Bridal Cave
Bridal Cave
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Rated as one of the most scenic caverns in America, Bridal Cave has more formations per square foot than any other known cave or cavern in the United States. Park facilities include visitors center, cave tours, gift shop, rock shop, boat dock(on Lake of the Ozarks), nature trails, gemstone mining and observation tower. Open Year Round.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
514 reviews
Excellent
319
Very good
158
Average
27
Poor
5
Terrible
5
roxron800
Fort Worth, TX153 contributions
Jul 2022
We ventured by boat on this all day excursion. We ran from MM25 down to Bridal Cave, stopping for gas once along the way. We parked our boat at their dock and walked up the steep steps to the gift shop. The gift shop had lots of cool rocks and gems for sell. A huge hit was the box of $10 geodes, which included breaking it open. I was super-impressed with mine!
There were 10 in our party (children 4 and under were free), so we signed up. Our tour guide was actually a sweet high school young lady who gave an outstanding tour. The cave itself was spectacular and the concrete trails were were but not slippery at all. There were some tight squeezes and low roofs you have to negotiate but that added to the mystique. It is basically an in and out tour of at least .25 miles but closer to .5 miles in length and takes about an hour to complete. We did purchase the group photo which was high quality and worth the bucks.
We've been in several caves in the past but this one felt raw and unexplored and even a bit dangerous which all added to a great experience. I did bang my head on the low tunnel, but I am just hardheaded enough that it didn't knock me out. I do have a goose egg, however.
As caves go, I rate this one in one of the best and although it is not huge it has a lot to offer.
There were 10 in our party (children 4 and under were free), so we signed up. Our tour guide was actually a sweet high school young lady who gave an outstanding tour. The cave itself was spectacular and the concrete trails were were but not slippery at all. There were some tight squeezes and low roofs you have to negotiate but that added to the mystique. It is basically an in and out tour of at least .25 miles but closer to .5 miles in length and takes about an hour to complete. We did purchase the group photo which was high quality and worth the bucks.
We've been in several caves in the past but this one felt raw and unexplored and even a bit dangerous which all added to a great experience. I did bang my head on the low tunnel, but I am just hardheaded enough that it didn't knock me out. I do have a goose egg, however.
As caves go, I rate this one in one of the best and although it is not huge it has a lot to offer.
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FJT2011
Saint Louis, MO97 contributions
Jun 2021
This was way better than I expected it to be! And way busier! This is a one-hour tour of a series of caves that go back into the side of a small mountain. It is beautiful inside. Our guide was very enthusiastic and friendly. No one except myself and my child chose to wear a mask, in fact, since there are no mask requirements in Missouri. My warnings: there are some very narrow passages, larger tour participants may find it very challenging to squeeze through. Also there is a 4 and a half foot ceiling in one passage, requiring people to bend down. Also some steep walkways. All of the ground inside this tour is wet, wet, wet, with some puddles, so I wouldn't recommend flip flops or any shoes that don't have good traction. In addition, you are going to be dripped on from above. We wore hoodies to protect our hair.
This cave is privately owned. In the beginning there is a photographer to take each family's photo inside the cave. At the end of the tour, you can buy the glossy 8x10 photo for $10.
Overall this was a great experience. Climbing through the different caves made us feel a little like real explorers, wondering what was ahead. This is nothing like the Meramec Caverns we have toured before. This is way more exciting and beautiful!
This cave is privately owned. In the beginning there is a photographer to take each family's photo inside the cave. At the end of the tour, you can buy the glossy 8x10 photo for $10.
Overall this was a great experience. Climbing through the different caves made us feel a little like real explorers, wondering what was ahead. This is nothing like the Meramec Caverns we have toured before. This is way more exciting and beautiful!
Written June 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
callm01
Jefferson City, MO8 contributions
Jun 2020
Amazing Cave - really good experience. However, I recommend that no one go on a tour until the Bridal Cave start practicing social distancing. They have got to limit the number of people allowed in each tour. There were zero precautions taken for COVID. Our group was very large and we were crammed together like no one had even heard of social distancing. We had to stand next to and touching strangers over and over while the guide talked about the formations in the cave. While interesting, it is not fair to subject tourists to that kind of unnecessary exposure.
Written June 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cameron D
3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
If you are expecting this to be on the scale of Mammoth Cave or even Meramec Caverns you will be sorely disappointed. It is a cool looking cave and definitely a unique experience however the tour is about 1 hour long and in all honesty you could probably cover the whole thing in 20 to 25 minutes. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and open to questions, no matter how stupid or time consuming. And they have tour groups that essentially file in and out at the same time. You basically spend a lot of time sitting and waiting for the group in front of you to come out of an area for you to go in and vice versa. Also, the gift shop has merch but the hoodies are $70; I guess this is offset in a way because they were buy one get one free at the time. Everyone was very friendly. Bring a hoody and/or hat because it gets to be around 60 degrees inside and there are droplets of water that drip from everywhere and you will get dripped on. If you have a boat you can literally drive up and dock to go in. If you’re needing something to do it’s not the worst thing in the world and the kids on the tour were getting a kick out of it.
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
shonaker843
Marion, SC2 contributions
Jun 2022
We chose the Lantern Tour, which is only available on Saturday evenings. The tour is conducted by a docent in period 1870s costume, and each participant gets their own LED keepsake lantern. Our docent was pretty adorable, but she was also extremely knowledgeable about the history of the cave. Although I have not taken the regular tour as a comparison, the lantern tour focused on how the first persons to explore the cave had to be very adept at climbing and quite brave to explore such a dark cavern. She showed us how the caverns would look in candle light and torch light, and we even experienced a few moments of utter blackness, something explorers using these two types of illumination would often risk. The cave itself is beautiful, with long draping stalactites and stalacmites that looked like glistening mushrooms. The cave was both eerie and beautiful and well worth the visit.
Written June 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TravelMore
Parker, CO126 contributions
Jun 2022
We drove 2.5 hours to tour this cave and it was worth it. We were one of the first to arrive for the day and while we waited outside by the lake, they gave us some fish food to feed the carp. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The tour isn't terribly long, but it was such a cool cave. There were so many well preserved formations and at the end you get to see this beautiful turquoise "mystery lake".
The size of the tour was just right so that we didn't feel crowded or rushed and we had time to take pictures and just appreciate the beauty around us. I highly recommend this place!
The size of the tour was just right so that we didn't feel crowded or rushed and we had time to take pictures and just appreciate the beauty around us. I highly recommend this place!
Written July 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B. B.
Minnesota97 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Cute little shop. Tour is worth it. We happened to be in a super small your group (6 of us, 7 with the guide) so I'm not sure how big the tours can be. It is wet, cool and some walking thru some narrow and small walkways so beware. Beautiful to see and our tour guide was great. Definitely worth the time and price.
Remember where you are at... Missouri residents aren't told by their Governor to wear masks, have bars and restaurants at half capacity, and told when businesses can open and where every person has to wear a mask.... so.... Yes. This specific place the workers don't have masks and the social distancing is left to each person. Not saying you can't wear one. I did. I imagine if the tour group was any bigger, it would be fairly hard to do so in the cave.
Enough of that. It's a beautiful natural wonder. But if you have concerns, then you shouldn't be traveling to an open state.
Remember where you are at... Missouri residents aren't told by their Governor to wear masks, have bars and restaurants at half capacity, and told when businesses can open and where every person has to wear a mask.... so.... Yes. This specific place the workers don't have masks and the social distancing is left to each person. Not saying you can't wear one. I did. I imagine if the tour group was any bigger, it would be fairly hard to do so in the cave.
Enough of that. It's a beautiful natural wonder. But if you have concerns, then you shouldn't be traveling to an open state.
Written October 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jessicawurtz
Omaha, NE5 contributions
Aug 2020
Beautiful cave that everyone in our group enjoyed! Our tour guide was great and very knowledgeable about the cave. Even the youngest kids (age 7) enjoyed it!
The only downside I could even possibly criticize was that the size of our group was very large and it was hard to get around with so many people. We went on a Saturday though and that is probably their busiest day so they needed to fill the tours which is understandable. I bet on a weekday they would be smaller groups.
Overall, it was so much fun!
The only downside I could even possibly criticize was that the size of our group was very large and it was hard to get around with so many people. We went on a Saturday though and that is probably their busiest day so they needed to fill the tours which is understandable. I bet on a weekday they would be smaller groups.
Overall, it was so much fun!
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
catt816
Kansas City, MO169 contributions
Feb 2020
This was a really cool guided cave tour. There are several low spots where you'll have to be careful as well as a couple tight squeezes. Well worth the price, in my opinion.
The reason I recommend going during the off-season is because you'll have a MUCH more personalized experience. During the summer months the tour groups may be upwards of 30 people at a time. That could be particularly tight in some of the Bridal Cave chambers and far from the tour guide.
We went in February and there were a grand total of four people in our tour group. This allowed us to see everything we wanted to see, ask all the questions we wanted, and have a generally comfortable tour.
The reason I recommend going during the off-season is because you'll have a MUCH more personalized experience. During the summer months the tour groups may be upwards of 30 people at a time. That could be particularly tight in some of the Bridal Cave chambers and far from the tour guide.
We went in February and there were a grand total of four people in our tour group. This allowed us to see everything we wanted to see, ask all the questions we wanted, and have a generally comfortable tour.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SJC Lawyer
San Juan Capistrano, CA43 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
My husband, 20-year old daughter, and I visited on a hot crowded day. The entrance to the cave sits just above the stunning Lake of the Ozarks. It would be very difficult to beat the spectacular view from the platform area outside the cave. The interior of the cave is beautiful but the tour groups going through were too large making adequate viewing difficult. The cave floor is also very wet and extremely slippery. Parts of the walk into and out of the cave are very steep and part of the passage is very narrow, making it difficult to get through. If one is on the larger side and/or has mobility challenges, this tour may not be for you. No one mentioned this at any time before our particular tour and no warning signs were seen. Even though my shoes were rubber-soled, I was constantly worried about slipping on the wet stone or tripping on the sometimes uneven steps. Even my daughter felt a little challenged. The cave is well worth visiting, just know what to expect. Most people probably do just fine.
Written June 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jacobLAX
2 contributions
Are face masks and social distancing procedures being used by the guides...and attendees in general?
callm01
Jefferson City, MO8 contributions
In July, they were not being used. No face masks and no social distancing. It was bad. I wrote to them and wrote to the area visitors bureau and never received a response. I hope they’ve changed their ways, but I don’t know.
AMP0907
Choctaw, OK200 contributions
If a person has some hip issues, but can do some stairs would this be doable? Are the inclines slippery? Overall how flat and how dry are the paths? Thank You!
savvytravelmom
Saint Louis, MO219 contributions
If you're able to do some stairs, I think you should be fine. When we visited, it was after a rain, and the ground was pretty wet and there were puddles. However, the concrete is textured, so it wasn't super slippery. Given the recent rain amounts, you might want to call before your visit to see if the cave is even open. It's right on the edge of the lake, so it could be very wet or even closed. The largest amount of stairs was at the end of the tour when you go to the underground lake, but you could easily see it from the stairs without descending all the way down. If it's open, it's worth the effort to walk through.
Is it handicap accessible?
Keita D
158 contributions
No, it is not. Tight spaces
Could someone pregnant do this?
John B
Chesterfield, MO67 contributions
Easy walk I weigh 250 there was one tight spot for me but the walk is easy
So if a person is on the heavier side this wouldn't be a good choice to visit?
Jill D
Saint Louis, MO160 contributions
Depending on how heavy. 200 to 250 would be ok I think. The walk is slow and mostly flat. Some tight squeezes, but not that tight.
melimo1017
Stevens Point, WI179 contributions
Would a parent with a front carrier be able to bring a well-behaved infant on this tour?
Steve T
Camdenton
Absolutely!!!
Bridal Cave (Camdenton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Bridal Cave
- Bridal Cave is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Hotels near Bridal Cave:
- (1.68 mi) Old Kinderhook Resort Golf, Club & Spa
- (0.42 mi) Cozy Lake Front Cottage w/dock, perfect family retreat!
- (4.00 mi) Lake Breeze Resort
- (3.72 mi) Point View Resort
- (9.35 mi) Inn at Harbour Ridge Bed and Breakfast
- Restaurants near Bridal Cave:
- (1.74 mi) The Trophy Room at Old Kinderhook
- (2.81 mi) Pepperoni Bill's Pizzeria
- (2.71 mi) RJ's Family Restaurant
- (1.98 mi) Chuck Wagon Cafe
- (1.73 mi) The Hook Cafe
- Attractions near Bridal Cave:
- (4.33 mi) Ha Ha Tonka State Park
- (1.86 mi) Golf at Old Kinderhook
- (8.84 mi) Ozark Distillery and Brewery
- (1.81 mi) Spa 54 at Old Kinderhook
- (1.23 mi) Ozarks Amphitheater