Carlsbad Caverns National Park
New Mexico Est. 1930

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Cave Desert
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
1930
Size
46,766 acres
Visitors / yr
410K
Entrance
$15
Best season
Late spring through fall
Nearest airport
CNM Cavern City Air Terminal
Park Closure: Temporary Phone Number — (575) 243-2914 +5 more Wildfire Tracker
01

Why Carlsbad Caverns is worth the trip

New Mexico · Established 1930

The show at Carlsbad starts underfoot. Walk in through the natural entrance and you descend 750 feet into a limestone underworld that bottoms out at the Big Room, a single chamber covering 8.2 acres beneath one stone ceiling. The formations get stranger the longer you look. Draperies, soda straws, stone chandeliers, all lit just enough to keep the dark honest.

Then there is the second show. From late spring through October, come back to the amphitheater at the cave mouth around sunset and watch roughly 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats spiral out in a column you can hear. It is free, it happens most evenings, and it is the rare wildlife spectacle that runs close to schedule.

Start with our full Carlsbad Caverns guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in Carlsbad Caverns

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Start here

15 Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Read the guide
01 Lower Cave Tour Guided Tours · nps.gov Lower Cave Tour In 1924, National Geographic expedition members wrote about the wonders of Lower Cave. Visitors today can see the evidence left behind from those and... 02 King's Palace Tour Guided Tours · nps.gov King's Palace Tour The King's Palace Tour takes visitors through four highly decorated chambers and the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public. 03 Walnut Canyon Desert Drive Scenic Driving · nps.gov Walnut Canyon Desert Drive Discover canyon views, desert plants, and wildlife along this unpaved road. 04 Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT) Backcountry Camping · nps.gov Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT) This trail covers 100 miles (161 km) through Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Lincoln National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park....
Before you go

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03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Carlsbad Caverns.

Things to Do Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Carlsbad, NMGateway town
  • Whites City, NMGateway town
Compare stays near Carlsbad Caverns

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Carlsbad Caverns Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
Carlsbad Caverns field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Sun Hat
    Full-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
  • Water Bottles
    Carry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
  • Hiking Boots
    Ankle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI
  • Sun-Protective Shirt
    UPF 50+ fabric keeps you cool and blocks UV all day. View on REI

Getting there

  • CNM Cavern City Air Terminal 25 mi
  • ELP El Paso International 154 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Carlsbad Caverns map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
56°
34°
Light
Open
Feb
61°
37°
Light
Open
Mar Best
68°
43°
Heavy
Open
Apr Best
76°
49°
Heavy
Open
May Best
84°
58°
Moderate
Open
Jun
92°
66°
Heavy
Open
Jul
91°
68°
Heavy
Open
Aug
90°
66°
Moderate
Open
Sep Best
83°
60°
Moderate
Open
Oct Best
75°
52°
Moderate
Open
Nov Best
65°
42°
Moderate
Open
Dec
57°
35°
Moderate
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More Carlsbad Caverns guides

06

Parks near Carlsbad Caverns

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Texas

Guadalupe Mountains

24 miles away
White Sands National Park
New Mexico

White Sands

104 miles away
Big Bend National Park
Texas

Big Bend

215 miles away
Saguaro National Park
Arizona

Saguaro

348 miles away

Worth protecting

Carlsbad Caverns belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for New Mexico

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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