Dunbar Cave State Park
A prehistoric cave with genuine Mississippian rock art, a swimming lake and 3 miles of woodland trails.
Cave mouth and lake at Dunbar Cave State Park near Clarksville
What to expect at Dunbar Cave State Park
Dunbar Cave is where Robertson County people drive when they want a proper day out in the woods — 15 minutes west into Montgomery County brings you to a 144-acre state park built around a genuinely significant cave. The cave holds Mississippian-era prehistoric rock art from about 1300 CE, discovered in 2005, plus a long human history from Native shelter through a 1930s big-band dance hall that once hosted Roy Acuff. It is a rare combination.
The park itself is free — you can walk the 1.4-mile lake loop, the 1.3-mile Recovery Trail through mature hardwoods, and view the cave mouth from the outside without paying anything. Swan Lake is a small stocked pond with a fishing pier; kids feed the ducks and turtles from the bridge. The cave interior is only accessible on a ranger-led tour, which runs April through October, costs $10 per adult, and must be booked in advance through the state parks website — they sell out.
Book the cave tour four to six weeks ahead in summer. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and requires closed shoes and a light jacket (the cave is 58°F). If you can't get on a cave tour, the park is still worth the trip for the trails and the lake. Combine with lunch in downtown Clarksville, 10 minutes further, for a proper day. Weekday mornings are the quietest for the trails.
Questions about Dunbar Cave State Park
Park grounds are free; cave tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12.
The trails, lake and grounds are free every day, sunrise to sunset.
A half day covers a cave tour, lunch and a trail; two hours if grounds only.
Park open daily; visitor center closed Monday-Tuesday; cave tours seasonal Apr-Oct.
Yes — cave tours are advance-booking only via tnstateparks.com and often sell out.
Free parking at the visitor center off Dunbar Cave Road in Clarksville, 25 minutes from Springfield.
Hotels near Dunbar Cave State Park
Every hotel we cover in Clarksville
- Quality Inn & Suites Joelton Nashville 2★ · 4.7/5 · 9768 km away
- Hampton Inn Pleasant View TN 2★ · 4.6/5 · 9768 km away
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Springfield 2★ · 4.4/5 · 9768 km away
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville North Springfield by IHG 2★ · 4.4/5 · 9768 km away
- Quality Inn Pleasant View 2★ · 3.9/5 · 9768 km away
- Quality Inn White House 2★ · 3.7/5 · 9768 km away
- Springfield Inn TN 2★ · 3.2/5 · 9768 km away
- Charming Springfield Escape with Furnished Deck 3★ · 9768 km away
- Family friendly Home w Yard: 27 Mi to Nashville 3★ · 9768 km away
- Comfort Inn White House 2★ · 9768 km away
- Hampton Inn White House 2★ · 9768 km away
- Holiday Inn Express White House by IHG 2★ · 9768 km away
- Motel 6 White House TN 2★ · 9768 km away
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