Blanchard Springs Caverns, Ozark Mountains Travel Guide

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Discover a breathtaking underground world at Blanchard Springs Caverns, featuring stunning formations and guided tours in the Ozark National Forest.

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Blanchard Springs Caverns

Explore the depths of Blanchard Springs Caverns, a stunning cave system in Arkansas' Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. This 'living' cave features glistening formations, guided tours, and a constant 58-degree temperature, making it a unique and accessible natural wonder.

A brief summary to Blanchard Springs Caverns

704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, Arkansas, 72533, US
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Monday 9:30 am-6 pm
Thursday 9:30 am-6 pm
Friday 9:30 am-6 pm
Saturday 9:30 am-6 pm
Sunday 9:30 am-6 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Purchase tickets in advance online at Recreation.gov, as walk-up tickets are not guaranteed.
The cave maintains a constant 58-degree temperature, so dress accordingly with a light jacket or sweater.
Wear comfortable, low-heeled, non-slip shoes for walking on paved trails and potentially wet surfaces.
Allow extra travel time due to curvy roads and potential road work in the Ozark National Forest.

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Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

Ozark Folk Center State Park

Ozark Mountain Ziplines

Ozark - St. Francis National Forest

Onyx Cave

Christ of the Ozarks

Explore Blanchard Springs Caverns on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Blanchard Springs Caverns, mapped for you.

Getting There

Driving

From Mountain View, Arkansas, head west on Highway 14 for approximately 12 miles. Turn right (north) at the Blanchard Springs Caverns sign, which is well-marked. Follow the paved access road to the visitor center and parking area. Be aware that the roads in the Ozark National Forest can be curvy, so allow extra travel time. Parking is available near the visitor center. Expect to pay a day-use fee of $15 per person (ages 16 and older) or $10 per person (ages 15 and under).

Discover more about Blanchard Springs Caverns

Blanchard Springs Caverns, nestled in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest near Fifty-Six, Arkansas, is a mesmerizing subterranean world. This 'living' cave is a dynamic environment where sparkling formations like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones are constantly changing due to the ongoing deposition of minerals from dripping water.The caverns formed over millions of years as slightly acidic rainfall seeped through cracks in the limestone, dissolving the rock and creating cavities. The cave system consists of three levels, with guided tours available to explore portions of each.Visitors can choose from several guided tours. The Dripstone Trail is the easiest and most accessible, taking visitors through beautifully lit rooms filled with a variety of crystalline formations. The Discovery Trail is more strenuous, descending deeper into the cave system and showcasing the natural entrance used by original explorers. The Wild Cave Tour, currently unavailable, offers adventurous visitors a chance to explore undeveloped sections of the cave.Blanchard Springs Caverns is unique as the only tourist cave owned by the United States Forest Service and the only one owned by the federal government outside the National Park System. The cave has a rich history, with evidence suggesting Native American exploration dating back centuries. In the 1950s, the government considered using the caverns as a fallout shelter during the Cold War. The caverns officially opened to the public in 1973.