warm in the South, and touring a cave can be a nice break from the heat. North Carolina boasts quite a variety of natural formations, and I would highly recommend this destination. All of my kids and I enjoyed the tour and had lots of fun playing on the rocks outside and mountain too.

I'll be writing additional articles featuring the formations, history, and animals at Linville Caverns and other family-friendly destinations in the state, so check back with Travel NC With Kids again soon!