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Luray Caverns
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
29 reviews for Luray Caverns
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.
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let me tell you just how much i freaking loathe tours. i loathe them large time. can't stand being stuck w/ other people, barely able to move and being shuffled like cattle. i need choices, people. choices. and if i don't have the choice or freedom to move at my own pace and luxury, then i am not in a happy place.
stuck in a cave, where claustrophobia will set in regardless (for me) and having to be stuck in a line committed to being w/ everyone in the group the entire time... that's a little too much for this rebel w/out a clue to deal with.
couldn't even enjoy the caves because of the fact i really couldn't do it on my own time and away from screaming kids and loud people.
would rather just let some bats free in my place and turn off the lights. or masturbate. okay, would prefer the latter, actually.
tina caverns, if you will.
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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.
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I expected a cheesy tourist trap presentation. That was all there, but the caverns were very impressive. Worth the trip.
The most beautiful cave I have been in. I would have to say it is worth the pricey fee. The only dissapointment I had was the lack of concern for the cave environment itself. At the beginning of the self guided tour we were told to please not touch anything as the skin oils will prevent the cave formations from forming once touched, and then .. we were free to roam. I saw countless people, and one entire family touching and rubbing the formations throughout the cave. One older man with the touchy family even started pulling on several stalactites to see how sturdy they were. Only at the end of the tour did I see an employee get on to someone for touching. It was the mother of the touchy family.... For the price they charge I would think they could have a few more employees or better educate people not to ruin these beautiful formations.
The cave itself is absolutely Awesome!
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My parents would have relatives, friends, and friends of friends over to visit and for some reason Luray Caverns ended up on the top 3 to-do list for every single visitor. I was quite young at the time so my appreciation for going underground was at a bare minimum. Now that I am older I appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the cavern. I do recommend planning a trip in the mountains, possibly camping, and seeing some springs, while adding Luray to your itinerary. A definite recommendation to visit at least once in your lifetime.
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Simply an amazing place to see.
I don't think there are words that could adequately describe what you would see there, but it's definitely worth the trip and the admission fee..
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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
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They have certainly made a good investment here. Talk about a beautiful ripoff. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it--- pretty awesome... but they are making some sweet dough by charging what they do. Get your discounts, if you care. Visit the website for details: http://www.luraycavern...
I agree with one of the other yelpers in saying... good luck if you have to use the restroom halfway through. ha!
Final piece of wisdom... they only have audio tours. It was actually really nice (19 total audio stops... but you can listen ahead and you don't have to be standing right there to listen. All controlled by you). I didn't have to wait for the other tourists in my way (and believe me... what a crowd!), hear repetition, or laugh at stupid jokes. They have an adult audio tour, and one for kids. The kids around me seemed really into it. I actually listened to both, adult and kid versions because there were so many people in the cavern, that they line was pretty backed up. I had some time. The kid's version is pretty good and it kept the kids around us entertained. They liked controlling their own learning. I'm excited to take the kids back to this place... Oh... wait... I don't have any.
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One would think that as an former mass-media psychology major I would be immune to commercials and the wily ways of advertising.
NOPE! I love commercials and ads and will believe anything they tell me. What? Take this potentially dangerous and unproven pill to lose 30 pounds in 2 days? What's the number to call??? What? If I buy this over-priced car I will find the secret to eternal happiness? Well, where's the nearest dealership?!?
A few weeks ago, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were watching lame TV and folding laundry, when a commercial comes up. Yes, you guessed it - it was a commercial for the "natural wonders of Luray"...and being the susceptible minion that I am, I turned to my husband and excitedly bounced up and down on the sofa like a little kid, and whined to go to Luray.
So the next morning, my husband packs us a picnic lunch and we head off to Luray.
The last time we went to Luray was about 5 years ago, and I believe it was on a weekday or something, because it was pretty empty, and the tour guide had a hell of a time keeping my wise-crackin' butt in line. This time, we arrived around 2pm - and there was a *mob*, with more tour-buses pulling up!
The tickets were $20 each, and instead of the live tour guide that we had in years past, they now have a prerecorded tour with headphones that they hand to you. Now, not many people know this, but I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I'm not like *insane* and do crazy things like Purell my forks and knives before use - however, when I'm not 100% sure about the sanitation process (like with these headphones - do they wipe them down after each use with alcohol for 10 minutes to kill off any cooties?!?), I get extremely weirded out. Fortunately, I wore a hoodie (it's cold down there!), and I put the headphones over my hoodie (and yes, I Purelled my ears both before and after). The way this prerecorded tour worked was that as you walked along, there were signs for "stops" with a code number. You typed the number into the recording, and it would then pull up the little spiel of what you were looking at and why it was significant.
At first I was a little annoyed with the prerecorded tour. Half the fun (for me at least), is a live tour-guide that you can get sassy with, and quiz (because I'm a useless trivia monster), and torment with pointless wise-cracks. So already, half the fun was gone. Boo!
HOWEVER - by the second "stop" along the tour, we realized how *awesome* this prerecording thing was...we could now go at our own pace, and with some astute timing, we were able to avoid most of the tour-mobs and annoying families with unruly kids! Plus my husband brought his SLR and he had a fabulous taking photos at his leisure, without a tour guide to rush us along. Also, the prerecording was *hilarious*. I mean, unintentionally hilarious, but with "voice actors" playing out parts and so forth, I think I ended up playing each "stop" several times. Just too funny!
If you haven't ever been to Luray - GO! GO NOW! GO AND BE AMAZED! The caverns are truly remarkable and amazing and glorious beyond words. All the pictures that you see of Luray? Yeah - it really doesn't do the caverns justice. The place is just amazing and beautiful and surreal. Stunning and epic and glorious all at once.
Finally - if you are one of those annoying people that either touch or encourage your kids to touch the stalagmites/stalactite formations - know this: If I am at Luray, and I see you touch *ANYTHING* - I *WILL* smack you. HARD. Across the head. If I see your kid touch anything - I will first smack your kid - then you - then your spouse for marrying such an idiot. Besides the whole germ thing (hello, how many dirty weirdos have touched that exact same spot?!?), um, you *DID* hear the whole big spiel and see all the signs everywhere that says DO NOT TOUCH right? The oils from your grimy, filthy, disgusting hands stop the stalagmites/stalactites from forming. Way to go - millions of years to create this cavern and one ignoramus like you is all it takes to destroy it. Oh yeah, and after I smack you, my husband wants to kick your @$$!
Uh. Yeah. So lesson here kids - DO NOT TOUCH THE FORMATIONS!!!
Oh, and GO! Go to Luray! It's well worth $20 and it's truly amazing. There is also a little restaurant, gift shop and a random antique car museum as a part of this. GO. GO NOW.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Having traveled around the world, this is definitely one of the more spectacular natural formations of geology that I have ever seen. I never expected to see something this cool so close to the DC Area. The place is very well organized, and the owners clearly spent a lot of time on the lighting effects, because the formations were so well lit, it almost felt fake. Like you were in a Disney exhibit.
My only complaint were the crowds. There were a lot of tourists, and a lot of kids, so you couldn't hear the tour guide very well as you were going through the caverns. I heard that during the week they have self-guided tours, and I would imagine that would make the experience more enjoyable.
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Luray Caverns are apparently the most popular caverns on the East Coast. I can totally understand why. Once inside, you head down a stair case into the cavern. They also have lift that can accommodate one person down the stairs. The rest of the cavern path is completely handicap accessible. Being tall (over 6 feet), might be a disadvantage in the caverns. Although I am a munchkin at 5'2, I felt as though I was a giant because at some points the ceiling hangs quite low. Other than that, wear comfy shoes because the Luray Caverns are over one mile of cavern trail that twist in a figure eight.
To save money on your tickets bring your Giant Supermarket Card. It will save you 50% on your second ticket. Also, if you're planning on going to maze, purchase the combination ticket because it will save you a couple Buck-A-Roos. There was free parking, which is always a plus. I hate when you spend money on admission tickets and then a park throws and extra fee your way. Included in your ticket price is an audio tour. I highly recommend it because it's not like a mundane science class video. There are signs that mark different audio stops. Type the number into your device and prepare to be amazed by fun information. I accidently hit a 2 instead of a 1 and listened to one of the kid's versions. It seemed really fun and would probably be great for elementary aged kids. Also, it gives you the option of hearing more about particular things that way if you're not digging the info, you can move on or you can learn more at your own pace.
The caverns themselves were breath taking. I cannot explain their beauty in words because it wouldn't do them justice. They are a whirlwind of browns, rusts, white, grays and blacks that have dripped to create a series of stalagmites and stalactite. I highly recommend this place whether you're thinking of coming here on a school trip, looking for a fun weekend activity or traveling through the area.
Thoroughly enjoyed this natural wonder. It was a bit pricey but having the audio unit/tour included was a plus. I have never purchase/used an audio tour before and this was quite a benefit to help enjoy the experience. Our family of 4 (mom-50, dad-52, girl-13, boy-11) enjoyed it immensely. Even though it was expensive, we did not mind paying the $ for it once we finished it. Compared to the Spy Museum in DC, this was worth it definitely. We were awed by the wonders of Mother Nature. The temp. was cool but my husband and I were comfortable. Daughter was cold. We had lunch at Spelunker's Cafe in Front Royal before -- delicious experience. I totally recommend this tour.
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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.
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This place is about an hour and a half drive from DC. It's a pretty nice drive and well worth the trip. I had seen other caverns before but was still very impressed by the formations here (you can kind of get some idea form the pics posted but it's so much cooler in person). The place was pretty crowded when I visited but we didn't have to wait very long (no more than 15 min I'd say) for our tour to begin. Once you enter, it's pretty much self-guided and at your own pace. There are 'guides' posted throughout to give you explanations at some of the more prominent formations (or to be your personal photographer... if you pester them enough). We got through in about a hour (and this allotted ample time for overzealous picture taking). I'll have to go back again to check out the garden maze.
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My parents would have relatives, friends, and friends of friends over to visit and for some reason Luray Caverns ended up on the top 3 to-do list for every single visitor. I was quite young at the time so my appreciation for going underground was at a bare minimum. Now that I am older I appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the cavern. I do recommend planning a trip in the mountains, possibly camping, and seeing some springs, while adding Luray to your itinerary. A definite recommendation to visit at least once in your lifetime.
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I liked the caverns here. I've been to a couple of other caverns before, so I thought I'd be unimpressed. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.
They've also got the carriage house and a garden maze. I *loved* the garden maze -- I highly recommend it if you've never done it before and you like puzzles and you don't have to go to the bathroom (because although they predict it takes 1/2 an hour to get through, you're lost so it takes time).
If you do the garden maze, buy your cavern ticket first and you get $1 off. If you buy your garden maze ticket first, you won't get the discount. :(
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It was an awesome experience and I'm so glad I went. Amazing how many phallic shapes appear in nature. That aside as you're walking and you get 145 ft below the ground you really feel how infinitesimal man is when compared to nature.
Very little was negative about the experience, but it wasn't exactly what I expected. I'm not sure why but I never thought we'd be walking through the cavern in a group with a tour guide. I understand that they have so many people going through there if they didn't have tour guides the place would probably be desecrated and ruined by people breaking off chunks of wall and the like.
It's designed for tourists, in a controlled environment No wandering off. You can't sit down and sketch that stalactite hanging above your head or frame the perfect photo with the perfect lighting. I would have loved to take more time and look at things at my own pace, but I guess that's why I would go back.
It was beautiful and awe inspiring. It made me want to put my real adventure hat on and do actual spelunking.
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Luray Caverns is an amazing natural wonder. The largest and most popular cavern in Virginia. We were just 2 of the more than half million annual visitors.
One of the most amazing features is an organ which instead of pipes has mallets that taps on the stalactites to play music. David was a great tour guide. The tour lasts about an hour and covers about a mile and a half of cavern taking your more than 100 feet undergound.
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During one of my visits before I moved here, my mom asked whether or not I'd seen Luray Caverns yet. I immediately knew to expect bus loads of tourists (probably a lot of Korean parents, much like my own), but I was curious. If it stood out in her memory from years ago, it must've been worth the visit. Then again, I don't have the same taste as my mama...
I was surprisingly delighted by the natural wonders. My man hadn't been back since the field trips days of his youth, and he thought it was pretty cool too. Then again, he's a science geek, and he loved telling me all about the stalactites and stalagmites. I already forgot what was what, so thanks to Sam R for clearing that up. And check out the pics he posted. Very cool and worth a visit!
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What sucks about going to this place after you live in l.a. is that after you go to Universal Studios, you get used to seeing this, despite that fact this it's actually real here. It's a pretty sick sight to see, nice drive to get here from Arlington.
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Great audioguide tour. Rangers available throughout the caverns to answer all questions. Was more grandiose than I imagined. Dream Lake is the most unusual thing. Highly recommended if you're in the area.
I never thought in my life I'd write a review about a cave (or cavern for you eco-PC nazis). Yes, it is indeed pretty cool to be able to burrow down 100 feet into the ground without having to break out $1,000 worth of spelunking gear. And since I know the owner's daughter (hi Becca!) I'll give this place five stars and ask that you all contribute and visit this place. And remember, stalactites = down, stalagmites = up. I know you earth science drop-outs were wondering. Check the pics!
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40 + years ago when I graduated high school in that area , Luray Caverns was the best place to see caves, unless you wanted to live on the wild side and find new ones. I have wanted to take my wife to see them since our marriage 37 years ago. We finally made it. We saw the other ones around as well, but this is a must see. So much in the area had changed except for the cave.
Amazing! This was my first cavern experience and it was fantastic. The caverns were beautiful. While walking through, I kept thinking about how surreal it must have been for people to just stumble upon the caverns while exploring the land. It's definately worth the hour and a half drive from the DC area (I drove from Alexandria). There is a $19 charge per adult, but it's well worth it and it grants you access to the car and carriage museum as well (which I didn't visit, but what the heck, knock yourself out).
Besides the caverns, there's also a maze on the grounds and horse and carriage rides. The maze is fun to get lost in. Wear good walking shoes if you plan to visit the caverns and be advised that there is some uphill/downhill walking, plus stairs, so if you have a hard time walking or have bad knees, just take that into consideration. The caverns are also wheelchair friendly. Bring a camera. Flash is not a problem. A lot of people on my tour left their camera at home because they assumed that flash was not allowed inside the caverns, but it is. Also, bring a light jacket, as it does get a little chilly 100+ feet underground. Expect lines if you're going during tourist months. It was pretty crowded today, but i'm sure it's insane during July and August. There's lots of parking and even small cafes and gift shops. The Luray Caverns are a great place to bring out of town family who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the DC area. Go check it out!
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These caverns are so fun! The setting is what made if for me - from the parking lot you see the beautiful mountains in the distance and during this time of year the leaves are all golden, red, and gorgeous! The caverns are definitely a fun day trip - there are some truely beautiful things inside! If you have never been to a cavern before, this is a good one to start with - it's not too long (about 1 1/4 mile...) and you follow an easy path with a tour guide. Tours are about every 5-10 minutes so you don't wait very long to get in, either. Some of the paths were a bit slippery...but they have handrails! On most cavern tours I've been on they turn off all the lights at some part of the tour so you sit in a dark cave...it's one of my favorite parts of the tour, but they don't do this at Luray Caverns...one of its only downfalls.
Also, there's a cafe, car museum, and garden maze there too! The garden maze is a blast! You can spend the whole afternoon here between all the activities offered!
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