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Luray Caverns
75 reviews for Luray Caverns
75 reviews in English
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Review from Lahani E.
Manassas, VA
12/18/2011
Beautiful caverns. Great way to spend a day. Admission was $23 per adult so for me and 2 cousins it was $69 to go on the tour. Included is admission to the Auto museum and the Luray history museum.
The tour is a good length, you can get many pictures. There are some steep ramps so keep this in mind if you have bad knees. Lots of stairs to get into the caverns.
Small groups make it easier to get good photos and to not be squashed into the walls which you can't touch.
Temp is about 65 degrees inside but humid year round. Highlights include Pluto's Ghost, the organ, the fried eggs and the wishing well.
You exit into a gift shop with some neat knick knacks like onyx animals, gems, and rocks like amethyst at good prices.
The candies on the glass case are sooooooo good.
A wonderful outing for you and family or friends. Worth the price. Must see
Wanted a fossil bag but the mining shop is closed in fall and winter. Guess i'll have to return on my way to Skyline to pick up a bag. -
Review from Alice W.
Luray, VA
2/5/2012
The admission price is a little high, but you can see where the money goes. The Garden Maze was really fun, my husband and little brother love the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum (and even I wound up enjoying it once we got to the Baker Electric and the silent movie stars' cars!) The beautiful Twenties and Thirties hood ornaments were especially cool and I would've liked to find copies in the gift shop, but as the lady working there explained, it's a copyright issue with the car companies, so instead she sold me a little book full of facts about the cars and detailed pictures. One touch that I just loved -they carry locally-made ginger ale and root beer in real glass bottles and keep it on ice, plus they make fresh fudge on-site. That's old-timey charm for you!
The Caverns themselves were actually kind of a surprise, in that my Mom actually didn't have any problems walking through them (and she is hell of claustrophobic,) and the guide was funny, well-informed and really nice, especially when my little brother kept asking tons of questions. (The kid wants to be a geologist, what can you do?) My husband was always warned in advance when the ceiling was going to get lower (he's 6'4",) by the guide and we all enjoyed the good-luck tradition of 'cave kisses,' which is what they call it when water drips on you. (I guess that's to calm down little kids, but the guide made it sound special and very real.) The Wishing Well was especially nice, and I adored the Great Stalacpipe Organ. I was a little disappointed by that gift-shop as well, as it seems to carry more fluffy gimcrackery and novelties than relevant 'cave stuff,' but the selection of sparkly rocks and semi-precious stones was good, and I found a sweatshirt on sale that's holding up beautifully. They even had a CD of more songs on the Stalacpipe Organ that I wound up getting -it sounds a bit eerie, but I can play it at Halloween and it'll be awesome for guests.
My favorite of all was the Luray Valley Museum, which was the last part of our trip. They have so many antiques, some of which you can touch (I rang the harness bells really gently!) and there are authentic historical buildings they've moved to the site and preserved. The schoolhouse in particular was special to me, because I'm a teacher myself and it was amazing to see the very place where the newly freed children of slaves learned to read and write. I would have loved to touch every slate and book, but that wouldn't protect the precious treasures, so the Caverns people have glass up. It honestly looks like the kids just left for recess sometime in the 1870s. That, and my little brother still won't shut up about the semi-precious stones he got from their gem sluice (it's a bag of dirt with rocks in like a hundred other places, but at the Museum there's an old-timey mining sluice set up so it feels way more real,) and my Mom and Dad found some cute little wooden puzzle toys to keep for guests at the office. My husband's not usually a gift-shop kind of guy, but even he wanted a copy of the Luray and Page County book they had at the Museum, which was a nice read.
The downsides were price and I felt they could have given the guides a laser pointer as well as a big flashlight, for pointing out cool formations. (The guide, Tara, who was super-nice BTW, explained that the big flashlights are for in case the lights in the caves go out, but management could still give them a nice laser.) I strongly recommend wearing shoes with anti-slip tread and bring a sweatshirt, as it's a humid 54 degrees down there and with the walking, you'll want layers you can change a bit. A camera with a good Night Mode helps, too. -
Review from William P.
Gaithersburg, MD
10/10/2011 3 photos
The beautiful 2 1/2 drive from Maryland makes up for an okay but not spectacular 1 hour tour winding down into the 54 degree (yes, I was paying attention guide Taylor) cave. Nice touch Taylor: 3 yr. old got scared and Taylor escorted her by hand the rest of the way. Taylor handled such great questions like: Been to Skyline Caverns? NO Do you have a boyfriend? LOL
Alot of it is great scenery but the high school guides they employ are pretty much reading from a script and THE SEEING of objects like the fried eggs the groom and bride are ok and cute but alot of it is grasping for the entertainment value. The push da button and playing of the organ the HIGHLIGHT of the tour but just ok.
The coming outta the cave straight for the HUGE gift shop is very accomodating for families willing to spend lots of moula on their kids. :)
The car museum was pretty cool. Didn't do the Garden Maze or the Luray Museum cause Daddy too cheap. :)
May go back for other things in Luray but not the caverns. The panoramic mountain vistas are awesome!!!!! -
Review from Jesse V.
Woodville, VA
1/13/2012
I've been to Luray Caverns several times growing up. So recently I went back after an absence of probably 12 years or so. It's not what it used to be. The cavern itself is great, my issues are with the business. The price is $24, which I think is a bit steep - but I would be okay with that price IF you got a guide who spoke. Instead you get a Walkman and some headphones. You have to press a button at different stations and listen to a prerecorded, quite boring, speech on the selected station. Is it too much to ask for an educated guide give an insightful tour? I might as well have watched a dvd on the place. No guide and a bland audio tour took a lot of the charm out of the experience. If you are going to do an prerecorded audio tour maybe get Chris Rock or Samuel L. Jackson for the voice talent! That would be entertaining at least...
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Review from Yana J.
Washington D.C., DC
9/29/2011
So I'm obviously giving these two stars to the business, not to the caverns themselves which are gorgeous beyond belief. The problem with this place is that it's too focused on getting as many people in as possible and getting all that money from the ENORMOUS admission price and not focused on actually creating a good visitor experience. The tours are jam packed with way too many people including loud children and the staff does not go to any effort to make sure that the place stays quiet and serene for everyone to enjoy. All you need is a sign or two or just a polite aside to the parents of the loud children running around so that people can actually hear the tour. It may seem like a lot to ask for, but you're definitely upping my standards when you charge me $22 for a tour and so I expect to get my money's worth. And to be honest, I didn't, and was quite disappointed.
Also, we had no idea there was an audio tour option, because nobody ever mentioned it and am only just reading about it now in some of the reviews. It would have been nice to know this.
The car museum is quick and great, the history museum is meh, the maze is awesome, the cafe is horrendous. -
Review from Michella S.
Manassas, VA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
this place is a great experience... how ever the price was a little high for a very cocky tour guide with a really bad attitude. i fell in love with this place. i definitely will visit again :) 5 stars for the cavern itself but i would totally could do without a tour guide.
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Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
Luray Caverns is the most popular cave in the East and, since its discovery in 1878, an excellent tour has been put in place for the millions of tourist who visit. This spectacular natural wonder is a U.S. National Landmark. The one-hour tour takes you along remarkably well-lit paved walkways through huge chambers filled with columns, still wet and growing stalactite & stalagmite formations, and simply amazing clear pools offering a reflection unlike any other.
We had a chipper tour guide who had the completely memorized script down cold. It's informative and worth a listen, however, we never really felt rushed at all. There are plenty of cool rooms and yellow, brown, and red rock formations for pictures. Some of the coolest were these:
- Saracen's Tent is an astonishingly well-formed drapery
- The spooky white pillar known as Pluto's Ghost
- Dream Lake which offers a near mirror reflection of the ceiling
- The Great Stalacpipe Organ built in 1956 is billed as the world's largest musical instrument and plays concert quality sounds from surrounding stalactite formations
The beautiful caverns and helpful guide made Luray Caverns a visit worth the hefty price of admission.
The only negative was that two different people brought dogs on the tour and, of course, the dogs didn't like the cave. One lady had her dog on a leash and at one point the dog almost attacked another person on the tour. Dogs should not be permitted on the tour because their barking and aggressive behavior really took away from the experience. -
Review from Nadia Y.
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I visited this place with my best friend and her family. It was a bit of a road trip for us, but I had never been in a cavern so I wanted to check it out.
The things I liked:
It was boiling hot outside, so going inside was a nice way to escape the sun and muggy warm air. The views and lighting in the place make the formations look spectacular, not to mention beautiful. The walk ways are paved well with a bumpy kind of concrete, I didn't feel like I was going to slip even though the floor was wet in some areas. The reflection "lake" was one of my favorites and I did like the one pool with all the coins in it.. made me feel like I was in The Goonies.
The things I didn't like:
I felt rushed with barely enough time to take photos of things because the tour guide just kept taking off with the first half of the group. I could have done with out the awful unfunny jokes and would have liked more of a science/historical tour. It seemed there was very little of it. Instead I felt as if I was being talked to like a 7 year old on a field trip. Any minute now they'll tell me to hold hands with my buddy, ask if I brought a packed lunch, and if I put my things in my cubby hole. People apparently can have weddings down there.. creepy if you ask me. LoL
The ticket price kinda sucks.. and I don't like that they make you exit into the gift shop (crammed with everyone else) in hopes you will buy some of their over priced junk. As David C. said, "shameless hucksterism" is fairly accurate but the cavern itself is awesome.Listed in: Southern Experience
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Review from Jon K.
6/17/2011
Went here years ago with my wife and I would really like to go back again.
This place was absolutely stunning. It's really cool to see the caverns and it's quite stunning and visual as well. My wife absolutely loved it as did I.
I thought you only get to see this kind of stuff in National Geographic Magazines or if you were lucky enough to travel to an exotic part of the world. Nope, it's all right here in Luray, Virginia.
We had a guided tour that was very knowledgeable about the caverns and very friendly as well. I thought it was strange that people would get married in the caverns, but maybe that is some people's cup of tea. Me, I'd rather have a keg party with a full bar - that would be trippy.
It's very much worth doing and on the inexpensive side, it was around $40 for the wife and I several years ago.
A must see destination..... -
Review from Matty B.
Marlborough, MA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had always known places like this existed. However, they seemed as far removed a likelihood as the pyramids for me.
The caverns were, essentially, Fraggle Rock. I was waiting for the dead corpse of Jim Henson to rise up and animate some Doozers.
Photographic potential, once in a lifetime experience, and self exploration are all reasons enough to take what for me was little more than a roadside attraction during a roadtrip. Did you see the signs?
The tickets are not cheap, kick over $20 each. Exit through the gift shop? You bet that bottom dollar of yours. -
Review from Dustin S.
Centreville, VA
6/28/2011
This tour is SO WORTH IT if you have never gone here! The caverns and photos ops are simply amazing! My favorite parts of the tour was at 'Dream Lake' were the cavern ceiling's reflection in the water makes is look like a deep cavern floor, the "big shaggy dog", and "pluto's ghost".
Also, if you show your Giant card, you will get 50% off your 2nd ticket. -
Review from Ryan W.
Arlington, VA
7/19/2011
Although a long time yelp user, I signed up for an account because I wanted to write this review...
Executive Summary: Beautiful caverns, horrible tour and business practices.
The caverns were amazing, the tour left me feeling cheated of $90. The tour group was about twice as large as it should have been. Along with half of the group, we were unable to hear anything since the tour guide started before any of the group arrived. To make matters worse we were sandwiched between two other groups and their loud guides, further preventing any comprehension of our $22 per person tour.
We tried to talk to someone about the issue but were told that managers weren't around and there were not comment cards.
Finally, we went during a weekday, I couldn't imagine the caverns on a weekend. -
Review from Oscar S.
Germantown, MD
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm a fan! What a great and relaxing underground hike this is! The tour takes about an hour, but it's amazing to see what mother nature has made.
I live in Md, so it's about a 2 hour drive, but the drive doesn't seem too far as the scenic views make it a pleasant trip..well, once you're on 66 and 81. The staff are primarily young HS or college students so it's a relaxed atmosphere.
Bring your camera an be prepared to be amazed. Relax as you stroll in that 50 F degree weather and take some of the best pictures you have ever taken! And once you leave don't forget to hit up 'Dan's Steakhouse', I have a review for that too. -
Review from Anonymous P.
Fairfax, VA
11/9/2011
Firstly, get a GIANT card. They offer half off your second ticket with it. It's $23 a person.
You'll buy the tickets and get into line in the same building. Tours are every 10 mins.
On the ticket stub, there are 2 additional tickets for the Car museum and the other museum which I cannot recall.
Now here's the most important part. The tour group you go with will make or break your experience. Pay attention to the people in line before you jump in. I had elderly people and tons of kids in my group and we ended up waiting 5-10 mins for everyone to catch up to the check points AFTER most people were done looking or taking pics.
You can have cameras. Bring pennies (hint). No food or drinks inside. The tour should be around 1.5 hours. There is alot of walking on inclines and declines. It was also pretty muggy down there and it was in the 50's outside.
The garden maze is $7 as well.
Nothing else, basically pretty cool. -
Review from John K.
Virginia Beach, VA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Caverns get a 5+ star review our guide Stephanie a 1- for 23.00 a person they should limit the group size ours ways to big for her to handle she kept getting way ahead of the group and her voice did not project enough for all to hear in that large a group 30 or so people. For 23.00 you get the caverns tour, the car museum and the Luray museum the caverns are the big attraction the cars are nice. We skipped the on site restaurant from previous experience it is terrible go 3 miles into Luray to Uncle Bucks for much better food at a better price! Plan a Visit to Luray Caverns it is worth it hope for a better guide or smaller group though.
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Review from Jen L.
5/31/2011 1 photo
Surreal! Really surprising after all of the touristy stuff outside of the entrance.
Even on a 3-day weekend, the wait was only 20 min to get in the caverns. The line moved fast because it was a self guided tour. It was deceiving because it was all the way back towards the Garden Maze! It will move fast and you won't in it for long. However, with this many people there, the stationed guides will herd you through to keep everyone moving.
Definitely worth the price to go in and see. It will take you about an hour to walk through it. It was a nice relief after being out in the sun all day. It's about 50ish inside, so if you get cold easily, you might want to bring a jacket.
If you like taking pictures, make sure you have a dark scenic setting on your camera. My pictures came out great with that setting and I didn't even have a flash! The caverns have strategically placed lighting that helps with the WOW factor in the caverns.
If you liked the music of the Stalagpipe organ the CD in the gift shop was only $5 and totally worth it! Great for Spa music. -
Review from Dan A.
10/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Luray Caverns is a beautiful cave that is roughly a couple hours' drive from Washington DC. Although it is pricey, it is definitely a place people should visit at least once in their lifetime.
The tour groups were too large for my taste but if you don't care about listening to the tour guide, you can linger in the back of the group in order to spend more time looking at the formations. Just make sure you keep an eye on the time so that you won't be in the dark once the lighting timer goes off.
Don't forget that since you are underground, it can be a little chilly. So dress appropriately.
One other thing: I was kind of shocked at how the tour didn't mention anything about the amount of physical exertion required on the tour. While most people should be able to do it without problem, there were more than a few older people in the group who seemed to be struggling with the tour. There are some areas of steep inclines and slippery floors so be careful. -
Review from David C.
Manassas, VA
7/18/2011
The caverns are great! The shameless hucksterism surrounding this place is not!
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Review from Heather P.
Arlington, VA
3/10/2011
I went to Luray Caverns in the Fall of 2010 for a romantic getaway weekend with my boyfriend (we live in Arlington). It was SUCH a wonderful weekend! We visited the Caverns and the maze. The Luray Caverns are breathtakingly beautiful... definitely something to see. The maze was pretty fun, although to be honest - after about 15 minutes in there I was really ready to find my way out. I think it took us about 45 minutes to navigate through.
I recommend staying at the Daughter of the Stars B&B. It's not technically in Luray, but pretty close by. It's small... only 2 rooms, I think. The breakfast is homemade and amazing. We had fun just sitting on the front porch in the rocking chairs and talking in the mornings. A nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle of DC/NoVA. -
Review from bifyu j.
Honolulu, HI
9/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Well worth the effort of a day trip and price of admission to see at least once. Fantastic cave formations most folks will have few opportunities to experience, all on an easy walking tour with accompanying audio guide information. It would have been nice to be able to experience it at your own pace rather than with the guided group, but we didn't really feel rushed, and there were ample opportunities to take photos. The stalactite lithophone ("organ") was also quite interesting - a piece is played where each note is formed by a carefully selected stalactite that produces a particular tone when struck.
After the tour, head over to West Main Market in Luray for a delicious bite to eat, and maybe take a scenic drive along the Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive. -
Review from Leslie L.
6/3/2011
Ok, so I take my teenage & 20 something kids there today and we had a blast! Could've gone either way but Luray is the best. The tour guide was extremely informative & funny too. When my oldest turned around w/a big smile & said, "This is the best field trip", I figured I dun sumthin' rite! The tour was beautiful, car museum was an added bonus, outdoor picnic just worked and 3 smiling kids... You guessed it... PRICELESS.
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Review from Sami D.
Philadelphia, PA
12/19/2010
The caverns do not need review as their natural beauty is enough. Really amazing structures and beautiful geological formations.
I was really skeptical about this being a "tourist trap" and I suspect that if I had visited in the summer, my worst fears about this as a destination would be realized. Luckily in the winter, the crowds are light and the groups are small. Yes, there are various other "attractions" at the site, but many are closed.
I thought the audio tours plus a guide were unnecessary and a bit confusing. It was complicated to wait for everyone in the group to finish listening to their audio tour plus to try and listen to the guide. I would've much preferred one or the other--probably the live guide as she was knowledgeable, personable and friendly.
I do believe it is worth it to go to the history museum--they have some wonderful local artifacts collected from various Native American tribes all the way through Civil War mementos, weapons and money. -
Review from Sabine S.
Alexandria, VA
2/14/2011
Amazing caverns, annoying tour.
As you enter the tour, you're given headphones for a self-guided tour. These seem pointless, as the tour guide talks a lot of the time on the tour, pointing out different structures, and basically reiterating what's on the recorded headset. As most guided tours go, the group of people walked at varying speeds, some dawdling to take a zillion pictures, others trying to rush ahead to be the first ones at the stop. This was all made more complicated with the headsets being turn on and off, stopping, starting, pausing, waiting for the tour guide to point out things not mentioned on the recordings, etc.
I would have preferred either having a truly self-guided tour (although, I'm sure that would never be allowed), or just listening to the tour guide alone.
As for the other museums included in the cavern admission -- the car museum is okay. Probably amazing if you're into cars, but really small and not very varied. The frontier museum is also small, but worth a visit. The exhibits were actually well done and interesting. -
Review from Deanna J.
3/7/2011
Luray Caverns is a great thing to do, especially if you've never visited a cave before. Luray is extraordinary to see, and I recommend going during the fall if you're from DC-the drive on 66 will be gorgeous.
There will be kids and strollers and families, but I have found that it's much better now that you listen to an audio guide instead of a personal tour guide. Nothing against the tour guides, but with the audio tour, the kids are not as wild (and you won't hear the guides before your group and after your group.)
What I also like with the audio guide is you can take your time. With the tour guide you were in and out within an hour-which sounds like a long time but it went fast.
The car museum is free but I've skipped it both times. The maze is an additional cost.
I recommend eating before you get here in case the food selection isn't to your liking. -
Review from MacRae O.
5/31/2010
Carlsbad Caverns gets all the glory, while poor Luray goes largely unheralded as the awesomely entertaining cave that it is.
Such a shame.
Right here on the east coast, people -- nay, right here in our own backyards, is this enthralling little geologic gem. They used to give great guided tours; now you have to do the self-guided audio tour. Damn you, down economy! While the canned voice of the audio tour can't really compare to a live person hauling you through the caverns, it's definitely worth a listen. If for no other reason than you can constantly crack lame jokes about the audio devices looking like a first generation Sony Walkman. (I know, I had to refresh my memory myself: http://en.wikipedia.or...)
It's a great place for anyone: kids, school groups, buses of tourists, couples, families. Take your time wandering the cavern and listening to the tour...my favorite highlights of the caverns are Saracen's Tent (an incredible example of stalactite "draping"), the Stalacpipe Organ (it really plays!), and Dream Lake...you have to see it to believe it, but it's a pool of water with a surface so still and mirror-like you'd think it was an honest-to-god sheet of glass laid there to fake you out. Tours cost $23 these days, but I find it worth the price of admission. Fewer tourists means jacking up prices a bit -- but I'm happy to spend some money helping to maintain a place like this.
Luray Caverns, man. Such a shame Carlsbad steals all the cavernous thunder in America, because this place is severely underrated and/or under-known-about. Because there's usually never a huge crowd of tourists for you to compete with. They need a better publicist. -
Review from High F.
Alexandria, VA
6/13/2010
was it worth going? sure was. Would i do it again? probably not, given it was a 90 mile drive from the DC area, kinda pricey, and the tour itelf only lasted 90-100 minutes.
the caves were definitely a spectacular feat. the millions of years of mother earth sculpting herelf untouched by human hands (for the most part) was a great site to see. The tour itself was well designed and food proof. you get handed a audio player and as you shuffle along the trail there are numbered areas which allow you to hear interesting information regarding that area. the temp is 54F year round, and you can easily go through it in flip flops and shorts comfortably.
afterwards, if you felt you got ripped off, theres a consolation car museum next door that you can go too included in the price. it was interesting seeing all the old cars, but thats what they were, old cars from the early 1900's to 1920's.
overall i liked it. there was plenty of parking, and if you go in a group of 20, the price gets knocked down to $14.50/person. -
Review from robyn h.
Philadelphia, PA
10/30/2010
One of my favorite tourist attractions. I've been to a few cave sites, but none have been as beautiful or breath-taking as Luray Caverns! The drive here was RIDICULOUSLY LONG for me. I have serious upper-back and neck problems, so I was in agony most of the drive. (I mean, seriously KNOTTED UP!!) by the time we got there) lol
Luray Caverns did not disappoint. It was just as amazing to me as an adult as it was the first time I saw it in 8th grade. I didn't experience the crowds some Yelpers described.
Also saw Skyline Drive during this trip, so we really enjoyed ourselves! -
Review from Colleen M.
Philadelphia, PA
Luray Caverns is a bit tourist-y for me, but you can't deny the beauty of these caves. The rock formations are so beautiful they look fake. The entry fee is a bit steep, but once you get in there it's worth it.
I did not opt for the audio tour, as I find audio tours lame. However, our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Some of the jokes were pretty bad, but it's all in good fun. It was entertaining.
Worth the detour if you are in the area visiting Shenandoah. -
Review from Phillip Y.
Des Moines, IA
3/21/2011
Wow, this cavern was wonderful. We were able to see all sorts of stalagmites here. They tell you not to touch them but this Japanese woman just kept on touching everything. She ended up turning off the light switch which was hilarious. If you haven't been to one of these caverns, then I would definitely recommend it. Plus, its a nice compliment to all the stuff here in VA- forests and historic stuff.
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Review from J D.
Arlington, VA
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great for kids and adults as well. about a mile walking underground. Stroller can make it but there are not bathrooms so make sure to use the ones before you go down the approx 70 steps in the cavern. Bring a good camera as your IPhone won't cut it.
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Review from Su K.
11/18/2008
Growing up, my parents didn't have Yelp or any friends that spoke English as their primary language, and yet, they somehow knew about awesome places like Luray Caverns. For you Koreans out in Yelpdom, I'm curious to know how many have visited Niagara Falls/CN Tower (probably everyone), the Empire State Building, and the Great Smoky Mountains? Anywho, Luray rocks (tote-ally awesome!). Sam R.'s pics are good, but I recommend you experience this natural wonder in person.
According to Wikipedia, the cavern is generously adorned with "speleothem," which includes columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, mirrored pools, etc...and is in stark contrast to speleoUS. And yes, I am trying to win a contest for most cheesy puns in a review. Like Sam R. says, "stalagmites = up, stalactites = down," or you can think of them as erect or flaccid.
You can wander around the cavern on your own or you can join guided tours, which depart every 15 minutes or so, which I highly recommend b/c you get to hear them play the Stalacpipe Organ. And just to make sure you're paying attention children, what is the Stalacpipe Organ? Very good! It is indeed a collection of flaccid junx that make music. It's fairly cold in the cavern - think of your basement, only a hundred feet deeper.
The only downside I can think of is the fact that the paved walkway is more than a mile long, which is good b/c this fatty can use some exercise. What's bad is that with all the pictures you have to take--we Koreans love taking us some pics throwing up our gang sign: the V--that mile takes some time and combined with the fact that there is water dripping everywhere, I always find I need to take serious leak towards the end. And yes, I have considered urinating on a national landmark. Come to think of it, w/ all the older folks in there, I wonder if everyone's just rockin the Depends or if the grandapa's are on Flomax or something?
Adult tickets are close to $20 and $10 for kids. Small pets are allowed but the place isn't really wheelchair accessible. For those with kids, you can use a stroller but you need to carry it down and up the stairs at the entrance and exit, respectively.
Money Saving Tip:
Numerous discounts are available: Triple A gets a few bucks off, a Giant BonusCard gets you 50% off the 2nd ticket, and bringing your Korean tour group of 20 ahjuma's and ahjushi's, all rockin their visors and fannie packs of course, will get you some savings if you call ahead.
I love Luray Caverns and I cannot wait to take my daughter there. But please, for the love of my bladder and to prevent incontinence later in life, please put a port-a-potty or Korean-style urinal with no privacy shields halfway through.Listed in: WiiFat
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Review from P P.
Gainesville, FL
8/4/2011
We had a wonderful experience. Teenagers included! The sites were remarkable. Eat in downtown Luray though instead of the restaurant on site.
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Review from talia r.
Washington, DC
10/12/2009
Beautiful, breathtaking, bombastic... well maybe not the last one but I needed another B.
Luray Caverns are a site. Not usually a fan of landscapes (as awe-inspiring as they are, I get bored fast), Luray Caverns is a place that I can't wait to get older and have kids so they can come here too.
Yea it is a $20 ticket ($19 if you have a AAA card) but I for sure think it is worth it. I also appreciate them giving all the money people throw in the pools to charities.
The downside in my opinion were all the screaming kids, but I guess there is nothing I can do short of taking them and leading them into a dark, secluded and restricted areas of the cave then leave them there. -
Review from Keon D.
7/26/2009
It's really magical inside here and definitely worth seeing.
Huge caverns that make you marvel at nature. I enjoyed my trip here and would recommend this to people of all ages. You receive a tour thats guided by your headphones where you hear pre-recorded audio. It's fine because you can go along at your own pace and there is a lot of information to hear.
The only downside i'd say about this place is it's sorta pricey to come here. It's definitely worth a trip if you've never seen it, especially since its not that far from the dc area. -
Review from Tuan N.
South Riding, VA
7/5/2011
I love this place, its so cool. But for some reason it kinda creeps me out lol, not sure why, but nonetheless I still love it. If you are ever around the area you should def. check it out.
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Review from Nathan C.
2/10/2009 1 Check-in Here
Luray Caverns is a beautiful cave not too far from the DC metro area (say 1.5 hours from Dulles, 2.5 hours from Baltimore) that makes an excellent day-trip destination, and makes a nice stopping point if you're hitting the wineries in the area.
We went at about noon on a warm February Saturday, definitely the off-season. Judging by the size of the parking lot the on-season gets crowded. As it was, our group was about 20 people, which I think is miniscule given the size of the waiting area. Tours run every 20 minutes, and take a little over an hour.
As we had both kids in tow (6 and 2.5) we were by far the noisiest bunch there. Actually, the 6 year old was suitably awed and interested, but the 2.5 year old wanted to:
- climb on stuff
- scream, and listen to the echoes
- climb on stuff while screaming and listening to the echoes
So we made sure to keep him moving so that the rest of the folks could enjoy things at a more leisurely pace.
In short, if you're touring the Shenandoah, Luray Caverns is a must-stop spot.Listed in: Charlottesville Road Trip 2009
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Review from Jamie M.
5/12/2009
I either didn't read the Yelp reviews very well for this place or I'm suffering from early onset Alzheimers because I was super surprised to find out they only had audioguide tours available here. I guess if they're not busy they offer guided tours but there was no mention of it during our visit. The only downside to that is we didn't get all of our questions answered about some of the formations, since we couldn't find an employee and they don't have any books in the gift shops about geology (a crime!!!). I was expecting the cave to be much cooler, like the ones at Grand Caverns but I actually thought it was pretty warm and humid down there, so you probably don't need a jacket, depending on the time of year you visit.
I had a hard time comparing this place to my visit at Grand Caverns since they're so different. Luray is easier to get to and there is probably a bit more to see...the paved paths are also easier for anyone with mobility issues. But if you want something less crowded and commercialized (and to see some bats!) you should head over to Grand Caverns. I recommend either of them.
I started asking about a AAA discount but it was something lame like $2 off a ticket. Luckily I had my Giant card so we got the 50% a second ticket deal Su K. mentioned instead. -
Review from Mark S.
7/8/2009
PROS: apparently this is the "best" cavern place on the East coast. It's really large and the tour guides are so corny sometimes that it's amusing.
CONS: a bit pricey (I think around $20 per person) but I guess they need the money to pay for everything.. since it's not a government park.
The ticket gives you entrance to their classic car exhibit and to play in their garden maze as well.
There's a yummy ice cream stand right next door that tastes really good but can be a bit pricey.. but on a hot summer day.. nothing is better than some cold ice cream.
oh TIP:
If you go in the winter time.. expect it to be VERY cold. Remember.. this is a CAVE. even in the summer time it's a bit breezy/chilly in the caves. It is hundreds of feet below the ground!
I think it's open year round too -
Review from Natalia J.
New York, NY
5/14/2008 1 photo
When I was younger I went to some lame cave in upstate NY so I wasn't expecting anything from Luray.
Everything was beautiful. They did a great job with the lighting. I wanted to stare at the reflecting pool forever.
Walking through the cavern took about 1.5 hours. With a tour guide it takes about 1 hour but we happened to visit on a "go-at-your-own-pace" day so we were able to take our time. Best part was being able to enjoy everything in peace and quiet without having kids screaming and running around.
Admission was $19 p/p. -
Review from Kristen H.
Washington Metro
11/22/2009
I had some seriously good times here, but it was because of who I was with, more than anything else.
As far as the caverns, they're beautiful, but are being destroyed by attempts to "develop" or "streamline" it. The smooth floors with stairs, railings and recessed path lighting were really a turn off.
The whole tour thing...well, I would've rather done my own thing. It's just too many people to do the tour. Can we opt out?
The cost was pretty shocking, as well, but I guess they have to pay for those unnecessary overdevelopment tasks they have in mind to make the place look farther and farther than from when it was in it's natural state.
I must say, the caves I saw in the Dominican Republic were much better. Less lighting, just enough, not such chaos, despite the large tour, not so overly "made-up" into something totally different like luray. The caves I saw there were left alone besides basic necessities, without focusing on creating some sort of show-like effects
Don't get me wrong, the caverns are very impressive, but it's all been made up so much that it loses much of its original splendor, in my opinion, and that's a real turn off. Everyone in my party of 5 shared my sentiments, but we were also all glad we went to see for ourselves. I won't likely go back.
If you don't live sort of near, say Richmond, Charlotesville, maybe JMU, then I say don't make a big point to come see the caverns. You'll be more satisfied if you focus on Shenandoah being the primary reason for the trip and having this as a bonus mini adventure that may or may not wow.
