Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park is a state park near Marianna in the Florida Panhandle that includes show caves with dripstone formations accessible on guided tours. The park combines cave tours with surface recreation along the Chipola River.

The park’s guided cavern tours reveal stalactites, stalagmites, columns and flowstone along developed walkways and stairways. Above ground there are picnic areas, trails, camping and canoe access to the Chipola River for paddling and fishing.

The park’s visitor facilities and cave access were developed in the 1930s with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps; the caves have been managed as a public attraction since mid-20th century and remain one of Florida’s established state-park destinations.

The park lies near the town of Marianna in Jackson County in northwest Florida, accessible by road from regional highways serving the Florida Panhandle.

• Unique caves: It is the only Florida state park that features publicly accessible limestone caves formed by groundwater erosion, and cave tours are guided with limited group sizes.
• Practicalities: Cave interiors are cool and have uneven steps and low clearances; wear sturdy shoes and expect restrictions on flash photography during tours.

What to See #

• Show Caverns: Guided tours of show caverns with visible stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone formations; tours use constructed trails and require stair and uneven-surface access.
• Chipola River: The Chipola River runs beside the park and provides canoeing and fishing opportunities along with riverside picnic and trail access.
• CCC-era structures: Park buildings, trails and structures developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s remain and are part of the visitor experience.