Discover fun for the whole family at caverns and caves in Pennsylvania, natural wonders that offer everything from guided boat and lantern tours to gemstone panning and rappelling.
The naturally air-conditioned sites are especially nice for summer travel. Since many of the caves possess damp environments and temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees, good shoes and a light jacket are recommended. Be sure to visit one (or more!) of the Pennsylvania caves on our list.
The only all-water cavern and wildlife park in the U.S. and the only cave in Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places, Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park’s Centre Hall cavern tour features a one-hour motorboat ride on an underground stream surrounded by stunning stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes (try spotting “The Statue of Liberty”). See how dripping water has sculpted magnificent flowstone, curtains, cascades, and draperies against a background of pillars and gigantic columns at one of the best east coast caverns.
If you prefer an above-ground experience, try the 90-minute wildlife, farm, and nature tour through the park’s lands, where you’ll learn about the area’s geology, biology, and geography, and spot local inhabitants like bears, wolves, and Penn’s Cave’s icon – the mountain lion.