Rate Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
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Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Park
Operating Hours & Seasons
Winter Hours (Labor Day to the day before Memorial Day.)
Last WALK IN entry to the cave is 2:30 p.m.
Last ELEVATOR entry to the cave is 3:30 p.m.
Summer Hours (Memorial Day to the day before Labor Day.)
Last WALK IN entry to the cave is 3:30 p.m.
Last ELEVATOR entry into the cave is 5 p.m.
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $10.00 – Cavern Entrance Fee
ALL visitors who enter Carlsbad Cavern are required to purchase an entrance ticket, which is good for three days. Adults (16 and older) – $10 Children (15 and under) – Free When using an America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, Annual Pass, Senior Pass, Access Pass, Military Pass or Volunteer Pass, the pass admits the cardholder plus three adults (where a per person fee is charged). - $0.00 – Ranger-led Tours
Children under the age of 4 are not permitted on any ranger-guided tours. General Admission applies for all tours. King’s Palace – $8/adults, $4/children, 4 and older allowed. Left Hand Tunnel – $7/adults, $3.50/children, 6 and older. Slaughter Canyon Cave – $15/adults, $7.50/children, 8 and older. Lower Cave – $20/adults, $10/children, under 12 not permitted Hall of the White Giant – $20/adults, $10/children, 12 and older. Spider Cave – $20/adults, $10/children, 12 and older.
About
Beauty and Wonder; Above and Below
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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Directions
To access Carlsbad Caverns National Park’s only entrance road, New Mexico Highway 7, turn north from US Hwy 62/180 at White’s City, New Mexico – which is 20 miles southwest of Carlsbad, NM and 145 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas. The entrance road stretches a scenic 7-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 Highway, Carlsbad, NM, 88220, located 27 miles from the town of Carlsbad.
Visitor Center Winter Hours
The hours listed are for the visitor center. The cave opens 30 minutes after the visitor center and closes 30 minutes before the visitor center.
Weather
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeast New Mexico. Summers are hot with temperatures between 90 – low 100s(F). Windy conditions and mild temperatures are common in early spring (March-May) with frequent rain in early fall (August-September). This part of the country also sees cold temperatures in the winter with occasional snow and icy conditions. Most days, the park is enveloped by a gorgeous blue sky with very few clouds, 278 sunny days a year!
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