Craighead Caverns
Craighead Caverns is an extensive cave system located in between Sweetwater and Madisonville, Tennessee.
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A cave, 4 mi west of Madisonville
Madisonville is the nearest base
Madisonville is 4 miles east, with 631 hotel and restaurant jobs. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 71–83°. When to go ↓
A day trip from Atlanta
Atlanta is about 122 miles south and Nashville is about 139 miles west (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Census job and town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Madisonville. Green months are the mild ones.
Craighead Caverns
Craighead Caverns is an extensive cave system located in between Sweetwater and Madisonville, Tennessee. It is best known for containing the United States' largest and the world's second largest non-subglacial underground lake, The Lost Sea. In addition to the lake, the caverns contain an abundance of crystal clusters called anthodites, stalactites, stalagmites, and a waterfall.
- Type
- Cave
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 20K a year
Towns near Craighead Caverns
Towns within 30 miles, closest first. Hotel and restaurant jobs show how many places there are to stay and eat.
| Town | From Craighead Caverns | Hotel & restaurant jobs | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madisonville | 4 mi east | 631 | 5,241 | $234K | C− |
| Sweetwater | 5 mi northwest | 506 | 6,532 | $178K | C |
| Niota | 7 mi west | 21 | 735 | $156K | — |
| Englewood | 8 mi south | 18 | 1,818 | $140K | — |
| Philadelphia | 10 mi north | 0 | 684 | $106K | — |
| Athens | 11 mi southwest | 1,177 | 14,471 | $225K | D |
| Kahite | 11 mi east | 0 | 892 | $668K | — |
| Vonore | 12 mi east | 184 | 2,191 | $291K | C− |
| Rarity Bay 26% vacation homes | 12 mi northeast | 59 | 757 | $706K | — |
| Tellico Plains | 14 mi southeast | 42 | 1,146 | $188K | — |
| Loudon | 15 mi north | 244 | 6,432 | $244K | B |
| Tellico Village | 15 mi northeast | 129 | 7,414 | $517K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Craighead Caverns
Other well-known places within 68 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
58 mi⛰ MountainBrasstown Bald
52 mi🏛 MuseumAlcatraz East
117 mi🏺 Ancient siteChota
68 mi🌲 State parkAmicalola Falls State Park
60 mi📍 LandmarkChattanooga National Cemetery
67 mi💧 WaterfallAnna Ruby Falls
62 mi🏛 National Military ParkChickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park972K visitors a year
67 mi🛶 National RiverBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area774K visitors a yearPhoto credits
Brasstown Bald: Unknown, Public domain · Alcatraz East: EricaLewHouse, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chota: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 · Amicalola Falls State Park: Thomsonmg2000, CC0 · Chattanooga National Cemetery: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Anna Ruby Falls: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park: Lhughesw5, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Visiting Craighead Caverns
What town is Craighead Caverns near?
Madisonville, TN, about 4 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Craighead Caverns?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 71–83°.
How far is Craighead Caverns from Atlanta and Nashville?
About 122 miles south of Atlanta and about 139 miles west of Nashville, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Craighead Caverns?
McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 31 miles away.
Where should I stay near Craighead Caverns?
Madisonville (4 mi, 631 hotel and restaurant jobs), Sweetwater (5 mi, 506 hotel and restaurant jobs) and Athens (11 mi, 1,177 hotel and restaurant jobs).
Tips from people in Madisonville
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Madisonville’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.