Visitors arrive by way of U.S. Highway 62/180 from either Carlsbad, New Mexico (23 miles to the northeast) or El Paso, Texas (150 miles to the west). A scenic 7-mile (11.3 km) entrance road leads from the park gate at Whites City to the visitor center and cavern entrance.
Carlsbad is served by Greyhound and TNM&O bus lines. Mesa Airlines offers passenger service between Carlsbad and Albuquerque. Major airlines serve Albuquerque, New Mexico; and El Paso, Lubbock and Midland, Texas. Rental cars and taxi service are available from the airport in Carlsbad.
| Driving Distances (in miles) |
| Albuquerque — 304 | Lubbock — 206 |
| Amarillo — 329 | Midland — 194 |
| Dallas — 500 | Odessa — 174 |
| Denver — 626 | Phoenix — 581 |
| El Paso — 151 | Roswell — 103 |
| Las Cruces — 197 | San Antonio — 461 |
