outdoor
Bristol Caverns
Caverns of the South, guided cave tours since 1944
Bristol, Tennessee
Photo: Clayman8392, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- City
- Bristol
- Cell signal
- moderate signal
- Admission
- From $9
Bristol Caverns sits along the underground Cavern River and has hosted guided tours for over 80 years. Lit walkways and steps lead through chambers of limestone formations 180 feet below ground. The cave was used by Cherokee and early frontier settlers and features prominently in Sullivan County's early commercial-cave tourism history.
Bristol Caverns is a karst river cave southeast of Bristol, rediscovered in 1863 when farmer Samuel Sesler broke through while digging a cellar and used the cool interior for storage. A local operator named Kitt developed it into a show cave in the 1940s, adding concrete walkways and handrails and renaming it Bristol Caverns. Its lower level holds an underground river, and it stays near 58 degrees year round. The Barnett brothers bought it in 1981. Undocumented legend says Natives used the river as a raiding route.
Visit Info
mon: Closed
tue-sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
sun: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Last tour starts approximately one hour before close.
1157 Bristol Caverns Hwy, Bristol, TN 37620
Parking: Free on-site parking.
Visitor Tips
- ›Wear closed-toe shoes
- ›Cave stays ~60°F year-round, bring a light jacket
- ›Tours run about 45 minutes
Stay near this stop
Turn this into an overnight trip.
These places to stay are closest to Bristol Caverns. Use them as your base, then add nearby food, trails, and events.
Featured in Routes
What to know before you go
- Access
- Tours involve stairs and uneven surfaces; not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Free on-site parking.
- Cell signal
- Moderate cell signal — main areas covered, expect dead spots
- Tips
- Wear closed-toe shoes
- Cave stays ~60°F year-round, bring a light jacket
- Tours run about 45 minutes
Pair this with
Pair Bristol Caverns with Vivian's Table, Cherokee National Forest (Watauga Ranger District), and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol.
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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