If you are planning a trip to explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park with kids, look no further. Situated in the breathtaking landscapes of southeastern New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns offers an unforgettable adventure for families. From awe-inspiring cave formations to engaging educational opportunities for both parents and kids, this national park is the perfect stop on your next trip through New Mexico.
The park requires timed tickets for entry into the cave, and you can reserve them 30 days ahead of your visit on the NPS website for a $1 processing fee, or you can buy tickets once you arrive in the park. I would HIGHLY suggest reserving them ahead of time; we visited on a Friday and they were completely sold out of tickets for the next several days.
It costs $15 per adult for park entry, and children under 15 are free. Entry is free if you have a National Park pass, which I highly recommend if you are planning on visiting 2-3 National Parks in a year.
Start your visit in the Visitor’s Center, where you can grab a snack and use the restroom, learn all about the history of the cave in several interactive exhibits, and work on your Junior Ranger booklet. This National Park is so great for kids, as they have a little Jr. Ranger workstation.
If you can, I highly recommend taking the 1.25 mile Natural Entrance trail down into the cave. The entrance is truly magnificent, and pictures just do not do it justice. If you visit during the warmer months, you can sit at the amphitheater in the evening and watch the bats fly out of the cave entrance.
The Natural Entrance Trail is very steep, so make sure to wear good footwear. I chose to wear my 2-year-old on my back, which I would highly recommend, so that I had both hands free to hold onto the rails. My 5 and 7 year old did just fine though.
Once you get down into the cave, you can explore the Big Room, which has 1.25 miles of trails, and is the largest single cave chamber in North America. It takes about 2 hours to walk down the Natural Trail entrance and explore the Big Room.
There is no food prohibited inside the cave except at the designated snack bar right outside the elevator, which is open on weekends. There are restrooms located here as well.
There is a shortcut available through the Big Room, which will reduce your walking distance to 0.6 miles. Once you are done exploring, you can take the elevator back up 75 stories to the Visitor’s Center. Make sure to check out one of the two gift shops for a unique souvenir, or grab lunch in the cafe. Also, don’t forget to stop by the Information Desk and turn in your Junior Ranger booklet to earn your Carlsbad Cavern National Park Junior Ranger badge.