It’s not always a good day to be outside, especially in upstate New York. For example, we recently woke up with plans for hiking and found ourselves surrounded by rain and thunder. So we decided to head to Howe Caverns for the day instead! Here’s our review and strategy for a family day in the caves.
Located at 255 Discovery Dr, Howes Cave, NY 12092, it can be a bit of a drive depending on where you’re starting from. In our books that just means we have to make a day of it! This was our third visit to the caves, but our 3-year-old’s first time. I definitely find it easier to buy tickets on their website ahead of time, but note that tickets are for a specific time so plan your travel accordingly! You can only view this cave by purchasing tickets for a tour, there are not any self-guided options.
Above Ground: Check-in and Prep
Before going inside make sure you leave everything secured in the car–no water bottles, snacks, strollers, backpacks, or purses of any size are allowed in the cave. You will want to have everyone set up with sweatshirts or jackets of some variety though, as the cave is a constant 52°F. When you arrive there is a small visitor area with some displays to look at, an old-school fortune teller machine, and a gift shop.
As you start the tour there is a brief video and chat about Lester Howe discovering the cave in 1842. Happily this is concise enough that the tweens learned something new without boring the toddler. You then take an elevator in to the cave with your tour guide and get going!
Below Ground: The Tour
Although you take an elevator down, there are still stairs to navigate along the tour. Your tour guide takes you past a variety of interesting formations and structures, and I was pleasantly surprised to remember how kid-friendly and engaging they make their storytelling. There are railings, but make sure you’re wearing sturdy shoes with good traction as it does get slippery.
Our 3-year-old made it through here just fine, but you will want to make sure your kiddo is okay with following directions. As mentioned there are railings, but no solid barriers. A small child that loves to run could slip through areas if they really had a mind to. Also note that the guides are strict about not touching the formations so as to not ruin the limestone flows with the oils in our hands.
Towards the end of the tour you take a short boat ride through an underground river, which was the highlight for little guy. You then make your way through The Winding Way, a narrow, serpentine passage that our bigger kids enjoy. While The Winding Way is substantially more narrow than any other part of the tour, there was no point at which it felt like a true squeeze and no one in any of our past 3 tours has had any issues navigating it. You take the elevator back up and that’s it! The whole tour runs about 90 minutes, then you’re free to re-visit the gift shop (my kids love adding to their rock collection) or grab some donuts from the small food stand inside (always popular).
Everything You Need to Know: Quick Tips Recap
-Consider booking ahead, tickets are timed
-No bags, food, drinks, or strollers in the cave
-You’ll want shoes with good traction (these Merrells are my favorite for kids)
-Cave is chilly, wear layers
-Some stairs but manageable for little legs
Bonus Stops!
Since you came all this way, you might as well hang out a bit, right? Here’s a couple of our favorite stops nearby.
- If the weather’s cleared up by the time your tour is done you can take a hike up Vroman’s Nose for some beautiful views. Parking is at 219 Mill Valley Rd, Middleburgh, NY 12122
- We highly recommend stopping in to nearby Secret Caverns at 671 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092 if your family is up for another cave. A completely different vibe that ends with a 100-foot underground waterfall, it is so much fun. Secret Caverns is shorter and more ‘old-school’ compared to Howe, but has so much personality to it. We didn’t make it this trip, but have been before and love it every time. Note that you do have to walk down to this one, so there are more stairs than Howe Caverns.
- Last but never least, Dairyland at 664 US-20, Sharon Springs, NY 13459 is a lovely little stop on the way back towards Central New York that the kids always look forward to.
There we have it! If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a rainy day in upstate New York, Howe Caverns is one of our family’s favorite options. There’s no better way to spend a wet (or snowy) day than exploring nature underground! Have you ever done a cave tour before? What’s your favorite?
Happy subterranean trails 🥾💚