Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Plan Your Visit

Operating Hours & Seasons

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located 30 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico, off of US Highway 62/180 and is open every day except for December 25.

* EXPANDED HOURS: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tours available 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. LAST ENTRY INTO CAVE VIA NATURAL ENTRANCE IS 3:30. LAST ENTRY INTO CAVE VIA ELEVATOR IS AT 5:00.

* REGULAR HOURS: After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours available 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. LAST ENTRY INTO CAVE VIA NATURAL ENTRANCE IS 2:00. LAST ENTRY INTO CAVE VIA ELEVATOR IS AT 3:30.

Please note: Beginning on the second Sunday in March, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is on Mountain Daylight Saving Time; Mountain Standard Time begins on the first Sunday in November.

Local Partners & Information Resources

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association

National Park Reservation Service

Bureau of Land Management -- Carlsbad Field Office

USDA Forest Service -- Lincoln National Forest

Getting There

Plane
Mesa Airlines offers passenger service between Carlsbad and Albuquerque. Major airlines serve Albuquerque, El Paso, Lubbock, and Midland, Texas.

Car
Rental cars and taxi service are available from the airport at Carlsbad.

Bus
Carlsbad is served by Greyhound and TNM&O bus lines.

Getting Around

Baby strollers are not permitted on cave trails. We recommend that you bring a baby backpack if you plan to take small children into the cave.

REMINDER: Children under 4 years of age are not permitted on any of the park"s guided tours.