Educational Tours

Get deep into learning, 350 ft. deep underground that is!

Cumberland Caverns offers 6 unique educational programs designed to both excite and inform students about the wonders of the underground. Each program includes a fully guided tour of a lighted developed area of Cumberland Caverns where students will learn about the fascinating geology, unique history and wildlife that inhabits the cave.

After the tour each program is designed for your group to each lunch (provided by you) in one of the largest rooms of the caverns, the Volcano Room. Here you will dine under our ¾ ton chandelier while watching an all new A/V presentation about the formation of caves and other unique features about caves and caverns.

When you exit the cave don’t forget to stop by our newly remodeled educational resource center where students and adults can purchase a souvenir of their visit.

These programs are available year around for booking around your busy school schedules.

Please call or email our office for available dates.

50-60 minute tour of the cavern

30 minute lunch

15 minute walking time to and from cave

TOUR TAKES 2 HOURS

50-60 minute tour of the cavern

30 minute lunch

30-45 minute candlelight ghost story

15 minute walking time to and from cave

50-60 minute tour of the cavern

30 minute lunch

15 minute walking time to and from cave

30-60 minutes of panning for gems or fossils*

*This program includes one bag of pre-seeded gems or fossils mix for each student.  The students go to our mining sluice to find out what is hidden in their bag.  Each bag has several different varieties of gems or fossils

90 minute tour of the cavern

30 minute lunch

15 minute walking time to and from cave

This tour is only available August 1st - February 1st

TOUR TAKES 2 1/2 HOURS

90 minute tour of the cavern

30 minute lunch

90-120 minute adventure tour through natural portions of the cave.

15 minute walking time to and from cave

Printable Daytime AdventureTour Brochure
Printable Daytime Advneture Tour Request Form

Gypsum Crawl Adventure
takes 4-5 Hours

Historic Route Adventure
Takes 5-6 Hours

There is a fifteen person minimum for all of these tours and are reserved for schools and home-schools only.

• For your safety, PLEASE wear good walking shoes.
• Pack all lunches into cardboard boxes or plastic tubs so that we can easily transport them to the cave.
• Full payment should be made at the door the day of your trip. We accept American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. Checks should be made payable to: Cumberland Caverns.

Cumberland Caverns is offering a FREE program just for you!

Teachers, how would you like a guest speaker from Cumberland Caverns to come to your school prior to your tour absolutely FREE? Our Tennessee Caveman program offers an educational, entertaining, and unusual introduction to caves. It includes how caves are formed, the biota found within caves, the geology of cave formations, methods, equipment, and techniques of cave exploration, and conservation practices. Our Tennessee Caveman is a member of the National Speleological Society and has gained experience and knowledge about caves through many years of cave exploration. The program includes a slide presentation and requires about 1 hour. The Tennessee Caveman program is offered to you at no charge as a part of Cumberland Caverns continuing effort to promote conservation and education about the unique and fragile environment of the subterranean world within our Earth.

All Reservations are requested be made a minimum of 14 days prior to the date of the trip. We will try to arrange trips with less than 14 days notice but it is subject to staff availability. To make reservations for tours or to schedule the Tennessee Caveman to come to your school contact:

Cumberland Caverns
1437 Cumberland Caverns Road
McMinnville, TN 37110
(931) 668-4396
Email: info@cumberlandcaverns.com