Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Jennifer Melroy
Last Modified January 27, 2024
First Published on October 31, 2020

Planning a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and need some help planning your trip?

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

The Quick Guide to Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve
National Park Obsessed’s Detailed Guides to Denali National Park
National Parks Near Denali National Park
- National Park Service units within a 4 hours drive
- National Park Service units within an 8 hours drive
Pin for Later: Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve: The Complete Guide

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The Quick Guide to Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Basics

Region: Intermountain / Southwest / West Coast

Park Size: 46,766 acres (73.07 sq miles) (189.26 sq km)

Location: Eddy County

Closest Cities: Carlsbad, New Mexico

Busy Season: June to July

Visitation: 440,691 (in 2019)

How much does Carlsbad Caverns National Park Cost?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park costs the following:

Adult Entrance Ticket (over age 16) – $15
Children Entrance Ticket (under age 15) – Free

Cave tours are an addition fee.

The American the Beautiful Pass offers free admission to all 116 fee-charging National Park Units including Carlsbad Caverns.

When is Carlsbad Caverns National Park Open?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open year-round.

Are dogs allowed in Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

Yes, pets are welcome in Carlsbad Caverns National Park but access is limited. Pets are not allowed in the cave or off-road. Please review the Carlsbad Caverns Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Carlsbad Caverns.

Where are Carlsbad Caverns National Park’s visitor centers?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center – Open Year Around

Land Acknowledgment

The park now known as Carlsbad Caverns National Parks is on Mescalero Apache land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book in Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

The National Park Passport Book is the BEST and cheapest National Park souvenir. Every National Park Obsessed person should have one of these books.

If you are new to the National Parks, you can learn more about the National Parks Passport program here or jump right in by ordering:

The ever-popular Classic National Parks Passport
- Get 15% Off Your Next Order at the America’s National Parks Online Store with Code: NATIONALPARKOBSESSED at Checkout
Or get the National Park Obsessed’s National Park Passport & Journal

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government-issued passport.

There are three official stamps for Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Here is the list of National Park Passport Stamps you can get in Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

Carlsbad, NM
NPS Centennial
Passport 25th Anniversary

Bonus Stamps

85 Years of Exploration, Research, & Education
Carlsbad with Stalactites and Bats (oval)
Carlsbad with Stalactites and Bats (round)
Junior Ranger
Mailed from 750 feet with border
Mailed from 750 feet without border
Natural Entrance Centennial

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Passport Stamp Locations

Here are all the locations to find the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Passport Stamps. Not every stamp is available at every location.

Concession area near bottom of elevator inside cave
Visitor Center Bookstore
Visitor Center Information Desk

Jennifer Melroy

Jennifer is a long time national park blogger and the founder of National Park Obsessed. She is a dedicated National Park lover who is working on visiting all 63 US National Parks. She has currently been to 58 of the National Parks. She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge of the Parks with others and helping them learn to love the parks as much as she does.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LAND

On this site, we promote travel to the United States and beyond that are the traditional lands of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to these lands’ past and present people.

To learn more about the people who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

DISCLAIMER

National Park Obsessed assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site (NationalParkObsessed.com). The information contained in this site is provided with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. You are encouraged to conduct your own due diligence before acting on the information provided on this site and should not rely on the opinions expressed here.

There is an inherent risk in all outdoor recreation activities, the reader assumes all responsibility for their own personal safety.

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Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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