Onondaga Cave State Park
Park Missouri park featuring extensive limestone cave system
Missouri park built around a sizable karst cave system; guided cave tours highlight stalactites, walking trails and a river spring. Visitors come for spelunking tours, picnics and seasonal interpretive programs.
Onondaga Cave State Park is a Missouri state park built around a significant limestone cave system that is open to the public as a show cave. The park combines cave tours with surface recreation in an Ozark valley setting.
The principal attraction is the developed show cave, which features walkways and interpretive lighting to display stalactites, flowstone and large underground chambers. Above ground the park provides hiking trails, picnic areas and a campground that serve visitors before or after cave tours.
The cave was brought into public use with guided tours during the 20th century and later became part of the state park system so that the cave and surrounding valley could be preserved and managed for visitors.
The park is located near Leasburg in south-central Missouri in the Meramec River valley region, accessed from local roads serving Crawford County.
- Guided cave tours: Cave access is by guided tour only; check the park's seasonal schedule and ticketing for tour times.
What to See #
- Onondaga Cave: A publicly toured show cave with developed walkways and lighting that highlights large cave chambers, flowstone and stalactite formations.
- Trails and campground: Surface trails, picnic areas and a campground in the park provide day-use recreation and access to river valley scenery near the cave entrance.
How to Get to Onondaga Cave State Park #
Onondaga Cave State Park is located near the town of Leasburg/Oregon, Missouri. The park is accessible by state highways; consult the Missouri State Parks website for exact directions, visitor center hours and guided tour schedules.
Tips for Visiting Onondaga Cave State Park #
- Guided cave tours are scheduled seasonally and may be restricted during high water; check the park website for tour times and safety briefings.
- Wear a jacket inside the cave - temperatures remain cool year-round and humidity can be high.
Best Time to Visit Onondaga Cave State Park #
The cave's internal temperature is steady year-round; spring through fall has the fullest range of visitor services and trail access.
Weather & Climate near Onondaga Cave State Park #
Onondaga Cave State Park's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1038 mm/year), wettest in May.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 5°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (117 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).
