Lost River Cave
Lost River Cave is a seven-mile cave system located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
A cave inside Bowling Green
You can stay in Bowling Green
Lost River Cave is inside Bowling Green, which has 50 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Nashville
Nashville is about 57 miles south and Louisville is about 96 miles northeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 71–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Bowling Green. Green months are the mild ones.
Lost River Cave
Lost River Cave is a seven-mile cave system located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Lost River originates outside of the cave and flows into it. The cave contains one of the largest natural entrances in the Eastern U.S. Boat tours are available year-round, but closed for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The river was once listed by Ripley's Believe it or Not as the "Shortest, deepest river in the world" because the blue hole is over 437 feet deep, while the river itself is only 400 feet long. In fact, the blue hole is only 15 feet deep, but is linked to a further underground river. The 72-acre cave property is jointly owned by Western Kentucky University and the non-profit Friends of Lost River Cave.
- Type
- Cave
- Wikipedia readers
- 7.7K a year
Where to stay near Lost River Cave
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Bowling Green (50) and Franklin (17).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Lost River Cave | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | in town | — | 50 44 hotels · 3 motels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 78,505 | $242K | C− |
| Franklin | 17 mi south | 25 min | 17 12 hotels · 3 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 RV park | 10,759 | $195K | B− |
| Plano | 6 mi southeast | 10 min | 2 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 1,290 | $226K | — |
| Russellville | 25 mi west | 35 min | 8 3 hotels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 7,454 | $169K | B− |
| Smiths Grove | 16 mi northeast | 25 min | 2 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B | 852 | $165K | — |
| Park City | 25 mi northeast | 40 min | 6 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 629 | $150K | — |
| Scottsville | 20 mi southeast | 30 min | 3 1 inn or B&B · 2 campgrounds | 4,673 | $161K | B− |
| Morgantown | 22 mi northwest | 35 min | 3 2 hotels · 1 motel | 2,512 | $114K | A− |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Lost River Cave
Other well-known places within 59 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw126 mi National ParkMammoth Cave National Park661K visitors a year
Big draw57 mi Stadium & arenaNissan Stadium
53 mi TheatreRyman Auditorium
59 mi MuseumParthenon
52 mi MuseumThe Hermitage
57 mi Stadium & arenaBridgestone Arena
26 mi MuseumNational Corvette Museum
57 mi National Historical ParkAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park213K visitors a yearPhoto credits
Mammoth Cave National Park: Willis Thomas Lee, Public domain · Nissan Stadium: Kaldari, CC0 · Ryman Auditorium: Unknown, CC0 · Parthenon: Mayur Phadtare, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The Hermitage: Jim Bowen from Zhenhai, China, CC BY 2.0 · Bridgestone Arena: EVula, CC BY 3.0 · National Corvette Museum: Jonrev at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park: Jamie from Toronto, ON, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Visiting Lost River Cave
Is Lost River Cave in Bowling Green?
Yes. It’s inside Bowling Green, KY.
When is the best time to visit Lost River Cave?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 71–83°.
How far is Lost River Cave from Nashville and Louisville?
About 57 miles south of Nashville and about 96 miles northeast of Louisville, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Lost River Cave?
Nashville (BNA), about 58 miles away.
Where should I stay near Lost River Cave?
Bowling Green (in town, 50 places to stay), Franklin (17 mi, 17 places to stay) and Russellville (25 mi, 8 places to stay).
Tips from people in Bowling Green
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Bowling Green’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.