Operating Hours & Seasons

Timed Entry Tickets Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern

• Reservations are strongly recommended and can purchased online or by calling 877-444-6777.
• Reservations are only for selecting the entry time.
• Upon arrival at the visitor center, entrance tickets must be purchased.

 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days. This includes the visitor center, cavern, roads, and trails.

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Visitor Center Hours
8 am–5 pm

Last Cavern Entrance Ticket Sold
2:15 pm

Last Cavern Entrance
2:30 pm

Elevator

• INTO the Cavern
  8:30 am–2:30 pm

• Last Elevator OUT of the Cavern
  4:45 pm

Hike

• INTO the Cavern
  8:30 am–2:30 pm

• Last Time to Hike OUT of the Cavern
  2:30 pm (complete hike out by 3:30 pm)