outdoor
Appalachian Caverns
Show cave + wild cave tours in Blountville
Blountville, Tennessee
Photo: Pexels (CC0) — stalactite cave with walkway and dramatic lighting
- City
- Blountville
- Cell signal
- moderate signal
- Admission
- From $10
Appalachian Caverns offers both lit walking tours through commercial passages and guided wild-cave trips into less-developed sections, a rare combination that appeals to both casual visitors and serious cavers. Located in Blountville, the cave system extends well beyond the tour route and supports active research and exploration.
Known to archaeologists as Linville Cave (state site 40SL24), this Sullivan County karst system near Blountville was used by Woodland-period Native Americans as a late-fall hunting and retooling camp, with charcoal from a cave fire radiocarbon dated to about A.D. 675. It was renamed Appalachian Caverns to avoid confusion with Linville Caverns in North Carolina and opened as a show cave in 1991. Roger and Susan Hartley reopened it in 2004. The cave serves as a sanctuary for the endangered gray bat and several other bat species.
Visit Info
wed-sun: Tours by appointment
Call ahead to confirm tour times.
420 Cave Hill Rd, Blountville, TN 37617
Parking: Free on-site parking.
Visitor Tips
- ›Reservations recommended
- ›Cave is ~58°F year-round
- ›Wild-cave tour separate from show-cave tour
Stay near this stop
Turn this into an overnight trip.
These places to stay are closest to Appalachian Caverns. Use them as your base, then add nearby food, trails, and events.
Featured in Routes
What to know before you go
- Access
- Show-cave portions have stairs; wild-cave trips require fitness.
- Parking
- Free on-site parking.
- Cell signal
- Moderate cell signal — main areas covered, expect dead spots
- Tips
- Reservations recommended
- Cave is ~58°F year-round
- Wild-cave tour separate from show-cave tour
Pair this with
Pair Appalachian Caverns with Boonies at Davis Marina, Old Deery Inn, and Sullivan County Courthouse.
Within 6 miles, you can chain these into a half-day without driving back.
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Verified 2026-07-01 · next review 2026-09-29
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