Ruby Falls: ticket prices and how long it takes
Ruby Falls is the odd one out on this list: a 145-foot underground waterfall inside Lookout Mountain, reached by elevator and a guided cave walk, run as a paid commercial attraction rather than a public park. Tickets run $19.95 to $29.95 depending on age, and the full experience, elevator ride included, takes roughly 70 to 90 minutes. It closes out our waterfalls in Tennessee guide as the one fully developed, ticketed stop worth knowing about, alongside the free state-park falls elsewhere on that list.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35.019°N, 85.339°W, Lookout Mountain, Hamilton County |
| Height | 145 ft, the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the U.S., over 1,120 feet beneath the surface, per Ruby Falls' official site |
| Flow | Fed by underground springs; runs year-round regardless of surface weather, one of the few falls on this list unaffected by drought or rain |
| Access | Glass-front elevator descends 260 feet, followed by a guided cave walk of just under a mile round trip |
| Tickets | $29.95 adult, $28.95 senior (65+), $19.95 child (4–12), ages 3 and under free; combo ticket with Rock City sold as the Double Play, $35.90 adult / $20.90 child at last check |
| Legal status | Private, commercial cave attraction, opened to the public in 1929 |
| Duration | About 70 to 90 minutes total for the guided cave walk |
Tickets and what to expect
Ruby Falls sells timed tickets online in advance, and the standard cave walk runs $29.95 for an adult, $28.95 for seniors 65 and older, and $19.95 for children 4 to 12, with kids 3 and under free (Ruby Falls official ticket page). A Double Play combination ticket pairing Ruby Falls with nearby Rock City was listed at $35.90 for adults and $20.90 for children at last check, a common pairing since both are Lookout Mountain attractions a short drive apart.
Visitors descend 260 feet into the mountain by glass-front elevator, then follow a guide on a paved cavern trail to the waterfall itself, a round trip of just under a mile underground. The full experience, including the elevator rides, typically runs 70 to 90 minutes depending on group size and how many tour groups are moving through the cave at the same time. If a paid, staffed tour isn't what you're after, our waterfalls near me map covers plenty of free, open-air alternatives.
The falls
Ruby Falls drops 145 feet inside a cave system more than 1,120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain, making it the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public anywhere in the United States. Leo Lambert discovered it by accident in 1928 while exploring the cave and named it after his wife, Ruby, opening the site to visitors the following year. Because it's fed by underground springs rather than surface runoff, Ruby Falls keeps a steady flow year-round, a genuine contrast to the rain-dependent falls elsewhere on this list that thin out during a dry summer.
Unlike a public land waterfall, Ruby Falls exists because a private company built and maintains the infrastructure that makes it accessible: elevators, lighting, a paved trail and a staffed guided tour. That's the honest trade-off worth knowing before buying a ticket. It isn't a free roadside stop, and the closest genuinely comparable free experience is elsewhere on this list rather than at Ruby Falls itself.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Ruby Falls' official ticket and visitor information pages and published visitor guides describing the cave tour experience. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Ticket prices and tour logistics change; verify current pricing with Ruby Falls before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Ruby Falls?
$29.95 for adults, $28.95 for seniors 65+, and $19.95 for children 4 to 12; kids 3 and under are free. A combo ticket with Rock City was listed at $35.90 for adults at last check.
How long does the Ruby Falls tour take?
About 70 to 90 minutes total, including the elevator descent and the guided cave walk to the waterfall and back.
How deep underground is Ruby Falls?
The waterfall sits more than 1,120 feet beneath the surface of Lookout Mountain, reached by a 260-foot elevator descent followed by a cave walk.
Is Ruby Falls a natural waterfall?
Yes, it's a genuine underground waterfall fed by natural springs, discovered in 1928. The infrastructure around it, the elevator, lighting and paved trail, is built and operated by a private company as a paid attraction.
Does Ruby Falls run dry in a drought?
No. Because it's spring-fed rather than dependent on surface rainfall, Ruby Falls keeps a consistent flow year-round, unlike most of the free, open-air falls on this list.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.