Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Fees & Reservations (U.S. National Park Service)

The only way to see the Queen's Chamber in Carlsbad Cavern is to take the Kings Palace guided tour. Reservations for all guided tours are stronly recommended.

NPS Photo by Peter Jones.

The only way to see the Queen's Chamber in Carlsbad Cavern is to take the Kings Palace guided tour. Reservations are strongly recommended for all guided tours.

Entrance Fee (Self-Guided Tours)

Adults – $6, Children 15 and under – Free

All visitors who enter Carlsbad Cavern—for any tour—are required to purchase an Entrance Fee ticket. This ticket is good for 3 days.

With an America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Annual Pass, Senior Pass, Access Pass and Volunteer Pass: Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the pass admits the cardholder plus plus three adults.

Ranger-Guided Tour Fees

Kings Palace. $8 for adults, $4 for children, under 4 not permitted. Must also purchase Entrance Fee 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 Fee ticket. $3.50 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Slaughter Canyon Cave. $15 for adults, $7.50 for children, under 6 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 Fee 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 Fee ticket. $10 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Spider Cave. $20 for adults, $10 for children, under 12 not permitted. $10 for Senior and Access Pass holders.

Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks

Visitors sitting around a campfire in a national park.

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:

June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
July 18-19, 2009
August 15-16, 2009

And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.

Here’s a tip – many national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can plan inexpensive visits year round!

For a list of family fun activities this summer, visit National Parks: The Place to Be for Family Fun.

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.