Luray Caverns

Sign at the entrance of Luray Caverns, Virginia

Luray Caverns was one of our stops on our New Jersey to Florida road trip. It is a stop rich in nostalgia and natural beauty, and a must-see when visiting the Shenandoah Valley. With easy access to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park, Luray Caverns is the perfect roadside destination.

Your first step in planning your trip to Luray Caverns is to sign up for a Giant BonusCard, if you don’t already have one. I was able to sign up for free on their website and was immediately emailed my account number. Present that number at the ticket counter and receive 50% off the second adult ticket. Children 5 and under are free of charge. We paid a total of $64 for our family of four: 1 adult at full price of $32, 1 adult at $16, 1 Child at $16, and 1 Child Under 5. I felt that this was a great value for everything that is included. We spent a few hours at this stop between exploring the cave, the car museum, the toy museum, and the heritage village. They also offer a ropes course and a Garden Maze for an additional fee, but due to the heat, we opted to pass on these attractions.

After paying the admission fee, we stopped by the gift shop, because what’s a nostalgic roadside attraction without a gift shop? After a quick bathroom break (there are no restrooms in the cavern, so definitely make this stop) we head down the paved, covered ramp to the entrance of the caverns. We visited mid-afternoon on a weekday in July and there was no wait to enter. Upon entering you are reminded of the rules that are set to not only keep you safe but to preserve the natural beauty of the cave. The caves are stroller and wheelchair friendly. My youngest is on the cusp of wanting a stroller, and I am glad we left it in the car. It was much easier to navigate the cave without it, but know if you need it, it is an option.

The caves were absolutely stunning. We spent a little over an hour exploring the 1.25 miles of walkway through the cave. There are guides positioned throughout the cavern to answer questions, share some history, and make sure people respect the cave.

Dream Lake is the largest body of water inside the cave, yet it tops out at only 20” deep. The reflection of the ceiling on the surface of the water creates the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is. It is difficult to capture the true beauty of this natural wonder on film and the mind games it plays on you are dizzying. All four of us stood there, slack-jawed trying to wrap our heads around the illusion.

Dream Lake, Luray Caverns, Virginia

Another favorite was the Great Stalacpipe Organ. We arrived in this room just as the show was about to start. While the caves are generally quiet, the room becomes eerily silent as everyone stands in awe of this musical wonder. Even my young boys, who don’t often find themselves speechless or still, stood with the rest of us in wide-eyed amazement. The musical performances run at various times throughout the day and I recommend making sure you catch at least one.

After exiting the caves, we stopped by the small toy museum. I was so excited to show my kids toys from my childhood. They, of course, could not care less. But they loved the trains and the fun house mirrors.

We moved on to the car museum which was jam-packed with a variety of vehicles from horse-drawn carriages to antique cars. It’s not terribly large, but they fit a lot into a small space and it is well worth the stop.

Before heading to our hotel, we stopped off at Heritage Village which is home to some historical buildings, a small gift shop, a cafe, and a sluice for gem mining. The buildings here are all original but moved to the space to create the village, some in one piece and others rebuilt on this site. There are open lawns for the kids to run around before

If you find yourself exploring Shenandoah National Park or Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns is a great stop along the way. We built this into our New Jersey to Florida Summer Road Trip, which I will link here once complete. For these and other family adventures with young kids, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.