Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.
Videos by TravelAwaits
For some, caves are fearful places; dark, dank, and full of creepy crawlies! For others, there’s an intrigue to caves that make them thrilling places to explore. But did you know that there are cave hotels in the United States where you can actually sleep in a cave?
And now, there are a wide variety of ways to ensure that you can experience cave life — from real-life excursions and overnight stays in literal caves, or through fantasy theme suites that offer the thrill of spelunking coupled with the luxury of a high-end hotel room. Whether it’s a fantasy or just a family gathering, there’s a world of fun waiting for you underground.
Here are 9 places you can spend the night in a cave — both real and imaginary.
11 Best Cave Hotels in the United States
1. Worley’s Cave, Bluff City, TN
Worley’s Cave. Source: Discover Bristol.
Tennessee is cave-rich and full of places to get underground. And some places offer you the ability to stay late, explore, and fall asleep in the cave. At Worley’s Cave in Bluff City, TN, you can spend your weekend underground after the tours are over. Grab a buddy and a flashlight, explore the cave’s 4,000 feet of caverns and tunnels, then throw a sleeping bag on the ground to go to sleep. Showers and camping are available topside near the cave’s entrance. But be forewarned: it gets cold in there. Dress warmly, or take someone with you to snuggle up to!
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Worley’s Cave, Bluff City, TN
2. Mammoth Cave Hotel, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave. Wikimedia Commons
Check into the historic Mammoth Cave Hotel for an authentic look at what Mammoth Cave was like back in the 50s, during one of its heydays. In addition to regular hotel rooms that overlook the cave area, there are cabins located in the woods that give you the feeling of adventure that comes with being atop of one of the longest cave systems in the world, while not being directly inside of it.
And check out Crystal Lake Coffee Shop for a true Kentucky favorite — soup beans and cornbread. To eat it like a true Kentucky girl, add raw onion, ketchup, and pickle relish… can’t tell where I’m from, can you? And for fun, head over to Troglobites, a hamburger joint that serves up some great fast food style cooking. And seriously, how can you not love the name?
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Mammoth Cave Hotel, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
3. Hobbit Caves at Eureka Springs, Arkansas
A high-end take on the Hobbit hole, Eureka Springs. Source.
The Eureka Springs Treehouses, Castles, and Hobbit Caves are themed rooms that will help you live out your fantasy of staying in a woodland fairyland.
The cave rooms are replicas of real imaginings of what modern Hobbit holes might be like. From the rock formations on the walls that lead to the cave-like living area, to the private courtyard outside of the door, the hobbit caves let you experience Eureka Springs and the surrounding area in a most unusual and fantastical way. The rooms feature king-sized beds, a shower for two and jacuzzi hot tub.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Hobbit Caves at Eureka Springs, Arkansas
4. Grand Canyon Caverns Cave Hotel Room
The Grand Canyon Caverns Cave Hotel Room is one of the largest suites in the world and one of the oldest.
Located in Peach Springs, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Caverns Cave Hotel Room is a hotel room deep inside the Grand Canyon. At 200 feet wide by 400 feet long and with a 70-foot ceiling, it is one of the largest hotel suites anywhere. And because it is located inside a cave that took 65 million years to form, technically, it is one of the oldest. Or at least, it took the longest to build.
The Cave Room is located directly above the concrete paths that wind through the cave. Because of this, you take an elevator to go 220 feet into the ground to get to it. And because the air is filtered through the limestone rock of the cave, you’ll be breathing air that is as dry and as clean as you can get. Be forewarned though — you’re in an actual cave 220 feet below the surface that has tours running through it during the day. You will be the only living thing in the cave, except during business hours. Might want to think about that before you go.
The room is the only one of its kind and features two double beds, a living room with a fold-out sofa, a library of books and magazines, a working record player and other amenities… except WiFi and cable. For those who are less adventurous, the facility offers above-ground hotel rooms as well.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Grand Canyon Caverns Cave Hotel Room
5. Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast, Farmington, NM
This cave house, built into the cliffs of Tertiary Ojo Alamo sandstone in the the La Plata River valley, is a relaxing getaway to view the unparalleled southwest sunsets. From here, you can see four states — Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.
Originally intended as offices for a geologist, the cave is 1,700 square feet of living space, including a master bedroom, a replica of a native American kiva, a kitchen, and a bathroom with rock walls to house the waterfall shower and jacuzzi tub. Two porches with sliding glass doors are located off either end of the house. And because it’s underground, the temperature in the cave stays between 68 and 73 degrees all year.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast, Farmington, NM
6. Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Ozarks, Arkansas
Beckham Creek Cave. Source.
Nested inside of a natural cavern and overlooking one of the Ozarks’ beautiful valleys, the Beckham Creek Cave is truly unique. A private home on a 260-acre resort, the Cave offers peace and quiet for all its guests.
The cave features four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen. The place sleeps eight, but it’ll set you back about $1,600 a night to hang out with your friends. You can fit another eight people in the home, but they have to provide their own sleeping mats. In the vicinity of the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, you’ll find plenty of activities like hiking, canoeing, fishing, helicopter rides and horseback riding… although at those prices, we’re pretty sure you’ll ride in on your own helicopter. Just saying.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Ozarks, Arkansas
7. Cave Room at Radisson King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Located near Valley Forge and Bryn Mawr University, the Radisson at King of Prussia features several themed rooms, including one cave room. It’s a pre-historic style suite with a faux wood-burning fireplace, a primitive cave, and a curbed couch decorated in leopard print. It’s not easy to find a way to book it onsite, so best to call them up to find a time to escape to the underground.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Cave Room at Radisson King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
8. Executive Fantasy Hotel, Miami, FL
Not far from the airport, you’ll find the Executive Fantasy Hotel with different types of hotel rooms — the cave room being one of them. The room is decorated inside to look like a cave, and features a king-sized bed and a doorless shower. The suite also features a dancing pole, a private pool, its own bar, and a love chair (whatever that is). Notes on the room say it also has its own disco ball and fully stocked bar!
Clearly, there’s more to being a caveman than dragging home your dinner, and this suite lets you get all “He-Man” up in here.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Executive Fantasy Hotel, Miami, FL
9. Cave Rooms, Wildwood Inn, Florence, KY
If you’ve ever wanted all the intrigue of staying in a cave, while enjoying a tropical pool, and a Jacuzzi hot tub, Wildwood Inn is just the place for you.
Wildwood Inn features several themed rooms, ranging from Tiki Huts to the Swiss Family Robinson’s Tree House. There are also five cave rooms, decorated like caves from various parts of the country and the poles — the Arctic, Kentucky, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah Canyon. Each room is windowless and features a king-sized bed and a hot tub amid stalactites and stalagmites. Other amenities include a refrigerator, a full-sized bathroom, and an HD TV.
Outside, hotel guests can enjoy a tropical pool under a dome, a game room, and a continental breakfast. Be careful though. The lights in the cave room are on a timer, and if you don’t keep an eye on them, you’ll be feeling your way around in the dark for the light switch!
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Cave Rooms, Wildwood Inn, Florence, KY
10. BedrocK Homestead Cave, Boulder, Utah
Located inside Utah’s Grand Staircase Monument on a 40-acre farm, BedrocK Homestead Cave offers guests a unique experience for the whole family. Just getting to this amazing cave stay is an adventure as you’ll need to have a car with a four-wheel drive to access it.
The owner hand-blasted the home into the rock and he powers it using hydroelectricity by a nearby creek. Technically, the cave is a shared listing with the host, but guests have a whole wing of the home to themselves with a private bathroom and balcony.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near BedrocK Homestead Cave.
11. Hand-Carved Cave House in Chattanooga, Tennessee
This cave house in Chattanooga, Tennessee is made up entirely of stone and has all the amenities of a modern home that boats beautiful views of Lookout Mountain through its wide panoramic windows.
While outside, you can enjoy the amenities of the grill, hot tub, and fire pit. If you want to complete the experience, there are trails for mountain biking and hiking and spots for rock climbing nearby, and you can even explore the caves.
Explore hotels and Airbnbs near Cave House in Chattanooga.
FAQs
What Are Cave Hotels?
Cave hotels provide exciting cave experiences coupled with overnight stays. Imagine the visual treats of these geological miracles but with comfortable bedding and modern amenities including a dining area. Spending a night in a real cave is an adventure you won’t forget.
What Is the Most Luxurious Cave House in the U.S.?
Beckham Creek Cave Lodge in the Ozark Mountains in northwest Arkansas. The cave consists of four bedrooms and four bathrooms, a unique round queen-sized bed, a king bed in the master bedroom, and a natural rock formation waterfall.
Where Else Can I Go on a Cave Vacation?
Apart from the cave accommodation in the United States, the most popular destinations with cave hotels can be found in Cappadocia in Turkey and on the Santorini Island in Greece. Cave hotels offer a unique combination of natural beauty and luxury.
What Is the Deepest Cave Suite in the U.S.?
At 220 feet below the surface, the Cavern Suite at Grand Canyon Caverns is not only the deepest cave suite in the U.S., but in the world as well. It has two queen beds, an RV-style bathroom, and a dining area with a refrigerator and microwave.
Why Are Cave Hotels So Popular?
Because cave hotels offer one-of-a-kind settings, unlike any other hotels in the world. Deep underground or on a cliff, these luxurious accommodations are beautifully furnished, come with all the modern amenities, and offer endless ocean or mountain views perfect for romantic weekend getaways.
