Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
Visitor Services

Available Facilities

The visitor center includes a ticket sales area, restrooms, a bookstore, a gift shop, kennels, and a coffee shop. The coffee shop is open during visitor center hours. There is no service in the evening, when the Bat Flight program is taking place. The restaurant has a private dining room available for large parties, but it must be reserved in advance. Call 505-785-2281.

There is a small cafeteria-style restaurant in the Underground Rest Area, which sells box lunches and snack items. Large groups can also eat here comfortably.

The kennel is open every day during regular visitor center hours and has space for about 30 pets. The fee is $4.00 per pet. Each animal has its own cage and the room is air-conditioned. Please never leave your animals in cars or RVs, heat can be deadly even with a window cracked.

The visitor center features exhibits on bats, geology, cave restoration, and park history. There is also a children's exhibit which includes a variety of pictures, games, and hands-on material. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce recently installed a special touch-screen computer to provide information about local attractions and exhibits featuring state and local maps.

While the park does not offer the standard "movie" found at many national parks, there is a short self-serve video available with closed captioning in Spanish or English. This video serves as an introduction to the bats of Carlsbad Caverns and is particularly appreciated by our off-season visitors who miss the bat flight phenomena.

The Bat Flight Program

Program Information

Prior to the evening flight of the bats, a talk is given at the cavern entrance by a park ranger. The starting time of the talk varies with sunset, it is best to call the park at 505-785-2232 ext. *777 or check at the visitor center for the exact time. Programs may be canceled in the event of inclement weather. The bat flight talks are scheduled from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. There is no charge for the bat flight program. In late October or early November the bats migrate to Mexico for the winter, they return in April or May depending on the weather.

Best Flights

The best bat flights normally occur in August and September. At this time baby bats, born in the early summer, join the flight along with migrating bats from colonies further north.

Return Flights

The daily pre-dawn return of the bats is different from the evening exit flights but are just as impressive. Early risers can see the bats as they re-enter Carlsbad Cavern with spectacular dives from heights of hundreds of feet. Individual bats diving in from every direction may reach speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more.

Bat Flight Breakfast

A bat flight breakfast is held annually, usually on the second Thursday in August, from 5 am to 7 am. Park employees sponsor this breakfast once each year. A special program is given and other activities may be scheduled as staffing permits. A reasonable charge is made for the breakfast. Regular cavern fees apply for entry into the cave following the breakfast.

For Your Comfort and Safety

Flash photography is not permitted at the program, nor are flash cameras. The flash disturbs the bats exiting and re-entering an important maternity roost. Spaces to accommodate people using wheelchairs are located at the entrance to the amphitheater. Restrooms are available and fully accessible. Pets are not allowed in the amphitheater area.

Service Description Service Description
Fees Fees
Adults (16 and up): $6; Children (6 to 15): $3; Children (5 and Under): Free
Self-guided tour audio guide: $3 per visit		 Accessibility Accessibility
The visitor center and a large section of the self-guided Big Room tour are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. An outdoor nature trail, the bat flight amphitheater, and picnic sites near... More information on Accessibility
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
Several trails are offered for hiking in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, above and below ground. To reserve guided cave tours call the Carlsbad Caverns reservation service at 800-967-2283.... More information on Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities 		Camping Camping
There are places to camp here.
Food Food
There are places to buy food here. 		Information Information
There is an authoritative information center here.
Restrooms Restrooms
There are toilet facilities here. 		Retail Retail
There are places to shop here.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

All visitors to the park should tour the main section of the cave, the Big Room Self-Guided Route. The Natural Entrance Self-Guided Route is also very impressive, but it is not recommended for visitors with any kind of health problems because it is very steep.

Leave No Trace

Only backcountry camping is available within the Carsbad Caverns National Park. A free permit must be obtained from the Visitors Center or park rangers.

Wilderness is defined in the 1964 Wilderness Act as..."An area where earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Please help to protect the Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness by practicing these Leave No Trace principles:

  • Stay on established trails-short-cutting and cliff-climbing is dangerous and causes erosion.
  • Human waste should be deposited (not buried) at least 300 feet from any cave, trail, or water source. Pack out all trash-your own and any you find, including toilet paper.
  • Camp at least 300 feet away from any cave entrance, road, trail, or water source. Be sure you are out of sight and sound of these areas, as well.
  • Campfires are not permitted within the park boundaries. Use a containerized fuel stove instead.
  • There are no vehicle or RV camping areas in the park. Overnight parking and/or camping is not permitted in any parking lot or other developed area.
  • Do not clear soil or vegetation, or dig trenches around tents.
  • Pets are not permitted on park trails or in the backcountry.

For USGS maps, visit http://mapping.usgs.gov or 1-800-USA-MAPS

Restrictions

Campfires are not permitted within the park boundaries. Use a containerized fuel stove instead.

There are no vehicle or RV camping areas in the park. Overnight parking and/or camping is not permitted in any parking lot or other developed area.

Pets are not permitted on park trails or in the backcountry.