Mark Twain Cave
Mark Twain Cave — originally McDowell's Cave — is a show cave located near Hannibal, Missouri. A short trip away is Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, 2.1 mi off. The months with the kindest weather are April, May, June, September and October, at 65–83°F.
A cave inside Hannibal
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 19°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Hannibal
Mark Twain Cave is inside Hannibal, which has 28 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 65–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
A month-by-month look
Here are the months at Mark Twain Cave, with their weather.
Mark Twain Cave
Mark Twain Cave — originally McDowell's Cave — is a show cave located near Hannibal, Missouri. It was named for author Mark Twain. Twain lived in Hannibal from 1839 to 1853, age 4 to 17. It is the oldest operating show cave in the state, giving tours continuously since 1886. Along with nearby Cameron Cave, it became a registered National Natural Landmark in 1972, with a citation reading "Exceptionally good examples of the maze type of cavern development." The cave — as "McDougal's Cave" — plays an important role in Twain's 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and was renamed in honor of the author in 1880.
- Type
- Cave
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 9.1K a year
Places to stay near Mark Twain Cave
The first towns with rooms are Hannibal (28) and Quincy (18).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Mark Twain Cave | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hannibal | in town | — | 28 16 hotels · 2 motels · 9 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 16,804 | $128K | C− |
| Quincy | 17 mi north | 25 min | 18 12 hotels · 3 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 campgrounds | 38,918 | $153K | — |
| Quincy Township | 17 mi north | 25 min | 18 12 hotels · 3 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 campgrounds | 38,918 | $153K | — |
| New London | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 3 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 981 | $134K | — |
| Saverton | 5 mi southeast | 5 min | 1 1 campground | 60 | $218K | — |
| Barry Township | 13 mi east | 20 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B | 1,553 | $90K | — |
| Pittsfield Township | 26 mi east | 40 min | 9 7 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 3,893 | $117K | — |
| Louisiana | 22 mi southeast | 35 min | 5 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 3,208 | $72K | B |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Beyond Mark Twain Cave
Each of these is within 67 miles.
12 mi MuseumMark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
51 mi MuseumCarthage Jail
220 mi National Historic SiteNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
67 mi MuseumNational Churchill Museum
59 mi MuseumNauvoo House
317 mi MuseumJohn Wood MansionPhoto credits
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Carthage Jail: Nyttend, Public domain · New Philadelphia National Historic Site: Nyttend, Public domain · National Churchill Museum: Ammodramus, CC0 · Nauvoo House: Jake from Utah, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · John Wood Mansion: Smallbones, Public domain
Asked about Mark Twain Cave
Is Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal?
Yes. It’s inside Hannibal, MO.
When is the best time to visit Mark Twain Cave?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 65–83°.
What is the closest airport to Mark Twain Cave?
Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field (UIN), about 19 miles away. The nearest big hub is St. Louis Lambert (STL), about 83 miles.
Where should I stay near Mark Twain Cave?
Hannibal (in town, 28 places to stay), Quincy (17 mi, 18 places to stay) and Quincy Township (17 mi, 18 places to stay).
Locals’ advice in Hannibal
Share what you know in Hannibal’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.