If you’re headed to Springfield for the day, take the opportunity to check out this historic and wondrous site. The kids and I made a day trip up to Southwest Missouri to see the aquarium and stopped to see what Fantastic Caverns was all about.
Turns out, it was pretty fantastic! Not only were the sights inside the caverns unlike anything I’d ever seen before, but the history and underground ecosystem were very interesting to discover.
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To find this treasure, you pop off I-44, it’s a little bit of a trek to the destination, but one worth taking.
The Experience
You might be deep cave exploring, but here, you can do it in a way that everyone can enjoy. From infants to elders, all can experience Fantastic Caverns together because these facilities are fully accessible.
What makes it such an easy experience is that this cavern is one of only four in the entire world that is tram guided (and the only one in the United States). That’s right; you get to see the whole thing from inside a Jeep-drawn tram. After you get your tickets at the main office, I recommend sneaking down to the tram. A new tour departs every half hour or so.
Don’t miss this suggestion. Go down to departure early because soon, hordes of school-aged kids on field trips will be joining you. They’ll all get stuck in the trailer behind the Jeep, but if you’re lucky, the driver will invite you to sit up in the truck with him. We were fortunate enough to have that experience, and it was perfect.
As you leave the tram station, your tour guide takes you on a little path to get down to the caves' entrance. You’ll see a few pieces of history along the way, including one of the old gas-powered trucks they used to use. The entrance into the cave is just big enough to allow the tram through. Fantastic Caverns has taken many precautions to preserve the cave and its inhabitants.
That’s right; there are inhabitants inside. If you know anything about a cave ecosystem, you can guess what some of those are. You might get lucky enough to see a few during your guided tour, but I don’t want to give away the entire experience. Still, you learn about the cave’s discovery (not made by a human) and see some evidence of the original 12 women explorers who were the first people inside the natural wonder.
I’m not a big history buff, but even I was pretty captivated by the tales of the cave. So much has been done here throughout the years. Listen to the part where the cave was a speakeasy during prohibition. I can’t imagine trying to stumble around here after a couple of drinks.
Apart from an interesting guide, the sites are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The Hall of Giants refers to two floor-to-ceiling stalagmites, which are only a couple of the wonders you’ll see underground. Even my little noise-box boy was in quiet wonder during the tour (and I had been nervously concerned he wouldn’t be).
Planning Your Visit
You don’t have to plan for a visit to Fantastic Caverns. Just go! The cave is open 362 days a year, pausing only for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day. Tours start at 8 am and it’s closed by 5 pm each evening. Group rates and discounts are available but expect to pay roughly $20 a person (more for adults and less for children).
You can always catch a tour regardless of when you come. A new tram departs the station every 20-30 minutes. This gives you plenty of time to grab your tickets and make a bathroom pit stop. If you have a few minutes left before the tour, you can explore the gift shop (but I still recommend going down to grab a seat in the Jeep).
Inside, the cave stays 60 degrees all year round, making it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You might grab a jacket if you stop in the fall. That’s one of those in-betweener seasons where you might find it chilly inside. We went during the summer, and the temperature was a nice reprieve.
We stopped here on our way to the Wonders of Life aquarium in Springfield and made the whole thing an eventful little day trip. The whole family had a great time, and I’d go back in a heartbeat, as I’m not sure you ever really get bored with taking in something so profound.
Is Fantastic Caverns Worth it?
Yes! Seeing the magnitude of what our Earth holds is breathtaking, and you’ll absolutely get that experience here. If you’re already headed that way and have about an hour and a half to spare, you shouldn’t miss this.
Book Your Trip With These Tips
Here are a few takeaways if you’re ready to get your Ozark road trip underway.
Book a Hotel: Check available rooms for dates and competitive rates at Trip.com
Take your road trip in style and comfort with a rental car suited for the experience at Economy Bookings.