Entrance Fee
$1.00
/ Timed Entry Reservation - Location
Park Hours (Today)
9:00AM - 2:30PM
Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.
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What to See & Do
Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area
Have a relaxing picnic among tall cottonwood trees and watch for a variety of birds.
Lower Cave Tour
In 1924, National Geographic expedition members wrote about the wonders of Lower Cave. Visitors today can see the evidence left behind from those and other explorers.
King's Palace Tour
The King's Palace Tour takes visitors through four highly decorated chambers and the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public.
Walnut Canyon Desert Drive
Discover canyon views, desert plants, and wildlife along this unpaved road.
Explore the Cavern at Your Own Pace
The Big Room and Natural Entrance trails can be enjoyed at your own pace. The Big Room Trail is easy to moderate in difficulty. The Natural Entrance Trail is strenuous. Enjoy one or both to experience a variety of cave formations.
Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT)
This trail covers 100 miles (161 km) through Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Lincoln National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Over 20 miles (32 km) of this trail is within Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center
>> RESERVATIONS REQUIRED to enter cavern and must be purchased at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. The reservation is only for selecting the entry time. Entrance tickets will need to be purchased at the visitor center. << The visitor center offers many services, including a bookstore, gift shop, cafeteria, restrooms, a park movie, information desk, ticket counter, and hands-on educational exhibits.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
To access the park's only entrance road, New Mexico Highway 7, turn north from US Hwy 62/180 at White's City, NM, which is 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Carlsbad, NM and 145 miles (233 km) northeast of El Paso, TX. The entrance road stretches a scenic seven miles (11.3 km) from the park gate at White's City to the visitor center and cavern entrance. The address for the park's visitor center is 727 Carlsbad Caverns Hwy, Carlsbad, NM, 88220, located 27 miles (43 km) from the town of Carlsbad.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Carlsbad Caverns National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Timed Entry Reservation - Location
$1.00A timed entry reservation must be purchased to access Carlsbad Cavern. In addition, an entry pass must be purchased at the visitor center. Time entry reservations ensure a more enjoyable experience and helps to protect the cave formations.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Entrance fee provides access to Carlsbad Cavern by elevator and hiking in. Ranger-guided tours are an additional fee and can be reserved on recreation.gov.
Operating Hours
Hours
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open 24-hours a day. Visitor center hours and cave tour schedule vary throughout the year.
- Monday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Friday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 2:30PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 2:30PM
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Photos
Photo of the Big Room with trail
Photo of four mule deer in a drainage with vegetation around them.
Photo of the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern with visitors hiking down the trail.
Photo of the Chandelier and Caveman formations in the Big Room
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
2-4 days
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Planning Carlsbad Caverns
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.