Most Texas show caves are about dripping stalactites. Longhorn Cavern is about water that once rushed through limestone like a river, carving smooth, swirling walls you can walk right beside. Add a past that includes a speakeasy-style nightclub and a Cold War fallout shelter, and it’s one of the best cave tours in the state.
Here’s how the tours work and which one fits your crew.
Where it is
Longhorn Cavern State Park is at 6211 Park Road 4 S. near Burnet, in Burnet County. The cavern’s operators bill it as about 90 minutes from Austin, and it’s roughly two hours from San Antonio. It’s day-use only, with no overnight camping; nearby Inks Lake State Park has campsites if you want to stay.
Good news for your wallet: entrance to the park grounds and parking is free. You only pay for tours.
The Walking Tour: best for most visitors
The standard Walking Tour lasts about 90 minutes at a slow, easy pace. You go down 52 stone steps to about 130 feet below the surface, then follow a developed path along the old underground riverbed. The cave stays around 68 degrees year-round, so a light layer is plenty in any season.
A few things to know:
- You’ll need to duck in a couple of spots; the lowest ceilings are around 4 feet, 4 inches and 4 feet, 8 inches.
- Some parts of the trail can be wet after rain. Wear closed-toe shoes with good traction.
- Most tours include a short lights-out moment, which is unforgettable and might be startling for little ones.
- The cavern and visitor facilities are not wheelchair accessible because of the park’s historic construction.
According to the official tour site, off-peak (Monday–Thursday) walking tour prices start at $24 for ages 12 and up and $17 for ages 4 to 11, with children 3 and under free. Prices rise on Fridays through Sundays and vary by date.
The Wild Cave Tour: for the adventurous
If you don’t mind getting muddy, the Wild Cave Tour takes you into the undeveloped lower level for about three hours of crawling and squeezing with no paved paths or electric lights. Prices start at $110.
It’s not for everyone. Participants must be at least 8 years old, in good physical condition and sign a waiver. Because of narrow passages, anyone over 52 inches in girth at the shoulders, hips or elsewhere can’t take part. You’ll get dirty and probably wet. Those who finish get a free T-shirt and a heck of a story.
The Blacklight Tour and other extras
The Blacklight Tour is a 60-minute walk with lanterns and blacklight flashlights that reveal minerals glowing in the rock. It runs just once on weekend mornings, at 9:30 a.m., before the main lights come on, so space is tight.
Topside, kids can try gemstone mining at a sluice or pick and crack their own geode. There’s a gift shop and a grab-and-go snack bar, plus picnic areas and hiking trails on the park grounds. Leashed dogs are allowed outdoors and on trails, but only trained service animals can enter the cavern or buildings.
The history underground
Longhorn Cavern’s story covers a lot of ground:
- Prehistoric hunters used it as a trap cave; bones of mastodon, bison and bear have been found inside.
- In the 1860s, bat guano mined here was used to make gunpowder for the Confederacy.
- In the 1930s the cavern hosted a restaurant and nightclub with live music and dancing.
- During the Cold War it was stocked as a licensed fallout shelter.
The park itself is a monument to the Civilian Conservation Corps. From 1934 to 1940, CCC Company 854 hauled more than 3,000 dump trucks’ worth of debris out of the cave by hand, built the first visitor buildings and constructed Park Road 4. An exhibit in the original administration building tells their story.
Tips for your visit
- Buy tickets ahead. Reservations aren’t strictly required, but the operators highly recommend them, especially on weekends.
- Check discounts. Texas State Parks Pass and Parklands Passport holders, military and veterans, and groups can get discounts with a promo code at checkout.
- Rain doesn’t cancel tours. Only the walk to the entrance is uncovered.
Good to Know
- Where: 6211 Park Road 4 S., Burnet; about 90 minutes from Austin
- Hours: Mid-August to Memorial Day: weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends and holidays 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Christmas Day
- Walking Tour: About 90 minutes; from $24 adults, $17 ages 4–11 (Mon–Thu)
- Wild Cave Tour: About 3 hours; from $110; ages 8+, waiver required
- Phone: (512) 715-9000
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official Longhorn Cavern website and the TPWD park page before you head out.
Longhorn Cavern makes a fine half-day trip on its own, and it pairs nicely with lunch in Marble Falls or Burnet. Bring a light jacket, wear good shoes and let the kids lead the way down those 52 steps.
Featured photo: Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
