Carlsbad Caverns vs Kartchner Caverns
After talking to several of our members that have done a lot more traveling than my wife and I have about our trip next month. Most suggested skipping Carlsbad Covens and seeing Kartchner Caverns inst...
Forum Discussion
The two caverns are entirely different and both are awesome!
Carlsbad is not actively growing whereas Kartchner is still growing new formations.
Carlsbad is huge. Kartchner is more intimate. The bats are only at both in summer.
If you do Carlsbad on your own be sure to rent the 'wands'. Whenever you get in front of a particular formation the 'wand' will give a nice description talk of it. You can also take tours.
For Kartchner you need to enter it by well-given tours. I would recommend for a first-time visitor to take the Rotunda/Throne Room tour rather than the Big Room.
For Carlsbad we stay at Brantley Lake State Park. Kartchner has it's own campground and is very nice, quiet, spacious sites with W/E and a good dump station. Big rigs fit nicely.
We would highly recommend doing both if in the areas.
Petrified Forest is basically a drive-through park.
To get from I-40 to Kartchner, you would take 77 at Holbrook to 60 at Show Low - an easy drive. From Show Low to Globe on 60 you'll drive through Salt River Canyon. It will be a short 6-7% down to the river and then 6-7% back up. It's a gorgeous drive and many RVers drive it. There are no extreme switchbacks - just gentle curves and it's a very good highway. Then to avoid going through Tucson, continue on 70 from Globe to Safford. Roper Lake State Park in Safford is nice and can accommodate big rigs. Then take 191 south from Safford to I-10 at Willcox. Take I-10 west to Hwy 90 just past Benson - an easy drive. Then Hwy 90 south to Kartchner.
While at Kartchner you'll be able to take a day trip to Tombstone and Bisbee and Sierra Vista has major shopping. Have an enjoyable trip!
Carlsbad is not actively growing whereas Kartchner is still growing new formations.
Carlsbad is huge. Kartchner is more intimate. The bats are only at both in summer.
If you do Carlsbad on your own be sure to rent the 'wands'. Whenever you get in front of a particular formation the 'wand' will give a nice description talk of it. You can also take tours.
For Kartchner you need to enter it by well-given tours. I would recommend for a first-time visitor to take the Rotunda/Throne Room tour rather than the Big Room.
For Carlsbad we stay at Brantley Lake State Park. Kartchner has it's own campground and is very nice, quiet, spacious sites with W/E and a good dump station. Big rigs fit nicely.
We would highly recommend doing both if in the areas.
Petrified Forest is basically a drive-through park.
To get from I-40 to Kartchner, you would take 77 at Holbrook to 60 at Show Low - an easy drive. From Show Low to Globe on 60 you'll drive through Salt River Canyon. It will be a short 6-7% down to the river and then 6-7% back up. It's a gorgeous drive and many RVers drive it. There are no extreme switchbacks - just gentle curves and it's a very good highway. Then to avoid going through Tucson, continue on 70 from Globe to Safford. Roper Lake State Park in Safford is nice and can accommodate big rigs. Then take 191 south from Safford to I-10 at Willcox. Take I-10 west to Hwy 90 just past Benson - an easy drive. Then Hwy 90 south to Kartchner.
While at Kartchner you'll be able to take a day trip to Tombstone and Bisbee and Sierra Vista has major shopping. Have an enjoyable trip!
