Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Year Established: 1930
Annual Visitors: 349,000
Size: 46,766 Acres
State: New Mexico

Best Time to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park

All Year!

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

• Ranger-led tour of King’s Palace Cave
• Self-guided tour of Big Room

A Brief History

During the Permian period, 250 million years ago, there was a shallow inland sea. When it dried up, the acidic groundwater that was left seeped through the ground, dissolved the limestone below, and made underground chambers.

About 1 million Brazilian free-tailed bats live in the dark and damp land under the Chihuahuan Desert in Carlsbad. When the sun goes down, they fly out to look for bugs.

Some of the known parts of the cavern, like the Lechuguilla Cave, are as long as 140 miles. When light shines on the chambers, it shows sparkling gypsum, lemon-yellow sulfur deposits, and bulbous mounds of calcite.

The cathedral-like Big Room is the most impressive room inside. It is 2,000 feet long and covered with towering stalagmites, including the huge Giant Dome. The 255-foot-high ceiling of the chamber is covered with sharp stalactites.

Carlsbad Caverns RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Carlsbad Caverns National Park or in New Mexico, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in New Mexico
• Best RV Resorts in New Mexico

Visitor Information

Fees

Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.

Daily Park Passes

$15.00 per person

Free for U.S. Military Veterans

Contacting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Phone Number

(575) 785-2232

Visitor Centers

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center

Enjoy the hands-on exhibits that explain how the cavern was made, learn about the animals and plants that live in the desert, and be amazed by the park’s history.
Before you go into the caves, you might want to watch the free 16-minute park film “Hidden World,” which plays every 30 minutes at the visitor center.  You can also look at a wide range of gifts, eat and drink snacks and explore many other things at the bookstore and gift shop.