Overview of entrance requirementsAll visitors MUST have
Most visitors also needReservations and Timed EntryCarlsbad Cavern ReservationRequired to enter Carlsbad Cavern A entrance time reservation must be purchased to enter Carlsbad Cavern. Time entry ensures a more enjoyable experience and helps to protect the cave formations. ExceptionsCarlsbad Cavern is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years days. Entrance PassesStandard Entrance Pass$15.00
An entrance fee is required to enter Carlsbad Cavern.
Ages 16 and Over: $15 per person
Ages 15 and Under: Free
Ages 16 and Older: $15 per person
Ages 15 and Younger: Free In-person Purchase Locations
2024 Free Entrance Days in the National ParksCome experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:
Reservations Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern
America The Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands PassesThe America The Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States. Passes cover:
In general, one pass covers the fees listed above for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas or up to four adults at sites that charge per person. Children age 15 or under are admitted free. Some passes provide additional benefits, such as a 50% discount on camping at some sites for holders of Senior or Access Passes. Always check with individual sites for details.
More information about the America the Beautiful–The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series, including available passes, costs, benefits, and how and where they may be obtained, is available. Learn More About National Parks and Federal Lands Passes. Free Entrance for U.S. Military Veterans with IdentificationFree entry is available to veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification when entering a national park:
Learn more about free entrance to National Parks for veterans Free Entrance for Gold Star Families with VoucherFree entry is available to Gold Star Families, who are next of kin of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the U.S. Armed Forces.Qualifying families must download a voucher to fill out before arriving at the park. Ranger-Guided ToursExcept for the King's Palace Tour, all other tours are temporarily suspended until further notice. |
Last updated: December 15, 2023