Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns, previously Luray Cave, is a cave just west of Luray, Virginia, United States, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878.
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A cave inside Luray
You can stay in Luray
Luray Caverns is inside Luray, which has 31 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Washington
Washington is about 81 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 67–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Luray. Green months are the mild ones.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns, previously Luray Cave, is a cave just west of Luray, Virginia, United States, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878. The cavern system is adorned with speleothems such as columns, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and mirrored pools. The caverns host the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone made from solenoid-fired strikers that tap stalactites of varied sizes to produce tones similar to those of xylophones, tuning forks, or bells.
A Smithsonian Institution report of July 13 and 14, 1880, concluded: "[I]t is safe to say that there is probably no other cave in the world more completely and profusely decorated with stalactite and stalagmite ornamentation than that of Luray."
- Type
- Cave
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 33K a year
Where to stay near Luray Caverns
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Luray (31) and Stanley (10).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Luray Caverns | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luray | in town | — | 31 9 hotels · 2 motels · 11 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 5 campgrounds | 4,823 | $254K | B− |
| Stanley | 6 mi south | 10 min | 10 2 inns & B&Bs · 8 lodges & cabins | 1,704 | $211K | — |
| Mount Jackson | 10 mi northwest | 15 min | 8 2 hotels · 1 motel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 2,040 | $193K | B− |
| Harrisonburg | 26 mi southwest | 40 min | 40 32 hotels · 3 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs | 50,839 | $299K | C |
| New Market | 10 mi west | 15 min | 5 2 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 2,222 | $273K | — |
| Woodstock | 15 mi north | 20 min | 7 4 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 6,002 | $269K | C+ |
| Massanutten 56% vacation homes | 22 mi southwest | 35 min | 16 13 hotels · 3 lodges & cabins | 2,261 | $397K | — |
| Washington | 18 mi east | 25 min | 9 2 hotels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 84 | $625K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Luray Caverns
Other well-known places within 67 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
112 mi National ParkShenandoah National Park1.7M visitors a year
Big draw42 mi LandmarkMount Weather Emergency Operations Center28 mi Scenic driveSkyline Drive
59 mi MuseumSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center1.6M visitors a year
53 mi Park & preserveDolly Sods Wilderness
44 mi Stadium & arenaScott Stadium
66 mi Theme parkLake Fairfax Park
54 mi MountainSpruce MountainPhoto credits
Shenandoah National Park: Image copyright 2005 by user G. Edward Johnson (user Lorax) and released under t, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center: Unknown, Public domain · Skyline Drive: Image copyright 2005 by user G. Edward Johnson (user Lorax) and released under t, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dolly Sods Wilderness: Valerius Tygart, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Scott Stadium: Mak7912, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Fairfax Park: Joe Loong, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Spruce Mountain: Valerius Tygart, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visiting Luray Caverns
Is Luray Caverns in Luray?
Yes. It’s inside Luray, VA.
When is the best time to visit Luray Caverns?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 67–83°.
How far is Luray Caverns from Washington?
About 81 miles east of Washington, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Luray Caverns?
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD), about 36 miles away. The nearest big hub is Washington Dulles (IAD), about 59 miles.
Where should I stay near Luray Caverns?
Luray (in town, 31 places to stay), Stanley (6 mi, 10 places to stay) and Mount Jackson (10 mi, 8 places to stay).
Tips from people in Luray
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Luray’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.