When visiting this place, take into account weather conditions for that day. I would suggest hiking shoes that are waterproof and with good soles, laced properly. Long pants and comfortable fitting as well as shirt, long sleeve. Maybe small backpack with extra water, snacks, etc. Consult website for other suggestions. This is a really neat place and experience. Check lodging prices in Carlsbad and Roswell depending on your schedule. Lodging in Roswell may be a bit less expensive but would require a drive of about 2hrs. I say again, approximately 2hrs. Have fun!

Great experience for the whole family. It's amazing how caves can go down as far as a mile and a half. It's wonderful to see the stalagmites and stalactites. We didn't get to see the amount of bats that we would have liked to but they were hibernating.

Jewel Cave National Monument was impressive but Carlsbad Caverns National Park was even more impressive. Big difference is you can walk all the way down at Carlsbad, like 750 feet down and it takes about 60-90 mins to trek down and the path down feels like Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth novel! You can climb back by walk or using the elevator like we did. We saw amazing rock formation and at the end there is the Bottomless Pit. We did the Big Room tour and takes about an hour. It is just fantastic and a bit intimidating. Save yourself trouble and buy entry tickets on-line, just a 1$/per (plus general entrance fees) b/c it is qui busy and walk-in tickets were not avail when we got there. We saw folks turned back and access to the Caverns end at 2:30pm. Our boys truly enjoyed it and got their junior ranger badge.

Surprisingly awe inspiring. I’ve been to a number of caves and wasn’t expecting the immensity of just how big this Cavern was. Definitely a must stop.

Just an amazing experience. For sure do the walk through the natural entrance. We went in November and fewer people so was really nice. You must be there before 3 PM if you want to go down in the caverns. Last trip down is at 3:15. Park will close at 5. Enjoy

We all had a wonderful time. 4 young adults and us. Be ready to walk in moist areas at an angle, and a longer distance than anticipated. Js Beautifully Amazing & Worth the adventure.

Visited a few National Parks and can tell you: this is one of the best. The amount of work the Park Service put into allowing public access to these wonders - is the wonder in its own right. Logistics: you can stay @ Carlsbad, if you need extra cushy comfort OR you can park @ the Whites City, White's City Cavern Inn. Do advanced reservation: saves you the spot, as this particular date might be packed. Dress lightly: leave bulky stuff in the car. Pick the right "neighbors" : some might ruin your experience. No flash, no loud talk: whisper your excitements into your friend's ear. Worth every mile of your trip!

One of the most amazing places to experience the wonders of nature. I enjoyed sharing the experience with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. After exploring the caves, we ended the evening watching the bats as they departed the cave for the night. The sounds of nature and star lit sky is worth the trip to Carlsbad Caverns. The Rangers are extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

Even though I use a cane for long walks, the self guided "Great Room" trek was AMAZING! There are sturdy, stainless steel handrails the entire way, so I probably would have been okay even without the cane. The areas where wheelchairs are prohibited are clearly marked. There are quite a few pull through parking spots for RVs, although it's a bit of a longer walk to the information center. This was also about the cleanest national park I have ever visited. There is an area next to the information desk that has a lot of exhibits and a movie theater that runs a very good 17 min video. I wish I would have done that first, as I found it answered many questions on my "self guided" tour.

I had been here 30 years ago, but this was my husband's first time. He is a disabled Vet that uses a Rollator walker. We rode the elevator down and up. There is only part of the cave accessible with a wheelchair or walker. What we were able to see this time was amazing. He took quite few pics and kept exclaiming......Wow, Oh My, Look at THAT!! I recommend to take your time and look around, rent the audio tour devices from the Bookstore. A lot of people on the paths were almost speed walking thru. They missed a lot. I have a pretty good imagination and "I saw" formations that looked like gnomes, like a rock man (almost like Fantastic Four character), the back of a woman with a fringed jacket and skirt climbing in a hole high up a wall. Again take your time....we entered at 9:30 and didn't come out til 2ish. We ate in the cafe part of the gift shop. Browsed the gift shop and bookstore (bookstore is a run by the Park and all profits go back into park) and made purchases in both.

The visitor center is very well organized and helpful. There are two rangers at the information desk who guide you through everything you need to know before entering the caverns. The ticket counter is easy to find and the entry fee is fifteen dollars per person for the self-guided tour. The exhibits inside are interesting, especially the large cave model and displays about the formations. There is also a good selection of souvenirs. A great place to start your visit and get all the details before heading into the caverns

My second time here. You must watch the evening Bat Flight! It’s a MUST! The cavern is amazing. If you’ve never been, but perhaps you’ve been in some big cathedrals, I want you to imagine the biggest cathedral you’ve ever been in, and multiply by 20 to 30 times that size. That’s the great room in Carlsbad! But even that doesn’t really begin to describe it. Is something you simply have to see in person. It’s jaw dropping!

Very interesting to see all the formations and learn the history. Very strong smell of guano while descending into the cavern and periodically throughout the tour. Would recommend wearing layers, as temperature flexuates, and possibly a mask to cover face with when odor is strong.

Such a nice place, the Rangers were very nice and the gift store was plentiful. The cave it self is just beyond description. They have made it very safe and 75% is accessable by wheel chair. The Bat fight was fun and interesting.

Cool spot to relax and eat either after you've come down the natural entrance or right before you leave. Sadly food selection is really lacking. They have ham or turkey sandwiches or salads for main meals. For snacks candy bars, some baked goods, small bags of chips, bottled soda and a few other small things. (At this time of posting 2023 sandwich costed $8.75, chips $1, brownie $4, soda $2.87, candy bar $2.19)

The caverns were amazing! Once in a lifetime experience. Food wasn't great and over priced and the bottom of the cavern, but we were famished and shared a sandwich. There are places to pull over on the road up to the caverns, we packed a cooler and pulled off for lunch with a view. Such an incredible experience! Highly recommend walking in!

Great place to visit, very large cavern. Highly recommend.

Absolutely beautiful. The area we stopped had bathrooms(not in the best condition). Kids got to run around and dogs are allowed!

The restaurant closes at 2 and they don’t sirve food at all, the cavern tickets stop selling at 2:30 and Google maps says at 5 so we made a long trip for nothing. Also, the bar fly. Bars not coming out, park ranger suggest to stay all night because u may see them go in and out during the nigh. No sell pol home allowed like if there was something u could take pictures of. Not worth it to make the trip so disappointed 😔

2 stars on the inconsideration alone. One thing that you hear about Carlsbad Caverns is that there is a lunchroom at the bottom leading you to believe that you can make the hour and a half trek and get something to eat before spending an hour touring the big room. If you take medicine, have blood sugar issues, or some other reason you can't wait to eat, you better eat before hand. It would be nice if they or the National Parks Service would let you know ahead of time.

Back in 1996 the lunch room at the bottom of the cavern had some really good food. But they have since shut it down. The fried chicken and other food being cooked at the bottom attracted wildlife into the cave so now they only serve refrigerated sandwiches, fruit cups and a few other items. I understand why but its just not the same anymore. We skiped the lunch down below and opted for a picnic at the tables near the parking lot. It has the best views.

When visiting this place, take into account weather conditions for that day. I would suggest hiking shoes that are waterproof and with good soles, laced properly. Long pants and comfortable fitting as well as shirt, long sleeve. Maybe small backpack with extra water, snacks, etc. Consult website for other suggestions. This is a really neat place and experience. Check lodging prices in Carlsbad and Roswell depending on your schedule. Lodging in Roswell may be a bit less expensive but would require a drive of about 2hrs. I say again, approximately 2hrs. Have fun!

Great experience for the whole family. It's amazing how caves can go down as far as a mile and a half. It's wonderful to see the stalagmites and stalactites. We didn't get to see the amount of bats that we would have liked to but they were hibernating.

Jewel Cave National Monument was impressive but Carlsbad Caverns National Park was even more impressive. Big difference is you can walk all the way down at Carlsbad, like 750 feet down and it takes about 60-90 mins to trek down and the path down feels like Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth novel! You can climb back by walk or using the elevator like we did. We saw amazing rock formation and at the end there is the Bottomless Pit. We did the Big Room tour and takes about an hour. It is just fantastic and a bit intimidating. Save yourself trouble and buy entry tickets on-line, just a 1$/per (plus general entrance fees) b/c it is qui busy and walk-in tickets were not avail when we got there. We saw folks turned back and access to the Caverns end at 2:30pm. Our boys truly enjoyed it and got their junior ranger badge.

Surprisingly awe inspiring. I’ve been to a number of caves and wasn’t expecting the immensity of just how big this Cavern was. Definitely a must stop.

Just an amazing experience. For sure do the walk through the natural entrance. We went in November and fewer people so was really nice. You must be there before 3 PM if you want to go down in the caverns. Last trip down is at 3:15. Park will close at 5. Enjoy

We all had a wonderful time. 4 young adults and us. Be ready to walk in moist areas at an angle, and a longer distance than anticipated. Js Beautifully Amazing & Worth the adventure.

Visited a few National Parks and can tell you: this is one of the best. The amount of work the Park Service put into allowing public access to these wonders - is the wonder in its own right. Logistics: you can stay @ Carlsbad, if you need extra cushy comfort OR you can park @ the Whites City, White's City Cavern Inn. Do advanced reservation: saves you the spot, as this particular date might be packed. Dress lightly: leave bulky stuff in the car. Pick the right "neighbors" : some might ruin your experience. No flash, no loud talk: whisper your excitements into your friend's ear. Worth every mile of your trip!

Cool spot to relax and eat either after you've come down the natural entrance or right before you leave. Sadly food selection is really lacking. They have ham or turkey sandwiches or salads for main meals. For snacks candy bars, some baked goods, small bags of chips, bottled soda and a few other small things. (At this time of posting 2023 sandwich costed $8.75, chips $1, brownie $4, soda $2.87, candy bar $2.19)

The caverns were amazing! Once in a lifetime experience. Food wasn't great and over priced and the bottom of the cavern, but we were famished and shared a sandwich. There are places to pull over on the road up to the caverns, we packed a cooler and pulled off for lunch with a view. Such an incredible experience! Highly recommend walking in!

Great place to visit, very large cavern. Highly recommend.

Absolutely beautiful. The area we stopped had bathrooms(not in the best condition). Kids got to run around and dogs are allowed!

The restaurant closes at 2 and they don’t sirve food at all, the cavern tickets stop selling at 2:30 and Google maps says at 5 so we made a long trip for nothing. Also, the bar fly. Bars not coming out, park ranger suggest to stay all night because u may see them go in and out during the nigh. No sell pol home allowed like if there was something u could take pictures of. Not worth it to make the trip so disappointed 😔

2 stars on the inconsideration alone. One thing that you hear about Carlsbad Caverns is that there is a lunchroom at the bottom leading you to believe that you can make the hour and a half trek and get something to eat before spending an hour touring the big room. If you take medicine, have blood sugar issues, or some other reason you can't wait to eat, you better eat before hand. It would be nice if they or the National Parks Service would let you know ahead of time.

Back in 1996 the lunch room at the bottom of the cavern had some really good food. But they have since shut it down. The fried chicken and other food being cooked at the bottom attracted wildlife into the cave so now they only serve refrigerated sandwiches, fruit cups and a few other items. I understand why but its just not the same anymore. We skiped the lunch down below and opted for a picnic at the tables near the parking lot. It has the best views.

Such a fantastic visit. Fresh off of our Texas Cave Tours this was an amazing adventure. So many cool features to see. We truly enjoyed the self guided tour as you can take your time and enjoy the sites. I encourage you to take the natural entrance down as this is part of the whole adventure...its a little steep, and chilly once in the Cavern but a very cool experience....the elevator back to the top is a must.

I was amazed at the awesomeness of this self guided tour. I chose the elevator both ways to save time. Apparently I’d really does take about an hour to walk the mile down with grades reaching 20%. I speed walked through the actual caves in about 45 minutes, but rangers said on crowded days it can take 2 hours as the well maintained path is narrow. Must buy in advance. Lastly, I liked the shirts at the concession store in the cave more than those in the visitor center.

Underground marvels! Exploring the cavern system is always enjoyable for my spouse and me. During the Thanksgiving break last year, we had the chance to go to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Walking the natural entrance trail is a unique experience to us. Different formations of speleothems include stalactites, stalagmites, columns, soda straws, draperies, helictites, and popcorn can be found along this trail and within the caverns. It also features the immense Big Room, a massive limestone chamber. We spent around 4 hours to explore this natural landmark. Our favorites are the Fairyland, popcorn covered stalagmite and Lions tail which is formed by stalactite and popcorn. Despite its steep grade this self-guided path via the natural entryway is a must-do activity to observe the complex geological structures. There are places to sit and take rest and also have emergency phone to connect with the ranger. Wearing hiking boots or shoes with good traction is recommended. We used the elevator to return back to the top. The park is well-managed and preserved. The park rangers are very helpful. The visitor center provides a lovely selection of souvenirs and is quite informative. Once our under-ground tour ended, we spent a few more hours to see the above-ground beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape. We would probably return here for the bat flight viewing. I would advise making a trip to Carlsbad Caverns a top priority.

Visited today and the park is fully open and operating for visitors as of November 14. There was some confusion online about closures, but everything was running normally. We did the Big Room Trail and it took us about two hours to walk through. The rock formations were unbelievable and it truly felt like stepping into another world. A ranger at the entrance gave clear instructions before we started, which was helpful. We took the elevator back up at the end and it made the return very easy. A memorable experience and absolutely worth the visit

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Photos do not communicate the pure size of the cavern. However, some things to keep in mind or that I would have done differently: I brought a jacket, and it ended up just getting in the way as it wasn’t very cold. I went just after it rained, and it still wasn’t slippery, so shoes with traction are recommended, but not necessary. You could probably go down there with sandals and be fine. The rangers try to scare you into taking the elevator (probably not on purpose) but do not take the elevator. The walk down is probably cooler than the actual attraction at the bottom. Bring water, as you could be down there for a while and get thirsty. Only about a bottle per person is fine. At the end, I walked back up the path instead of taking the elevator, and it was definitely strenuous but really cool to see how far you climbed. Please be quiet and point your flashlights at the ground, people basically yelling and shining their lights in your eyes and at the rocks sucked. All in all, amazing place with millions of years of history. Will stop by again for sure.

One of the few national parks I highly recommend! Try to go off season. We had sections all to our selves. Skip the elevator, the walk up and down is amazing.

Me the wife and our two children stopped by here yesterday and today since we all enjoyed the first visit since we are going to Roswell for the weekend and the family wanted to see the Caverns. It is very historical and very cool. Our autistic son really enjoyed it with all of the different views and cave forms.

This was a quiet and shaded location for lunch! While we were hear saw some beautiful birds. There was a short walk down a dirt road that lead to the springs. The springs were absolutely gorgeous! Would absolutely stop by again!

Beautiful and historic spot for a picnic. Tons of picnic tables surrounded by giant old cottonwood trees. Cool and breezy compared to the surrounding desert. Very nice vault toilets and plenty of trash receptacles. You can walk down the road a bit to see the actual spring and old Civilian Conservation Corps building. Plenty of informational signage all around.

My kids said there was a weird smell. I didn't smell it. I thought it was a beautiful place to visit in the beginning of May, when it was still cool. And we didn't see any snakes.

Very beautiful a must if you are visiting carlsbad caverns. If you appreciate nature this is a must.

Very beautiful- a welcome refuge from the dry range surrounding it and from the Permian Basin oilfield traffic. Excellent bird-watching (Blue Mockingbird, wow!) and a good picnic spot.

Don't miss this picnic area. The bird watching is excellent, the views most fine and the grounds clean and well kept. Day use only. You can camp on the nearby BLM land.

great spot. lot's of wild turkey in area. spring is very pretty draw's lots of wildlife for the water.