Mailing address
Superintendent, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220 Telephone: 505-785-2232

Directions
The Park is just off of US 62-180, 20 miles (32.2 km) from Carlsbad, NM, and 150 miles (241.9 km) from El Paso, TX. The Visitor Center, near the Carlsbad Cavern entrance, is 7 miles (11.2 km) from White's City, NM. The closest airport is in Carlsbad. The closest major airports are in El Paso, TX, or Midland, TX, 3 hours away, or in Albuquerque, NM, 5 hours away.

Visitor activities
Visitors may walk on 2 self-guided routes in the cave of about 1 mile (1.6 km) each. The Natural Entrance Route is more strenuous than the Big Room Route. Both routes exit the cave by elevator. Also available is the Ranger-guided King's Palace tour, which requires reservations and a fee, and winds through the Queen's Chamber, Papoose Room, Green Lake Room, and King's Palace. Allow 1 and a half hours for each tour or three to four hours for all three. Slaughter Canyon Cave tours, also requiring reservations, are offered twice daily in summer and on weekends the rest of the year. Free bat flight programs are offered at the Natural Entrance each evening from spring until fall. Bats usually arrive at Carlsbad between March and May, and usually depart in late October. The Big Room Route is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the summer and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the rest of the year. The Natural Entrance Route is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the summer and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the rest of the year. King's Palace tours are limited to 75 persons each, and Slaughter Canyon Cave trips are limited to 25 people each.

Accessibility
Most of the Big Room Route is accessible. An access guide may be obtained at the Visitor Center desk outlining the route. The Natural Entrance Route descends 75 stories and is not accessible to wheelchair users.

Camping and lodging
Several campgrounds and other overnight accommodations are available nearby in White's City and Carlsbad, NM.

Food and supplies
A restaurant at the Visitor Center and an underground lunch room are available at the Park. Supplies are available at White's City and Carlsbad.

First aid/Hospital
First aid is available in the Park. The nearest hospital is in Carlsbad, 27 miles (43.5 km) from the Visitor Center.

General information
Rubber soled shoes and a light jacket or sweater are recommended for the cave tours and caverns. Check with a Ranger prior to making the Natural Entrance walk if you have any physical limitations possibly precluding walking down 75 stories. Proclaimed Carlsbad Cave National Monument Oct. 25, 1923; established as Carlsbad Caverns National Park May 14, 1930.