Kartchner Caverns State Park

Covering about 727 acres, Kartchner Caverns State Park lies in Cochise County, about 6 miles south of Benson.

Popular activities here are historic sites and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites and showers). Roofed lodging includes cabins.

Campground and RV Sites The campground loop at Kartchner offers great Whetstone Mountain views from all of the 60 campsites! Every campsite in the loop has a table, fire ring, hose bib, and power post for your convenience within a clean, flat space. Campsites are located near trailheads that lead into this amazing Sky Island mountain range, not far from the cave and discovery center, and within a short walk from clean restrooms and showers. There’s so much to do at this park, you might as well stay for a while…Click below to book your spot and start making some beautiful southern Arizona memories! Campground Information Campground • Camping is permitted in designated sites only. • Campfires are allowed within designated fire rings. Two commercial fire rings are provided (one in each loop) for the purpose of enjoying a campfire. Solid bottom, self-contained propane stoves or charcoal grills are allowed for cooking at your campsite. • Wood gathering is not permitted. Wood can be purchased from camp host. • Pets must be on a leash. Do not leave pets unattended outdoors. Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of. • Drive and park on designated, paved areas only. • Littering is unlawful. • Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. • Help us to conserve water usage when possible. • Electric Vehicle charging is not permitted at the park. • No feeding of birds or wildlife. Please arrive at the park prior to 6 p.m. The entrance gates will close at 10 p.m. and access will not be available until 7 a.m.

Cabins Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from one of four west-facing cabins! Each cabin sleeps up to six (one queen sized bed and two sets of bunk beds), has air-conditioning, a table with four chairs, and a mini-fridge. Cabin guests must supply their own linens. The “dry” cabins do not have plumbing, although clean restrooms and showers are located very close. A cabin experience at Kartchner will help visitors meet each day fully rested from a very comfortable night’s sleep. With so many things to do here, quality sleep will help you enjoy this unique park to the fullest extent! Cabin Information

The park has modern restrooms located at the Discovery Center, Campground and Trail Head. Handicap accessible and Family facilities, with baby changing stations, are located at the Discovery Center and Campground facilities. Restrooms are within easy access of rental cabins and campgrounds. Basic, non-handicap accessible facilities are located at the Trail Head. Please do not dispose of stored wastewater in the restroom; please use the Dump Station for this purpose. Showers are located in the campground restroom buildings at the upper west end of each campground loop. Use of showers is included in the camping permit fee, there are no separate charges for their use. All showers are handicapped accessible. Flush toilets and sinks with handicapped accessibility are also located in the restroom building. Two showers are located in each of the men’s and women’s restrooms, and a single shower is located in the family restroom. Covered picnic tables are located around the perimeter of the main parking lot and adjacent to the food concession area outside of the Discovery Center. Seven single table sites are located on pads under a shaded ramada with a water source on the west and south end of the main parking lot. Two handicapped accessible sites are located in the center of the sites on the west side of the lot, they have a wheelchair accessible table and adjacent parking. All perimeter tables are accessible by a developed sidewalk and pad. Three uncovered tables on pads are located in the southeast section of the main parking lot; only one table is accessible with a paved sidewalk. Seven single tables and one wheelchair accessible table are located under the covered dining area outside of the food concession area at the Discovery Center. The dining area looks out onto the Hummingbird Garden and the vista of the Whetstone mountains. A counter area with wheelchair accessibility is located inside the Bat Cave Café. • Pets (except certified service animals meeting ADA standards). Please do not leave pets in vehicles.

Park Rules Discovery Center The following are NOT permitted in the Discovery Center: • Food and drinks (including bottled water) • Smoking • Littering Please arrive one hour prior to your tour time to see the video presentation and museum exhibits. Please leave all items in your vehicle except appropriate clothing and method of payment if purchasing tickets. Lockers are available at the Discovery Center, and they require four quarters for a one-time use. Change is available at the Discovery Center. Campground • Camping is permitted in designated sites only. • Campfires are allowed within designated fire rings. Two commercial fire rings are provided (one in each loop) for the purpose of enjoying a campfire. Solid bottom, self-contained propane stoves or charcoal grills are allowed for cooking at your campsite. • Wood gathering is not permitted. Wood can be purchased from camp host. • Pets must be on a leash. Do not leave pets unattended outdoors. Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of. • Drive and park on designated, paved areas only. • Littering is unlawful. • Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. • Help us to conserve water usage when possible. • Electric Vehicle charging is not permitted at the park. • No feeding of birds or wildlife. Please arrive at the park prior to 6 p.m. The entrance gates will close at 10 p.m. and access will not be available until 7 a.m. Cave Tours Kartchner Caverns is now following established nationwide protocols to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that is killing bats. We request that if you have been in another cave or mine since 2005 you do not wear or bring any of the same clothes or shoes as on your other cave trips. If you arrive to Kartchner Caverns wearing shoes that have been in another cave, you will be asked to visit a White Nose Syndrome Decontamination Station, where your shoes will be sprayed down with rubbing alcohol to kill the fungus. Thank you for working with us to protect our bats! The following are NOT permitted on cave tours: • Pets (except certified service animals meeting ADA standards). Please do not leave pets in vehicles. • Purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, baby backpacks or other bags/items. • Binoculars or flashlights. • Photography or video equipment (to include phones, other electronic recording devices, and tripods). • Food, gum, tobacco products and drinks (including bottled water). • Strollers, walkers, crutches. • Touching or damaging formations (punishable by law). • Littering or tossing coins. Please plan to leave all items in your vehicle or in the lockers located on the rear patio of the Discover Center. Heavy clothing will not be necessary in the warm, humid cave. A coat or jacket appropriate to the outside weather is all that you will want to bring with you on tour. Pets Policy Pets are allowed in all outside areas but they must be leashed. Pets are not allowed inside any of the buildings or on cave tours except for service animals. Pets should not be left unattended in vehicles in the parking lot or left unattended outdoors. Ensure that pets have access to a water source. Pets should be restricted to trails and developed areas due to potentially harmful desert plants and cactus. Wildlife and other pets may pose a danger to unrestrained pets due to potential conflicts or predatory behavior that could be harmful.