Mark Twain Cave Complex: Four Attractions on One Property in Hannibal, Missouri

Missouri has a number of caves you can tour, from the low-key Onondaga Cave in Onondaga Cave State Park to the heavily promoted Meramec Caverns, both of those off of Interstate 44 southwest of St. Louis. Caves also dot the area in and around Hannibal, Missouri.

One such cave is Mark Twain Cave. Originally known as McDowell’s Cave, Hannibal resident Samuel Langhorne Clemons was familiar with the cave as a child. Clemons, known better by his pen name Mark Twain, was a prolific writer whose novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer used a fictionalized version of McDowell’s Cave as a setting. Tom Sawyer catapulted the cave to national fame, and today remains a popular tourist destination for people who visit Hannibal.

Getting There

Mark Twain Cave and Cameron Cave is a single location that can be found southeast of Hannibal, along MO-79 (Google Maps link). They’re a little more than an hour and a half (110 miles) from St. Louis, less if you’re coming in from St. Charles. You can get to the caves by way of U.S. 61 North, which picks up from Interstate 70 near Wentzville, or you can take MO-79. Normally 79 is the slower — if more scenic — route but because of the cave location on 79 the time is pretty similar for many St. Louis area drivers between 61 and 79.

Parking

There is ample parking on the grounds, including next to the gift shop, next to the winery, and down near the pavilion. And because all of these places are ]in close proximity to each other, getting from your car to your destination — or from one building to another on foot — is not a problem. Parking is free.

Costs and Considerations

There are several attractions on site, each with different hours and availability, which can also change during different times of the year. Each attraction also has different costs, which are based on age. You can find the hours and costs for each attraction here.

As of 2025, Mark Twain Cave is $28.99 for ages 13 and up and $16.99 for ages 4-12. Children under 4 are free.

As of 2025, the Cameron Cave Discovery Tour is $31.99 for ages 13 and up and $16.99 for ages 4-12. Children under 4 are free.

One important consideration: neither of the caves is wheelchair or stroller accessible.

Things to Do

Unlike some touring caves, there are actually several things to do on the property. Those activities include:

• The Mark Twain Cave Tour. The original cave tour, this one-hour guided tour runs through the place that inspired Mark Twain. The cave is illuminated by electrical lighting.
• The Cameron Cave Discovery Tour. A longer 90-minute guided tour in a more complex cave, visitors are given flashlights and led through an underground maze.
• The Cameron Cave Wild Tour. Only on select dates and by reservation only, this cave takes participants into the farther ends of the complex. The Mark Twain Cave Complex website advises wearing old clothes, suggests knee and elbow pads, and warns that participants must be in strong physical condition and be able to fit in a 12 inch by 18 inch space and army crawl a distance of 25 feet. The website also advises bringing a change of clothes and toiletries for showering afterwards.
• The Hannibal Tour Company. A trolley that can take you on a guided tour of Hannibal.

• Mark Twain “Live”. This one-man, one-hour performance takes place at Mark Twain Cave and is a mix of fact and fiction from Twain’s writings.
• Cave Hollow West Winery. Located near the caves, visitors can purchase various wines along with a limited selection of snacks. Visitors can also bring in snacks of their own.

• Gift Shop. The complex maintains an expansive gift shop including Mark Twain and Hannibal themed items.

• Campground. The complex offers some 100 sites, including sites with electrical or full hookups. The campground also has a showerhouse open from April to October. More information, including costs and availability, can be found here.

• Little House on the Hollow. The Complex offers a single house for overnight stay. The house has two bedrooms, a full kitchen, washer and dryer, a hot tub, and outdoor furniture, among other amenities. It sits within walking distance of the caves and the winery. The house is booked through AirBnB and more information can be found here.
• Sawyer’s Creek. This small amusement park, located just across 79 from the rest of the complex, was purchased by the Mark Twain Cave co-owners in 2023. When we visited in mid-2025 it was in the process of being renovated, with no opening date yet announced.

Our Thoughts

We’ve been at Mark Twain Cave in the past, and while it does cost a little money (and it’s a little bit of a tourist trap), our family has always had fun here. It’s a beautiful little campus, from the polished winery to the large and well-stocked gift shop. If you’re looking to curl up with your favorite wine, park an RV, buy a t-shirt, or, of course, explore a cave, this place has it.

For our most recent visit, in the summer of 2025, we took the Cameron Cave Discovery Tour. We’ve done the Mark Twain Cave tour before, so we wanted something different. Cameron Cave is more primitive, as you’re exploring it with a flashlight, and that makes it its own unique experience. Our family loved it. Just be aware that you have to traverse tighter spaces and steeper inclines than Mark Twain Cave, but it is not a strenuous tour.

I should also mention that the complex has a nice pavilion in the middle where you can sit and eat. We packed lunches from home and were able to sit at the pavilion and eat while we waited for our tour time. A small thing, but a nice amenity to have on site.

Overall, Mark Twain Cave is one of those essential experiences if you’re in Hannibal. There’s a nice selection of things to do, from camping to caving. We like Mark Twain Cave as a classic Tom Sawyer tourist experience, but if you want a more conventional cave excursion, Cameron Cave is excellent.

Either way, this is a destination worth looking at. Better yet, it’s an easy day drive from St. Louis if you want it to be.