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4.5
1,343 votes

Kartchner Caverns State Park

2980 AZ-90, Benson, Arizona 85602 USA

$$
Reasonable
Open Now
Fri 8a-5p
  • Independent
  • Credit Cards
    Accepted
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“experience a stunning limestone cave”

Experience a stunning limestone cave in Southeastern Arizona that boasts world-class features. This “live” cave, discovered in 1974, is host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations. Water percolates from the surface and calcite formations continue to grow, including stalactites dripping down like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground. Tour guides will unveil this fascinating underground landscape during a memorable 1½ hour tour.The Discovery Center features museums exhibits, a large gift shop, regional displays, theater, and educational information about the caverns and the surrounding landscape. There are also campgrounds, hiking trails, lockers, shaded picnic areas, a deli, an amphitheater, and a hummingbird garden.

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Reviews of Kartchner Caverns State Park

7 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

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Reviewed by
Anna Hider

  • Blogger
  • 1,414 Reviews
  • 636 Helpful
August 31, 2014
Rated 4.0

Buy your tickets online in advance so you can choose what time you want to go on the tour!!

4 people found this review helpful
  • 11 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
November 20, 2017
Rated 5.0

Fabulous active caves. Leave your sweater in the car as caves are warm and humid.

2 people found this review helpful
  • 17 Reviews
  • 3 Helpful
March 16, 2019
Rated 5.0

Unbelievable! You can look at pictures all you want...there’s nothing like being there. You can’t take in purses, cell phones etc. they do have lockers that need 4 quarters. If you wear a coat and get too warm they ask you to roll it before tying to your waist to prevent flapping...it causes lint to get in the air and attach to the walls. Our guide Wilson was wonderful with a dead pan delivery that was funny as well as informative.

1 person found this review helpful
  • 14 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
February 24, 2024
Rated 5.0

Unique cave system! I have visited many caves, but this LIVING cave was very different and very awe inspiring! The straw and bacon formations were fabulous. The old mud path left by the original discoverers in the '70's was amazing.

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Reviewed by
Lesli Peterson

  • Blogger
  • 1,213 Reviews
  • 60 Helpful
July 19, 2022
Rated 5.0

Kartchner Caverns is particularly unique because of the magnitude of its physical features. The caverns are home to the first cave occurrence of a “birdsnest” needle quartz formation, and the first reported occurrence of “turnip” shields.

Additionally, the cavern has the tallest and biggest column mass (a 58 footer named Kubla Khan), one of earth’s longest soda straw stalactites, one of the most extensive formations of brushite moonmilk, and other varieties of cave formations that are uncommon. Plus, the cave is living, which means many of its formations are still growing and changing!

This park is one that campers adore as well. There are spaces for RVs, tents, and even cabins here. Campers love this place, in part because Kartchner Caverns is a designated International Dark Sky Park, so the marvels don’t stop when the sun goes down.

We think a trip here is one of the best day trips from Phoenix, AZ!

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  • 3 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
February 19, 2020
Rated 5.0

Wow! This was an amazing cave. The formations are very beautiful, the guided tours were informative and fun. We appreciated their focus on preserving this cave in its pristine condition.

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Kartchner Caverns State Park

2980 AZ-90
Benson, Arizona
85602 USA
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Hours

Open now until 5:00 pm
  • Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Parking
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    Pets Allowed
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    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
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    Wheelchair Accessible
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    Credit Cards Accepted
Max Stay
14
Max Length
60ft
Affiliation
State park or forest
Sites Count
62
Back In RV Sites Count
24
Standard Tent Sites Count
62
Pull Through RV Sites Count
16
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    Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
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    Showers
  • Unavailable
    Firewood
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    Fifty Amp
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    Tent Sites
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    Full Hookup
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    Paved Sites
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    Dump Station
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    Pull Through
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    Sewer Hookup
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    Water Hookup
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    Rec Facilities
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    Back In RV Sites
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    Standard Tent Sites
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    Pull Through RV Sites
  • Unavailable
    Vehicle Wash Permitted
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