Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is a protected area in the northern Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon in the United States.
A national monument, 12 mi east of Takilma
Visits hit a record in 2024, then fell back
The National Park Service counted 94,016 visitors in 2024, a record. In 2025 the count fell 32% to 64,354. Visitors ↓
You can sleep inside the park
1 place to stay are inside the park: Oregon Caves Chateau. The nearest town with more is Cave Junction. Where to stay ↓
Cave Junction is inside the park
Cave Junction sits inside the park’s boundary. Where to stay ↓
Established in 1909
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve dates from 1909 and is run by National Park Service. About ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Sep and Oct
May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 65–78°. When to go ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is a protected area in the northern Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The 4,554-acre (1,843 ha) park, including the marble cave, is 20 miles (32 km) east of Cave Junction, on Oregon Route 46. The protected area, managed by the National Park Service (NPS), is in southwestern Josephine County, near the Oregon–California border.
- Type
- National Monument
- Established
- 1909
- Area
- 4,554 acres
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Wikipedia readers
- 11K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/orca
Before you go
- Timed Entry Reservation - Location$20
- Timed Entry Reservation - Location$20
- Timed Entry Reservation - Location$20
Where to stay near Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
You can sleep inside the park (1 place). The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Grants Pass (30) and Cave Junction (6).
Stay in the park
- Oregon Caves Chateau hotel
Grants Pass
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
39,239 people
23 mi north of Oregon Caves Visitor Center · 21 mi to the park
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass | 23 mi north | 35 min | 30 14 hotels · 9 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 39,239 | $383K | D |
| Cave Junction | inside the park | 20 min | 6 6 campgrounds | 2,074 | $293K | — |
| Medford | 33 mi northeast | 50 min | 52 35 hotels · 10 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 86,494 | $417K | D |
| Kerby | 14 mi northwest | 20 min | 3 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 RV park | 187 | $241K | — |
| Jacksonville | 27 mi northeast | 40 min | 13 2 hotels · 1 motel · 5 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 2,972 | $649K | — |
| O'Brien | 15 mi west | 25 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 379 | $168K | — |
| Happy Camp | 20 mi south | 30 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 539 | $166K | — |
| Rogue River | 26 mi northeast | 40 min | 7 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 2,293 | $310K | C− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Also near Oregon Caves
Other well-known places within 59 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
58 mi National ParkRedwood National Park1.2M visitors a year
134 mi National forestSix Rivers National Forest
42 mi State parkJedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
236 mi Ski areaMount Ashland39 runs · 1,160 ft vertical
53 mi Ancient siteBrother Jonathan
58 mi State parkPrairie Creek Redwoods State Park
336 mi GardenLithia Park
37 mi MuseumScienceWorks MuseumPhoto credits
Redwood National Park: Michael Schweppe, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Six Rivers National Forest: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0 · Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: Mario Vaden (talk · contribs), Public domain · Mount Ashland: Alex Lockhart, Public domain · Brother Jonathan: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: California Department of Parks and Recreation, Public domain · Lithia Park: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · ScienceWorks Museum: Roberto J. Galindo, CC BY-SA 3.0
64,354 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2024).
Visiting Oregon Caves
What town is Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve near?
Takilma, OR, about 12 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve?
May, June, September and October, with highs of 65–78°. July is the busiest month (about 13,770 visitors).
How many people visit Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve each year?
64,354 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 94,016, set in 2024.
What is the closest airport to Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve?
Rogue Valley International-Medford (MFR), about 33 miles away. The nearest big hub is Portland (PDX), about 245 miles.
Where should I stay near Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve?
Inside the park: Oregon Caves Chateau. Nearby: Grants Pass (23 mi, 30 places to stay), Cave Junction (13 mi, 6 places to stay) and Medford (33 mi, 52 places to stay).
Tips from people in Takilma
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Takilma’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.