Worth a Journey

Read by 254k monthly readers

The World’s 100 Best Show Caves

Tuckaleechee Caverns

Townsend, United States

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST SHOW CAVES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 76 2026
Tuckaleechee Caverns

Limestone cavern in the Smoky Mountains with stalactites, stalagmites, streams, large rooms and an underground waterfall. Visits are by guided group tour on foot, with many stairs, low ceilings in places and a stop with the lights turned off.

Highlights

  • Underground waterfall
  • Big Room lights-out moment
  • Seismograph in the bedrock

Good to know

  • Tour lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours
  • About 410 steps, steep and slick
  • Cool inside, bring a light jacket

Also in the United States

  1. Mammoth Cave N° 62 Mammoth Cave Mammoth Cave Dripstone cave
  2. Crystal Onyx Cave N° 64 Crystal Onyx Cave Cave City Dripstone cave
  3. Cosmic Cavern N° 71 Cosmic Cavern Berryville Dripstone cave
  4. Cathedral Caverns N° 72 Cathedral Caverns Woodville Dripstone cave
  5. Bluff Dwellers Cave N° 83 Bluff Dwellers Cave Noel Dripstone cave
  6. Bridal Cave N° 85 Bridal Cave Camdenton Dripstone cave