Meramec Caverns
Stanton, MO
Guided tours through multi-level limestone caves, advertised on barn roofs up and down the old highway for generations.
Meramec Caverns near Stanton (Missouri) is a limestone show cave in the Ozarks, about an hour’s drive (roughly 60 miles / 100 km) from St. Louis; the turnoff is Interstate 44, exit 230. The cave system is about 7.4 km (4.6 miles) long and is billed as Missouri’s largest show cave. The roughly one-hour guided tour covers five levels, including the Ballroom and the Wine Room with the “Wine Table,” an aragonite formation nearly 2 m (6 ft) tall that you reach by 58 steps.
Native peoples used the cave for shelter, a French miner visited it in 1722, and saltpeter for gunpowder was mined here later. During the Civil War the Union Army ran a saltpeter works in the cave, which Confederate guerrillas destroyed. The extended system was discovered in 1933 and opened to visitors in 1935. The legend that Jesse James hid out here has little historical support. Lonely Planet calls the place family-mobbed, with plenty of “hokey charm,” and mentions a riverside campground; RV travelers should ask about season and availability in advance.
- Nearest town
- Stanton, MO
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 38.2435, -91.1096
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Hummingbird Hollow OutdoorsCampsite7 mi from Meramec CavernsTentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Robertsville State Park CampgroundMotorhome stopover20 mi from Meramec CavernsMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Berryman Campground & Recreational AreaCampsite22 mi from Meramec Caverns
- Lucky Clover Lakeside River ResortCampsite23 mi from Meramec Caverns
- The Rafting CoCampsite23 mi from Meramec CavernsTentsCaravans
- Camp TrinityCampsite24 mi from Meramec CavernsWi-Fi
All campsites in Missouri · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Meramec Caverns?
Meramec Caverns is in Stanton, MO, at GPS 38.2435, -91.1096. It is about 20 mi from Cuba.
Can you camp near Meramec Caverns?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Backpack Camp 7, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 19 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Meramec Caverns?
Meramec Caverns is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Route 66, part one: Chicago to Oklahoma City.
What is there to see near Meramec Caverns?
Places worth a stop nearby: Onondaga Cave State Park (14 mi), Hermann (37 mi), Elephant Rocks State Park (47 mi) and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (51 mi).
When is the best time to visit Meramec Caverns?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)