The short version
There are four show caves around Lake of the Ozarks, all within about 30 miles of each other. They're also the lake's best rainy-day plan, since they stay between 53 and 60 degrees year-round.
- Stark Caverns near Eldon is the easiest with kids. It's open every day but two, toddlers are free, and wheelchairs can manage about 80 percent of the path.
- Bridal Cave near Camdenton is the best known, and the formations are the draw. It has stairs, so leave the stroller in the car.
- Ozark Caverns in Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the cheapest and the most like a real cave: no electric lights, just lanterns. It's only open in summer.
- Jacob's Cave near Versailles is closed for renovation right now, with private tours by reservation.
The four caves side by side
Prices are for the standard guided tour, before tax, as each cave lists them on Nov. 10, 2026.
| Stark Caverns | Bridal Cave | Ozark Caverns | Jacob's Cave | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near | Eldon | Camdenton | Linn Creek | Versailles |
| Open | Daily, year-round | Daily, year-round | Mid-May to mid-September | Closed for renovation; private tours |
| Adults | $30 | $30 | $13 | Call |
| Kids | $19 (ages 4 to 12) | $16 (ages 5 to 12) | $8 (6 to 12); teens $10 | Call |
| Free | 3 and under | 4 and under | Under 6 | |
| Tour | About 1 hour, 3/4 mile | About 1 hour | About 1 hour, 1/2 mile | About 1 mile |
| Inside temperature | 60 degrees | 56 degrees | 53 degrees | |
| Wheelchairs and strollers | About 80 percent of the path | Not wheelchair accessible | No strollers or bags allowed | Fully paved, no steps |
| Extras | Black light tour, escape room, sluice mining | Lantern tours in summer, black light tours | Lantern-lit tour | Geode |
Which one to pick
With a stroller or a wheelchair, go to Stark Caverns. Jacob's Cave is the most accessible of the four, but it's only doing private tours right now.
On a budget, Ozark Caverns costs a family of four with two kids under 6 just $26 before tax. It's only open mid-May to mid-September, and you'll have to leave bags and strollers in the car. The state bans them to keep white-nose syndrome, a disease that kills bats, out of the cave.
For the "wow" formations, Bridal Cave is the one most people come for. It's also where more than 4,000 couples have been married.
For older kids who want something different, Bridal Cave runs lantern tours on summer Saturday nights, and both Bridal and Stark have black light tours. Stark also has an escape room inside the cave.
Tips for any cave
- Bring a light jacket, even in July.
- Call ahead on holidays. Bridal Cave closes New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Stark Caverns closes Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Questions
Which Lake of the Ozarks cave is best for little kids?
Stark Caverns is the easiest with small children: it's open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas, kids 3 and under are free, and about 80 percent of the path works for wheelchairs. Ozark Caverns is the cheapest, but strollers and bags aren't allowed inside.
Which caves are open in winter?
Bridal Cave and Stark Caverns are open all year except a few holidays. Ozark Caverns runs tours only from mid-May to mid-September, and Jacob's Cave is closed for renovation except for private tours booked ahead.
How cold is it inside the caves?
Between 53 and 60 degrees all year: about 53 at Jacob's Cave, 56 at Ozark Caverns and 60 at Bridal Cave. Bring a light jacket in summer.
How long are the cave tours?
About an hour at Bridal Cave, Stark Caverns and Ozark Caverns.
Sources
- Bridal Cave: Hours and rates, checked Nov 10, 2026
- Stark Caverns: Daily tours, checked Nov 10, 2026
- Missouri State Parks: Ozark Caverns cave tours, checked Nov 10, 2026
- Missouri State Parks: Ozark Caverns tour schedule, checked Nov 10, 2026
- Jacob's Cave (official site), checked Nov 10, 2026
- Visit Missouri: Bridal Cave/Thunder Mountain Park (accessibility), checked Nov 10, 2026
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