Carlsbad Caverns National 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.

The visitor center and cavern are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days.

September 3, 2019–May 22, 2020
Visitor Center Hours: 8 am–5 pm
Last entrance ticket sold: 3:15 pm
Hike INTO the cavern
8:30 am–2:30 pm
Last time to hike OUT of the cavern
3:30 pm (complete hike out by 4:30 pm)
Elevator service INTO the cavern
8:30 am–3:30 pm
Last elevator OUT of the cavern
4:45 pm

May 23, 2020–September 7, 2020
Visitor Center Hours: 8 am–7 pm
Last entrance ticket sold: 4:45 pm
Hike INTO the cavern
8:30 am–3:30 pm
Last time to hike OUT of the cavern
5 pm (complete hike out by 6 pm)
Elevator service INTO the cavern
8:30 am–5 pm
Last elevator OUT of the cavern
6:45 pm

All Park – September 3, 2019-May 22, 2020
Last entrance ticket sold: 3:15 pm Hike INTO the cavern 8:30 am–2:30 pm Last time to hike OUT of the cavern 3:30 pm (complete hike out by 4:30 pm) Elevator service INTO the cavern 8:30 am–3:30 pm Last elevator OUT of the cavern 4:45 pm

Standard Hours
Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Tuesday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Wednesday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Thursday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Friday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Saturday 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Entrance Fee
All visitors who enter Carlsbad Cavern are required to purchase an entrance ticket, which is good for three days. If you are entering with a pass, please visit the ticket counter for your free admission ticket.

Adults (16 and older): $15 per person
Children (15 and under): Free
Pass Holders: Free
When using an America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, Senior Pass, Access Pass, Military Pass or Volunteer Pass, the pass admits the cardholder plus three adults.

2020 Fee-Free Days
January 20: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 18: First day of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 26: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
Ranger-Guided Tours
Reservations are highly recommended for all ranger-guided tours, to make reservations you may call 1-877-444-6777 or go to recreation.gov.

Children under the age of 4 are not permitted on any ranger-guided tours. Other age limits apply depending on the tour.

King’s Palace: $8 for adults, $4 for children, under 4 not permitted. Must also purchase entrance ticket. $4 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Left Hand Tunnel: $7 for adults, $3.50 for children, under 6 not permitted. Must also purchase entrance ticket. $3.50 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Slaughter Canyon Cave: $15 for adults, $7.50 for children, under 8 not permitted. $7.50 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Lower Cave: $20 for adults, $10 for children, under 12 not permitted. Must also purchase entrance ticket. $10 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Hall of the White Giant: $20 for adults, $10 for children, under 12 not permitted. Must also purchase entrance ticket. $10 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

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.
GPS coordinates to Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Coordinate System: Lat/Long
Datum: WGS 1984
Longitude: 104.445855° W
Latitude: 32.174212° N