All parks › Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park in New Mexico[4]. NPS says visitors need to buy a timed entry reservation for Carlsbad Cavern, plus an entry pass at the visitor center[5].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[7].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[8] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[8] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[8] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[8] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[8] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[8] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[8] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[8] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[8] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS lists the park as open 24-hours a day, while visitor center hours and the cave tour schedule vary through the year[9]. NPS lists exceptions on 2026-11-26, 2026-12-25 and 2027-01-01[9]. NPS places the park in desert country in the southeast of New Mexico[10]. NPS describes hot summers with temperatures from 90°F to the low 100s °F[10]. It also notes windy, mild weather in early spring and frequent rain in early fall[10]. Winters can be cold, with occasional snow and icy conditions[10]. In 2025 the busiest month was March with 54,906 recreation visits[1]. July had 51,590 visits[1].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 23,733 |
| February | 22,343 |
| March | 54,906 |
| April | 33,579 |
| May | 34,368 |
| June | 50,337 |
| July | 51,590 |
| August | 36,492 |
| September | 32,884 |
| October | 0 |
| November | 30,161 |
| December | 40,385 |
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, wherever they are allowed[11]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted, and each park can close more areas to pets[11]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 4 of its 17 listed things to do, including the Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail[12].
Before you go
- NPS lists a Per Person entrance fee of $15, which covers the cavern by elevator and hiking in[6].
- NPS lists the Timed Entry Reservation fee as $1[5].
- Ranger-guided tours cost extra and can be reserved on recreation.gov[6].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[7]. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80[8].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Carlsbad Caverns?
- NPS lists a Per Person entrance fee of $15[6]. It also lists a Timed Entry Reservation fee of $1[5].
- Do I need a reservation for Carlsbad Cavern?
- NPS says you need to buy a timed entry reservation for Carlsbad Cavern, plus an entry pass at the visitor center[5].
- Is Carlsbad Caverns open year round?
- NPS lists the park as open 24-hours a day, with visitor center hours and tour schedules that vary[9]. NPS lists exceptions on 2026-11-26, 2026-12-25 and 2027-01-01[9].
Facts and sources
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 349,244, 2022: 390,932, 2023: 394,121, 2024: 460,474, 2025: 410,778. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Visitor Center). National Park Service
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in New Mexico. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Timed Entry Reservation - Location: $1. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Hours: Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open 24-hours a day. Visitor center hours and cave tour schedule vary throughout the year. Listed exceptions: Thanksgiving Day 2026-11-26 to 2026-11-26; Christmas Day 2026-12-25 to 2026-12-25; New... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Carlsbad Caverns National Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 17 things to do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area, Lower Cave Tour, King's Palace Tour, Walnut Canyon Desert Drive, Explore the Cavern at Your Own Pace, Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT), Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail,... National Park Service