Mystery Cave State Park — Attraction in Stewartville

Very cool experience! I visited a cave in southern MN with my family when I was little, and I wanted to go again as an adult with my hubby, and we had such a good time! We lost reception and our navigation stopped working on the way, but luckily there were signs pointing the way. The visitors center was really nice. There were two rooms with information about the cave and the environment, which was a great way to spend the time before our tour started. I highly recommend making a reservation beforehand. It made it really smooth. Also, make sure you bring a state park pass or plan on buying one when you get there ($7 for the day, but you get a deal if you buy a year pass). The cave is always just below 40 degrees, so bring a jacket or sweater. If you're like me, you can always buy one in the gift shop if you forget. It was a short walk down to the cave with our tour guide. The tour itself is 3/4 mile through a cement-paved walkway. It is fairly accessible for those with mobility issues - a few stairs that are optional, and a couple slight inclines. Our tour guide, Ian, was super informative and fun! He gave plenty of time for our group to ask questions and made sure we all were safe along the way. We felt like we were in very capable hands. The cave itself is absolutely stunning! Our tour guide pointed out everything along that way and gave information about the history and geology of the cave. Super cool! I'd estimate the tour itself lasted around an hour. I highly recommend it! You can bring a picnic lunch, as there are plenty of picnic tables around the Visitor's Center. Plenty of parking and modern restrooms...

Mystery Cave State Park: Cool Escape, Great Camping, and a Memorable Tour

We had a fantastic visit to Mystery Cave State Park! What makes this park especially unique is its split layout—part of it surrounds the cave entrance and visitor center, while the main park with the campground and trails is just a few miles away. Both areas are well worth visiting, offering different types of beauty and activities.

The campground is clean and peaceful, with a good mix of electric and non-electric sites nestled in a scenic setting. We arrived in our Mini-T HR Campervan on a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon without a reservation, thinking we'd be out of luck—but to our surprise, there were still a few sites open! We quickly claimed one and settled in for a relaxing evening surrounded by nature.

The real highlight of our visit was the cave tour. We’ve done cave tours around the country, and each one has its own character—Mystery Cave is no exception. The tour we chose was about an hour long, one of several themed tours available. It was well-paced, informative, and enjoyable. Our guide was fun, knowledgeable, and clearly loved sharing the cave’s story. The cave itself maintains a cool, constant temperature in the low 40s, which felt amazing given how hot it was outside. If you're planning a summer visit, take our advice—book a cave tour and enjoy the natural air-conditioning!

Overall, Mystery Cave State Park offered a wonderful mix of history, geology, and camping. Whether you're passing through or planning a weekend stay, it’s well worth a visit. We'll...

Great living cave! Of all the caves I’ve visited, it was most alive and growing. AWESOME lighting system. Thoughtfully designed paths to permit easy access for visitors of average ability while maintaining the cave’s natural structures. Great tour choices for very reasonable prices—from the casual to the in-depth cave visitor (spelunker). The simple, casual tour I took had solid flooring or (slightly) slippery metal grates and hand rails throughout, and no tight spots. Easy for kids through senior citizens to navigate without special gear or particular physical fitness. Follow the instructions on their website to get there. No good places to eat nearby on a Sunday, BUT pack a picnic and enjoy it under the calm trees surrounding the cave in the park area. I gave it four stars only because it wasn’t a terribly dramatic cave, and the wet metal grates were slippery under my everyday shoes. Also, after three car washes, I still can’t get all of the white chalky dust off my black car from the long unpaved road leading to the cave part of the park—and there were no food options to speak of. NOTE: If you are an avid spelunker, wear gear that you won’t wear into ANY other cave! This cave, sadly, recently got white-nose bat syndrome and lost most of their bats to this highly bat-transmissible disease. Be responsible and don’t spread this to other caves! Leave your good caving footwear at home. Bats are necessary to our ecosystem, and this is a devastating disease for them that’s spreading...