Basic Information

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.

 

Physical Address

727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220

Directions

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.

Directions Details

Operating Hours & Seasons

Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons page to see specific hours for visitor center and cavern access.

All Park Hours

• Every Day:Open 24 hours

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open 24-hours a day. Visitor center hours and cave tour schedule vary throughout the year.

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Holidays

2025–2026

New Year's Day	January 1, 2026	Closed
Thanksgiving Day	November 27, 2025	Closed
Christmas Day	December 25, 2025	Closed
Holiday	Date	Hours

Weather

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeast New Mexico. Summers are hot with temperatures between 90°F (32°C) and low 100s °F (38°C). 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!

Weather Details

Fees & Passes

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.

Ranger-Guided Tours

All tours remain temporarily suspended until further notice.

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Reservations are highly recommended for all ranger-guided tours. To make reservations, call 1-877-444-6777 or go to recreation.gov.

Children under the age of 6 are not permitted on any ranger-guided tours. Other age limits apply depending on the tour.

Reservations and Timed Entry

Type	Dates	Cost
Carlsbad Cavern Reservation	Year-round	$1.00

Entrance Fee (Standard Entrance Pass)

Type	Dates	Cost
Per Person	Year-round	$15.00

Internet & Cellular Access

Public WiFi is not available.

There is no public wifi and very limited cellular access within Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Internet & Cellular Access Details