Bonne Terre: Home of Bonne Terre Mine, billed by Visit Missouri as one of the world's largest man-made caverns; a lead mine begun in 1860 that closed in 1962. Below are 3 places to visit, each read on its own official or visitor-bureau page.Facts read October 30, 2026 from the pages linked beside each one. Hours and prices change; confirm before you drive. Region is our own county grouping.
- Southeast MissouriRegion
- St. Francois CountyCounty
- 3Places to See
- 1Place Pages Here
Why Go to Bonne Terre
- Home of Bonne Terre Mine, billed by Visit Missouri as one of the world's largest man-made caverns; a lead mine begun in 1860 that closed in 1962. (visitmo.com)
- The mine offers guided tours and has a lake used for scuba diving (reservations required for diving per Visit Missouri). (visitmo.com)
- St. Francois State Park, with Big River access and 150+ campsites, has a Bonne Terre address. (mostateparks.com)
See and Do
| Place | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bonne Terre Mine | Former lead mine with a combined boat and walking tour; the operator says about 45-55 minutes, a 10-minute pontoon ride, roughly a third-mile walk. | Visit Missouri: open seasonally, check website, prices not stated; operator page on 2026-10-30 said the mine was currently closed |
| Bonne Terre Mine scuba diving | Diving in the flooded mine; described by Visit Missouri as the largest freshwater scuba venue in the world. | Reservations needed; prices not stated |
| St. Francois State Park | Three hiking trails through Coonville Creek Wild Area, Big River floating, fishing, camping, picnic shelters; permit-only rock climbing. | Hours and fees not on page |
Place Pages on This Site
A Little History
- Bonne Terre Mine began in 1860 and was once the world's largest lead ore producer before closing in 1962 (Visit Missouri). (visitmo.com)
Getting There
- Mine is about an hour south of St. Louis, off Route 67 (Visit Missouri). (visitmo.com)
Plan Your Visit
| Visitor Information | bonneterre.net |
|---|---|
| Visitor Center Address | City Hall, 118 North Allen Street, Bonne Terre, MO 63628 |
| Phone | 573-358-2254 |
| Drive Times | Missouri drive times |
| Events Nearby | Southeast Missouri events |
More
What We Could Not Verify
Not confirmed
- Population (Census blocked)
- City history (page says Coming Soon)
- City Explore page 404
- Events (none read)
- Mine admission prices and hours
- bonneterre.com redirects to an unrelated site and was skipped
- Our region grouping is not an official designation.
Questions People Ask
What is Bonne Terre, Missouri known for?
Home of Bonne Terre Mine, billed by Visit Missouri as one of the world's largest man-made caverns; a lead mine begun in 1860 that closed in 1962.
How do I get to Bonne Terre?
Mine is about an hour south of St. Louis, off Route 67 (Visit Missouri).
Where can I find visitor information for Bonne Terre?
The visitor site we read is bonneterre.net. The address it prints is City Hall, 118 North Allen Street, Bonne Terre, MO 63628.
What are the main things to see in Bonne Terre?
Bonne Terre Mine, Bonne Terre Mine scuba diving, St. Francois State Park are the first four on the list above.
Sources
- bonneterre.net, read October 30, 2026
- bonneterre.net, read October 30, 2026
- visitmo.com, read October 30, 2026
- bonneterremine.com, read October 30, 2026
- mostateparks.com, read October 30, 2026
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: Bonne Terre, itsmissouri.com (https://itsmissouri.com/destinations/bonne-terre-missouri/), checked 2026-10-30. Free to quote with a link.