carlsbad caverns trip planning

2 Day Itinerary For Visiting The Magical Carlsbad Caverns

We had no idea what to do (besides knowing there was a cave) when we went to Carlsbad Caverns National Park . While there we talked to a ranger and put together a great plan to visit this amazing national park over 2 days!

Table of Contents

Here is our 2 day plan for visiting the caverns

Visitor center.

Plan on making the Visitor center your first stop. This is something we do whenever we visit a national park. Really for 3 reasons.

1 – We need to get our sticker (priorities :)).

2 – The Rangers are great for helping us figure out what we should do at the park.

3 – We can pick up Junior Ranger books for the kids.

Visitor Center Museum and Movie

The visitor center museum isn’t huge but it is well worth a visit to help you learn about the park. I personally really liked the model of the Visitor Center and the elevator showing how far down you go into the cave.

They also have a movie that talks about how the caves were formed.

There is a ticket booth in the visitor center if you want to do a guided tour or if you want to visit the self guided Big Room or the Natural Entrance. If you have a National Park pass you can get in for free to the Big Room or Natural Entrance. If not you will have to pay per person (kids 15 and under are free).

Once checking in there and getting tickets we headed over to the elevator (again in the Visitor Center) and a Park Ranger does an intro with some rules and then they put you in the elevator. . . that takes you 750 down into the Big Room!

Once you reach the bottom you get off and we couldn’t even believe it – there is a gift shop, snack shop and regular bathrooms right in the cave. Go figure! From here you can go on the self guided walk around the Big Room.

It is about 1 1/4 mile around and is a nice even walk most of the time with a couple of places that have a steep incline or decline. They do not allow strollers and there are sections that are not wheelchair friendly.

As you walk around the Big Room there are signs that you can stop to read to learn more about the caverns. The caverns are lighted the whole way through so you can always get a good view of the amaziness of the caverns!

If you are there the right time of year (May – October but check their site to confirm) you can watch 100’s of 1,000’s of Brazilian free tailed bats fly out of the Natural Entrance of the caverns. Prior to the flight the ranger does a brief discussion before the bats start flying.

Once they start flying everyone is told to be quiet. And prior to that the ranger has everyone TURN OFF not just put on silent but actually turn off their phones. They have done studies and the phones bother the bats when they are on so everything must be turned off.

The bats then fly out of the cave and we had heard it could last as long as 3 hours! Don’t worry you don’t have to stay there for the whole thing. You can stay as long as you would like and then quietly walk out.

It was quite the site and well worth being there to see it! If you want you can head out before sunset and catch the sunset over the Chihuahuan desert from the Visitor Center. A New Mexico sunset is beautiful.

Hike down the Natural Entrance

T-shirt and hats from https://besawyer.com/. We LOVE their clothes!

The Natural Entrance takes you back to the Big Room. But instead of taking the elevator you take a trail that starts from the same entrance the bats flew out of the night before . . . never fear the bats are sleeping now.

The 1 1/4 mile trail has a variety of switch backs and inclines and declines as you make your way 750 feet down into the Big Room. The trail itself has lots of great things you can see. And the nice thing is when you get the bottom you can either choose to walk the Big Room trail again or just head straight to the elevator for the 750 foot trip up. Our kids were really happy they didn’t have to hike up and out of the caverns!

Our 6 year old completed the whole thing by himself and again with most of it being downhill it wasn’t that difficult of a hike. We have heard it can be slick and there were some steep inclines and declines so keep that in mind.

In order to get to the Natural Entrance Trail you will need to go back into the Visitor Center and check in at the tour desk (same one you did for the Big Room). You can use your National Park pass again to get in for free.

Once you have your recipet in hand you walk down to the trail entrance – where a Ranger is waiting to take your ticket, give you a brief overview with some rules, and send you onto the trail.

Junior Ranger Program

When you take the elevator up you end up back at the Visitor Center. We opted to walk around the museum area again and then found a table to sit down to work on the Junior Ranger books with the kids.

Once done they got sword in as Junior Rangers and got their Carlsbad Caverns badge.

If you enjoy guided tours you could choose to do one of them in the afternoon. The National Park Service offers a variety of tours. We opted for not doing any guided tours as we know our kids do better when they can walk at their own pace.

One of the highlights of the tours is seeing the Queens Chamber on the Kings Palace tour .

Or you could chose to go on a caving tour by visiting the Lower Cave  with a guide.

Guadeloupe Mountain Brewing Company

If a guided tour isn’t your thing then you can head out to the city of Carlsbad New Mexico and stop at a brewery. The wine was really good at the brewery too!

Information on the Caverns

The Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Centers hours are different for summer compared to Labor Day to Memorial Day so be sure to check their site for hours. Also know that they set a time to close the Natural Entrance (2pm or 3:30 depending on the time of year so earlier in the day). This is a good thing since you don’t want to be there when the bats come out!

And the same for the Big Room elevator that stops taking people down at certain times (3:30 or 5pm depending on time of year)

Make sure to check their site in case times have changed.

What To Wear

The cave is around 56 degrees but remember you are walking around so we would recommend layers. Everyone had on a sweatshirt or t-shirt and we were fine.

We also did the Big Room in sandals . . . and it was OK. But if you plan ahead just wear shoes. It just makes sense :).

For the Natural Entrance shoes would definitely be recommended.

Where To Stay

Rv park – white’s city .

This was basically a parking lot but it is really close to the Carlsbad entrance and we could be to the Visitor Center in 15 minutes. This was great since we could go do the Big Room then come back for lunch before heading back to the Bat Flight.

If you don’t have an RV consider renting an RV for your trip !

Hotel – White’s City

We didn’t walk into this hotel but it is located right across from the RV park so for the same reasons above it makes sense to stay here if you are here to see the Caverns.

Lechuguilla cave is the deepest limestone cave in the country – unfortunately you can’t go down there. It is currently only used for scientific research.

Other Things To Do In The Area

Bandelier National Monument – See the homes of ancestral Puebloans.

Rattlesnake Springs – A nice oasis to visit in the area.

Wilderness Area – There is a large wilderness area around the caves that can be explored.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Located in Texas.

A little farther away is White Sands National Park – which we highly recommend!

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary

Carlsbad Cavern National Park in New Mexico is a phenomenal underground world. A unique place in the world. Fairy-tale shapes stimulate your imagination in these dark and wet caves. 119 caves with huge rooms covered in spectacular rock formations: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, and straws. Thousands of bats. So, we prepared a detailed Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary to help you plan your trip to this hidden gem of New Mexico. You will find in our guide the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns, where to stay, when to go, and finally, Carlsbad Caverns photography tips.

Why Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

We start our Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary with some facts about this underground miracle. We hope it will convince you to add this spectacular place to your New Mexico road trip.

Our Experiences

This park completely enchanted my partner Chris and me. We probably liked the underground world of Carlsbad Cavens even more than White Sands National Park . All the photos presented in this article were taken while wandering around the caves.

Since we were there after the tourist season, we were allowed to use the tripods. However, ask the rangers if you can take a tripod with you, as this may not be possible during the peak season due to too many visitors. The paths are very narrow, and the caves are dark so that someone could trip over a tripod.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Facts

• There are 119 known caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and there are probably more. The famous Carlsbad Caverns is only one of the caves.
• The Big Room (natural limestone chamber) in Carlsbad Caverns is the largest accessible cave chamber in North America. It is 8.2 acres and almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at its highest point. The Big Room is North America’s fifth-largest chamber and the world’s twenty-eighth-largest chamber.
• At least 17 species of bats live in the Park. The most common are Brazilian free-tailed bats, which can be seen exiting Carlsbad Cavern each night from May through October.
• The caves are chilly at 56 degrees F with 90% humidity all year.
• The total area of Carlsbad Caverns is 46,766 acres.
• The number of visitors to Carlsbad Cavern in 2019 was around 440700.
• There are also aboveground trails in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where you can explore the desert landscape.
• Carlsbad Cavern was made a national park on May 14, 1930.

Carlsbad Caverns Geologic Facts

• The caves’ bedrock is limestone, mainly created by shelled organisms 260-280 million years ago in and near a vast reef.
• The caves in the Carlsbad Caverns area were formed between 6 and 4 million years ago.
• Weak sulfuric acid created by microbes and natural hydrogen sulfide dissolved the caves in Carlsbad Caverns.
• When the area was uplifted, the water table and sulfuric acid drained away, leaving behind the caves.
• Water dripping in from the surface brings with it some of the limestones and redeposits it as speleothems including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, straws, and more.

Where is Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a remote area in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. It is not so far from the Texas state line. It’s around 20 miles southwest of the town of Carlsbad and 35 miles from Guadalupe National Park.

The major attraction of the park is the show cave, Carlsbad Cavern. You can hike to the cave on your own via the natural entrance, Road To Hell Carlsbad Caverns. The cave descends 79 stories from the mouth to the Big Room, or you can take an elevator from the visitor center.

Reservations Are Required to Enter Carlsbad Cavern

Before going to this underground park, the most important thing to know is that reservations are required to visit Carlsbad Cavern. There are no reservations available at the park. So plan your trip.

You can purchase Reservations online or by calling 877-444-6777. Reservations are only for selecting the entry time. So make sure you will be on time. Upon arrival at the visitor center, you must purchase entrance tickets.

Also, make sure to visit the official park website before your trip to check actual alerts.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary – How to get to the Park?

The most convenient airports to get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park are:

• El Paso International Airport (ELP) in Texas, 139 miles by car to Carlsbad Caverns.
• Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF) in Texas, 161 miles by car to Carlsbad Caverns
• Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) in New Mexico, 305 miles by car to Carlsbad Caverns.

Furthermore, US Highway 62/180 provides the sole road access to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The Walnut Canyon Road entrance is 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

• How to get from El Paso to Carlsbad Caverns? The park is about 145 miles east of El Paso, Texas, so driving there will take 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• How to get from Albuquerque to Carlsbad Caverns? Albuquerque is 300 miles from the park, and it takes about 4 hours and 40 minutes to drive via US Hwy 285 N.

Where To Stay in Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

We advise you where to stay in this part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary. It is not easy to find accommodation in the Carlsbad Caverns, as it is a remote area, so plan your stay. There is no lodging of any sort as hotels or camping inside the park.

The best place to stay is in Carlsbad town, which is a 30-minute drive from the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns. It offers a wide variety of services, including many lodging choices, and is the most convenient base for visiting the park.

Below, you will find our selection of accommodation near the national park, including the best hotels and camping sites with the highest reviews. So, check prices and availability on booking.com

Hotels near Carlsbad Caverns

($$$) Sleep Inn & Suites is a 2.5-star city-center Carlsbad hotel with an indoor pool. It offers modern furnishings, free Internet, and free parking.

($$) Rodeway Inn motel features an outdoor pool. Free Wi-Fi access is available. Free parking for all-size vehicles, including trucks, is provided to guests.

($) Super 8 by Wyndham Carlsbad is a 2-star hotel great for families. It offers free continental breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. It is a very clean & comfortable hotel with a good price.

($) Days Inn by Wyndham Carlsbad features family rooms. It also provides guests with a grill. The hotel has an indoor pool, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi throughout the property.

Carlsbad Cavern Camping

As you know, we love RVs, so in Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary, we suggest the best places to stay. There is no overnight lodging or campgrounds in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Primitive camping is allowed in the backcountry only and requires a free permit issued at the park’s visitor center when you arrive. You cannot reserve a permit in advance. Check the Backcountry Camping Permit Terms and Conditions on the park’s website .

Overnight RV parking is not permitted in the park. However, the park is surrounded by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. They allow permit-free RV/tent camping. So, contact the Carlsbad BLM office to check your options for free camping.

The closest campground with amenities is available 7 miles (11 km) from the visitor center in White’s City, New Mexico. A White’s City Carlsbad Caverns RV Park is open year-round and offers full hookups, water, restrooms, showers, and laundry.

Bud’s Place RV Park & Cabins is only 27 miles from Carlsbad Caverns. Convenient to restaurants and shopping, Guadalupe Mts. Furthermore, it offers Big Rig-friendly sites, 10 bathrooms, fiber optic WiFi, Catch, Release Pond, and more.

Weather in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

What is the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns? We have great news for you. In the caves, underground, the weather in Carlsbad Caverns is the same all year round. So, there is a constant 56°F with high humidity . So, take a sweatshirt or jacket to stay comfortable underground.

If you want to admire mysterious creatures – thousands of bats- you should visit Carlsbad between May and October. The best time of year to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park is winter, spring, or fall. Summers tend to be sweltering hot, with temperatures around 80-100 degrees.

Furthermore, in the summer, afternoon rains downpours across the desert. Check weather alerts on the park’s website before your trip.

Best Things To Do In Carlsbad Caverns National Park

In this part of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary, we suggest to you how to spend the best time in this fantastic national park. If you want to see the most famous caves, reserve a minimum of 3-4 hours for Carlsbad Caverns. If you have more time it is worth considering other trips, which I am describing below.

Depending on your interests and possibilities, you will find something for yourself. Remember to purchase your reservation before your trip!

Start at the Visitor Center

Visitor Center helps you organize your time. You can check daily tours or pick up early bookings for guided tours. Take the underground map to find out as much as possible about this place.

The Visitors Center houses a museum, gift shop and cafe, National Parks bookstore, and the Ranger information counter. You can sign up for the Junior Ranger Program .

Take Self-Guided Tour

It is the best way to admire this beauty. On the self-guided tour, you have two options: take the elevator down to the “Big Room” or hike down via the Natural Entrance. Wear shoes with excellent traction. No food or drink other than water is allowed in the cave, so a good water bottle is a must.

Only bring plain water with you because the cave is home to a delicate ecosystem. Taking a Self-Guided Tour is a minimum to do in our Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary.

Remember that you must have a reservation to get to Carlsbad Cavern.

Natural Entrance Trail

The Natural Entrance Trail is a fabulous experience. It is a short but steep 1.25 miles down the track. The entrance is called Road To Hell. If you have the time and ability to hike, take this trail. You can reach the Big Room and the central area of the caves.

The hike descends 750 feet in elevation. The path is flat cement, but some areas are steep and slippery. So take your time and wear shoes with good traction.

Plan at least an hour or two to hike down this trail one way. But if you want to do Big Room, also plan a minimum of three hours to enjoy all this underground beauty. Then, you can take the elevators to get out of the cave.

The Natural Entrance Trail begins behind the Visitor Center. First, you must enter the museum behind the ticket desk. Then, you will walk down the path to the ranger waiting at the beginning of the trail.

Big Room Trail

The most popular route in Carlsbad Cavern is the Big Room. Because it is the most crowded trail, the best option is to make both the Natural Entrance Trail and the Big Room Trail.

But take the Big Room Trail if you are pressed for time and can only do one. The Big Room is a humongous and majestic underground miracle with magical rock formations that will leave you speechless. You can enter the Big Room through the Natural Entrance Trail or through the elevators.

If you are short on time and go to the cave via the elevators, the trail will be short, flat & easy. The Big Room is well-named because it covers 357,480 square feet – 8.2 acres.

The most spectacular formations are the Twin Domes and 62-foot (19-meter) high Giant Dome, Chandelier, Rock of Ages, Doll’s Theater, Lion’s Tail, and Temple of the Sun.

The trail is approximately 1.25 miles long (with a possible shortcut to reduce the distance to 0.6 miles). The cave offers spectacular views, cave formations of all shapes and sizes, and a rope ladder used by explorers in 1924.

It takes around 45-60 minutes to complete the full trial. Tickets are required for the Big Room, so you’ll need to stop in at the Visitor Center Ticket Desk when you arrive.

See Road To Hell Carlsbad Caverns

If you cannot visit the caves by going through the Natural Entrance Trail for some reason, for a lack of time or health reasons, it is worth seeing the entrance itself. They are called Road To Hell Carlsbad Caverns. It is a spectacular and steep road into the darkness.

Road To Hell meanders like a serpentine to the pit of Hell. You only see black, and your body is enveloped in coldness and moisture from the deepness of caves. It is an extraordinary experience.

Send a Postcard from Caverns

The Carlsbad Caverns lunchroom is 750 feet underground, right inside the caves. Tourists can write a postcard, mail it from inside the cave, and have it stamped with “Mailed from 750 feet below ground.”

Bat Flight Program in Carlsbad Caverns

From Memorial Day weekend in May until October, you can see the free Bat Flight Program in Carlsbad Caverns. There are 17 bat species in the park. The large colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats is the best known. So, in the evenings, a ranger talks about the bats before their flight.

No reservations are required for this program. It is located at the Bat Flight Amphitheater approximately 30 minutes before sunset. The best bat flights commonly occur from August to September because there are babies from the year and migrating bats from further north.

Furthermore, in the summer, between 200,000 and 500,000 bats leave the cave each evening. It’s a wonderful spectacle of nature. During migration, the bat population can reach over one million.

So, every summer sunset, millions of bats swarm and swirl out of the caves to eat millions of insects in the Pecos River valley.

The bats typically leave 28 minutes past sunset, known as civil twilight. Furthermore, they typically return to the cave entrance between 4 and 6 a.m. Finally, photography of any kind is not allowed at the Bat Flight, and electronics are not allowed during the program to protect the bats.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary – Take Ranger-Guided Tour

Guided tours should be considered if you have more time to stay in the Carlsbad Cavern National Park than one day. The Park offers some adventure tours with a park ranger.

You can see several other, less famous, caves and learn more details about the geology of this place. However, you have to book it in advance on Recreation.gov . Furthermore, tickets are extremely limited. So, make your reservations here . The best tours are:

Hall of the White Giant is a challenging, strenuous four-hour tour. You’ll be sweaty and dirty. Furthermore, you will crawl through narrow spaces on your hands and knees and free-climb through the formations, climbing slippery vertical rock. Tour groups are small, so tickets are minimal. Finally, it is the most challenging and strenuous cave trip.

King’s Palace Tour is a 1.5-hour ranger-guided tour through four highly decorated chambers that will take you into the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public, 830 feet (253 m) beneath the desert surface. Furthermore, it is the shortest and easiest of the ranger-led tours, but it is beautiful.

Lower Cave Tour is a 3-hour strenuous hike for ages 12 and over. During this tour, you will venture deep into the cave, descending on ladders and ropes—a real adventure. Furthermore, the park ranger will take you to the rare cave pearls that National Geographic made famous.

Desert Landscape Activity

The surface of Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a harsh desert landscape. There are more than 50 miles of aboveground trails. So, if you like this kind of landscape and you have extra days, it is worth considering hiking or driving in this remote area. All trails in Carlsbad Caverns are on the NPS website .

Take a Walnut Canyon Desert Drive

It is a scenic 9-mile drive through the desert to a few viewpoints. The road is dirt and not recommended for low-clearance vehicles or RVs. Furthermore, you can spot rattlesnakes in this area, so be careful, or you may see bighorn sheep.

Have a Picnic at Rattlesnake Springs

It is an oasis in the middle of the desert, with large cottonwood trees and lots of birds galore. Birders love this area so that you can spot wild turkeys and vermilion flycatchers.

But, if you love wildlife and bird watching and you plan your New Mexico holiday, add to your road trip itinerary Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge . It is a wildlife pearl of New Mexico where you can admire Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese.

Take a short Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail is a short and easy path. It starts at the Visitors Center and winds around a half-mile loop.

Carlsbad Caverns Photography Tips

The last part of our Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary is a photographic guide. As you know, we love photography and share our photography tips from every place we have visited. We hope it will help you avoid our mistakes and prepare for the trip correctly. So, in addition to beautiful memories, bring great photos with you.

Fast Lens Is a Must

Take fast and wide lenses. The faster the lens, the better. During this trip, Agnes used the great, wide, and fast lens Nikkor 14-24 mm f/2.8, which is a phenomenal lens. It is perfect for architecture and landscapes also.

When she wanted to get closer to the fantastic shapes of rock formations, she used the fabulous Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4, which is also great. Besides, it is her favorite lens for portrait photography and reportage.

Chris used the perfect Canon 16-35 mm f/4, which, although a bit darker, coped perfectly in caves with the Sirui tripod.

Take a Tripod

Tripods are permitted on the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails but not on ranger-guided tours. However, ask at the Visitor Center if they’re allowed, as they might be prohibited during crowdy days. We have both used Sirui tripods for years and love them. Agnes uses the lighter one, and Chris uses a heavy one.

However, taking good pictures in Carlsbad Caverns is difficult because the path is very narrow. Due to this, you have to watch out for people not to stumble in the dark on your tripod. You should notice people first, and you should let them pass.

You have to focus not only on photos but also on the safety of other visitors. In the darkness, they have no chance to notice your tripod legs, so you must be extremely careful. Sometimes, it is annoying, but safety is the most important thing.

So, if you want to avoid crowds and focus on photos, visit the Park after the high season. Even during winter, as we did, or late fall. You won’t see bats, but you’ll have much better conditions for photographing these unusual & unique rock formations.

Wear Warm Clothes

Pack yourself an optimal way, and don’t take too much photo equipment with you, except for the camera and one or two fast lenses. The caves are cramped, so with a large backpack, you will not be allowed inside if there are a lot of people.

Take a warm sweatshirt or jacket and beanie because it will be cool, and the photo will take you a few hours. Remember to wear good shoes because they can be slippery, and you don’t want to drop equipment on the rock.

We assure you that a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park will always remain in your memory. The place is magical and breathtaking. If you like our Carlsbad Caverns National Park Itinerary and are planning the New Mexico road trip, please check our related articles. We share our experience & tips to help you prepare for your incredible adventure:

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• Taos Pueblo Tour
• Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
• Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
• Visiting Roswell, New Mexico – A One-Day Itinerary
• 15 Best Things to Do in White Sands National Park
• 22 Best Things to Do in Farmington, New Mexico
• How to find the King of Wings New Mexico?
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Agnes Stabinska is a writer, photographer, and co-founder of The Van Escape. She loves wildlife, landscape photography, and outdoor adventures, especially hiking, camping, and exploring U.S. national parks. Although she has traveled to many countries for almost 20 years, her favorite places are Alaska, the American Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest, which she often visits and explore with her partner, Chris. Their travel tips, itineraries, and recommendations will help you get away from it all and plan a wonderful vacation.

22 Comments

the caves in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park loos so amazing. The limestones of the caves reminds me of the ones we have here in Palawan. I have never tried hiking a cave trail before, putting it on my bucket list now. I also love the photography tips you gave. Hope to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park one day

119 caves with thousands of Bats made me sit up and take notice of this post. Carlsbad Caverns facts triggered my anticipation as to what lay ahead in the post. Seventy-nine stories from the mouth of the cave to the Big Room is this all the way downhill ?? The Big Room does look humongous, and the fact bought out that between 200,000 and 500,000 bats leave the cave each evening. This is a sight which I feel would be amazing to see indeed. adventure tours within the park I think  with the park ranger would offer some great insights 

Oh wow this cave most definitely looks intriguing and would love to spend time here. I have not personally been to many cave excursions and certainly not the ones this massive. Even the entrance of this one is worth seeing. The Road to Hell Carlsband Cavenrs is a great postcard picture to send and keep as a memory. Also the bat encounters on my small cave exploration was a bit intimidating so I just can’t imagine it here, might be a bit terrifying. But nonetheless I wouldn’t want to pass out on exploring this in the future!

I cannot even imagine what it must be like to experience that many bats emerging from the caves and flying off into the night. That’s must be quite a spectacle, and I would imagine quite noisy as well. Some amazing cave photos, interesting to see these unique formations captured so well, and some lovely lighting too.

I did not have the slightest idea that a park like this exists. Carlsbad Caverns National Park seems to be a marvel which must be visited sometime or the other. Mexico has always fascinated me but this park is truly magical. The desert landscapes are breathtaking. I too think this place requires a guided tour as you suggest to understand it well.

Carlsbad Caverns is in New Mexico, it’s in the USA between Arizona and Texas 😁

Wow loved this detailed guide on Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Mexico is on my plan to visit. I will surely add this park on my list, would love to see something that was formed 4 million years ago.

It’s actually in NEW Mexico, we are right in between Arizona And Texas just below Colorado 😁

I only visited two caves in the Philippines, and although both of them also have good rock formations and limestones, they are not spectacular compared to the caves of Carlsbad Caverns. I think I wouldn’t stop snapping for souvenir photos, and definitely will be bringing a good camera. My boyfriend will love this place too, he likes caves and exploration.

Every cave gives goosebump!! Thos interiors are amazing!! Nice informative post.

I am so amazed at the pictures of the caves, they look incredibly beautiful. And I totally understand about the darkness inside. Thanks for letting people aware about the importance of checking out the route the dark instead of just taking photos. I would love to visit this place.

The sheer size and scale of this place are just unbelievable! This post has really captured my attention and desire to visit and see it for myself. The Carlsbad Cavern National Park in New Mexico definitely deserves more promotion for the amazing experience and education it offers. I really enjoyed learning more via this post and am so impressed with the images you managed to take while there. Great photography tips as well for a very special place.

The caves look incredible! 17 species of bats and the Big room trail make me think it is quite adventurous to visit this place. Equally amazing is the Road To Hell experience! I am sure sending a postcard with a stamp of “Mailed from 750 feet below ground” would be quite a unique thing to do. Very interesting!

The caves look magical and interesting!! Would definitely add it to my bucket list. Also your pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing.

Wow, these caves look beautiful. It is like a walk in another world or rather in the prehistoric era. Your suggestions are handy and make a lot of sense especially where photography is concerned. I have bookmarked your article for future use.

Wow these caves are fascinating. I see you’ve mentioned a wide lense. When you mention a fast lense would this be the shutter speed on the body or something else?

Wow the formations of the rock amazes me everytime! Also, that road to hell sure looks spooky

119 caves in one National Park!! That is one too many but at the same a very interesting phenomenon and one to be added to my bucket list. Love your photos and your photography tips especially the fast lens, one which I often forget. 

The Carlsbad Caverns have been on my bucket list for so long. They are so beautiful, as can be seen in your photos. There is a similar cave system near my hometown, although not nearly as expansive. I would love to explore the caverns, and The Natural Entrance Trail sounds like the perfect way to get down to there. 

Carlsbad cavern sounds like the perfect adventure. Besides the cave formations, stalactites and stalagmites, it does seem to house some cool trails. Great summary, definitely makes me want to visit. 

Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

It is too bad we missed Carlsbad Cavern National Park when we visited New Mexico.  We loved to explore the caves and the underground world.  I would love to explore all 119 caves.  But would hope to never get close to any species of bat!  We will make sure to plan enough time to enjoy all the beauty.

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The Ultimate Guide to Carlsbad Caverns National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

795 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

How to get to carlsbad caverns national park, getting around carlsbad caverns national park, what to see and do in carlsbad caverns national park, best times to visit carlsbad caverns national park, where to stay in carlsbad caverns national park, where to eat in and near carlsbad caverns national park, carlsbad caverns national park facts, final thoughts.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park stretches over 46,766 acres of land, including deserts, caves, and forests. This national park is in southeastern New Mexico and part of the Guadalupe Mountains. Each year, nearly half a million visitors come to this national park to explore the caverns and the surrounding desert land that makes up the park. This remarkable park has an incredible natural and cultural history just waiting for you to explore. 

Where Is Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. This park is part of the Guadalupe Mountains in the southeastern part of the state. This national park is on an arid plateau in the Chihuahuan Desert and features a mesmerizing cave system. 

Nearest Airports to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

There are several airport options for visitors coming to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Each airport will have a bit of a drive to the park entrance. Let’s take a look at some of the options for flying into the Carlsbad Caverns National Park area. 

Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM)

Cavern City Air Terminal is a public-use airport in Carlsbad. This airline is only a 15-minute drive from Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  Cavern City Air Terminal exclusively services Boutique Air and offers flights to and from Albuquerque (ABQ) and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). 

CNM doesn’t have as many flights and airlines as some of the international airports. Still, it could be a great option for connecting flights to the Carlsbad area. This might be one of the best ways to maximize your travel time to the park.

El Paso International Airport (ELP)

El Paso International Airport is the closest major airport to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This airport is 145 miles away from the park, and it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to drive to the park. 

ELP offers nonstop flights to many U.S. destinations, including Atlanta (ATL), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), and Phoenix (PHX). Airlines serviced by this airport include American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United.

There are several options at El Paso International Airport for rental cars to help you to make it through the last leg of your journey to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, including Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and Payless. 

El Paso International Airport offers many flights and airlines, making it an excellent choice for visitors choosing to fly into the Carlsbad Caverns National Park area.

While it is a longer distance from the park than others, it is well worth the drive as it has so much to offer than the other regional options.

Roswell Air Center (ROW)

Roswell Air Center is located in Roswell, New Mexico. This airport is 1.5 hours from Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

ROW offers flights to and from Roswell from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Phoenix (PHX) exclusively with American. Even though Roswell Air Center has limited airlines and flight options, this could be an excellent option for traveling to Carlsbad Caverns National Park as it is one of the closest options available. 

Driving to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has only 1 entrance road, which is located on the Carlsbad Caverns Highway. The Carlsbad Caverns Highway is accessed from U.S. Highway 62/180. The entrance road is a 7-mile scenic drive from Whites City to the visitor center.

Taking a Bus to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

One of the most stressful parts of any vacation is planning your travels. For visitors who want to let someone else take care of the stress of driving, a bus is an excellent option for arriving at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Greyhound services the Carlsbad area . The closest stations to Carlsbad Caverns are just a short 5-minute walk away. Let someone else take care of the stress of driving and reserve your tickets for your bus journey to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

The only way to get around Carlsbad Caverns National Park is on foot. Guest will park their vehicles at the visitor center, and the rest of the time in the park will be spent on foot. The National Park Service offers printable and interactive maps on its website to help you plan your park excursions.

While most people come to Carlsbad Caverns National Park to explore the caves, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy at this national park. From Night Sky Programs to watching bats flee from their nests, there’s something every visitor at this park. Let’s explore the top activities at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Bat Flight Program

The Bat Flight Program is an amazing event for visitors to experience at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This program takes place each night from early spring to the middle of October. The Bat Flight Program offers visitors a spectacular view of 200,000 to 500,000 bats leaving the cave as they head out to hunt for the night. This is a free event that takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater.

Be sure to plan to experience this incredible event when you visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park for unforgettable memories.

Night Sky Programs

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, which is an incredible place to view the night sky .

Throughout the year, park rangers offer night sky talks and hikes from July to October. Some of the sights that can be seen include the Perseids meteor shower, the supermoon, the Draconids meteor shower, and the International Space Station.

Participating in one of the night sky programs at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an exciting way to experience the wonders of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Ranger Guided Tours

Ranger-guided tours are offered throughout the year, but the best selection of these tours is offered during the summer months. The majority of the ranger-guided tours take visitors through the caverns. Some of the popular tours include Lower Cave, Hall of the White Giant, Slaughter Canyon Cave, and the King’s Palace.

There are additional fees involved with ranger-guided tours through the cave, and reservations can be made in advance. Exploring the caverns with a ranger is the best way to learn about how this cavern was formed, the animals that live in it, and its history. 

Self-guided Tours

There are 2 trails for self-guided tours through Carlsbad Caverns. Exploring these trails on your own is an exciting way to discover the beauty of the cave formations and allows you to experience what cave exploration might have been like long ago. 

The first trail is the Big Room Trail. This is the most popular route as it provides sensational views, an up-close look at cave formations of all sizes, and even a rope ladder that was used in 1924 by explorers. This trail is 1.25 miles long and takes about an hour and a half to walk it. There’s even a shorter option which is about 45 minutes long that takes guests to the Big Room, should you be in a time crunch. 

The other trail available for self-guided tours is the Natural Entrance Trail. This trail is 1.25 miles long and very steep. This trail will lead visitors on the same path as the early explorers and take you to see formations including Devil’s Spring, Iceberg Rock, and the Whale’s Mouth. Self-guided tours allow you to explore the cave at your own pace. These tours are an incredible way to experience Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Visitor Center

The visitor center is a great starting point for your Carlsbad Caverns National Park adventure. The visitor center features hands-on exhibits that explain the formation of the caverns, teach about the animals and plants of the park, as well as share the history of the park. The visitor center also has a park film, gift shop, restaurant, and bookstore should you want to grab a bite to eat or a souvenir to take home with you. 

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing is a popular activity in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Most people are excited to see the famous bats that make their home in the park, but there is also a wide variety of other animals that call this park home. 

There are 67 types of mammals in the park, close to 400 bird species, and several other types of animals like reptiles and insects. Some of the animals you are likely to see when visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park include bats, ringtails, deer, squirrels, woodpeckers, and sheep. 

For those who enjoy birdwatching, head over to Rattlesnake Springs. This desert wooded area has been declared an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, meaning it is a spectacular place to watch the birds that live in the park area. 

Wildlife viewing is a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of a busy lifestyle and enjoy the animals in their natural habitat.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open year-round. No matter what time of year you visit, you can rest assured that you will have an incredible experience. Still, if there are certain sights or activities you’d like to participate in, there may be a better time than others to plan your visit.

Best Time To Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park for Ideal Weather

If you want to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park when the weather is ideal, plan to visit during the month of April. With temperatures at a comfortable 73 degrees during the day and typically just 1 day of rain for the entire month, April is the best month to enjoy the park. This is also a great time to view wildlife, and the crowds haven’t started up just yet. April is, overall, an incredible month to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Best Time To Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park To Avoid the Crowds

Exploring a national park without having to deal with crowds and traffic is an ideal way to experience a new place. If you hope to avoid crowds when visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, you should plan to come in the month of January. There are fewer crowds right after the holidays, and the colder weather tends to deter visitors. Plan your trip in the month of January for a solitary experience you’ll remember forever. 

Best Time To Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park for Wildlife

Wildlife viewing is one of the most popular activities at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. There is a wide variety of animals to see both in the cave and on the land. For the best opportunities for wildlife viewing, the best month to visit to see the animals that make their home in this national park is in May. It is an especially good time to see the bats that migrate to the park.

Cheapest Time To Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Traveling always brings extra expenses, but there are times when you can travel to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and save money at the same time. A trip in the month of January can save quite a bit of money. This month is still in the low season, where visitors aren’t as likely to come.

January temperatures also deter visitors since it can be quite chilly, with lows averaging 31 degrees and high temperatures reaching 54 degrees. Since this is the low season, you will also find lower prices on flights and accommodations.

A trip to Carlsbad National Park in the month of January is a great way to have an experience of a lifetime while going easy on your budget.

Annual Events in and Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers a long list of programs on a regular schedule throughout the year. There are also several events that take place on an annual basis both in and near the park. Check out some of the popular events that happen in Carlsbad Caverns National Park to see if you would like to plan your visit around one of them. 

CavernFest takes place each year in the city of Carlsbad, near the park. This 2-day event takes place each year in June and has something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

The biggest draw to CavernFest is the live music featuring headliners and up-and-coming groups and artists. Food enthusiasts love CavernFest, as there are over 30 food trucks serving unique culinary creations from around the world.

There is also a beer garden, over 100 vendors, inflatables, and tournaments for cornhole and volleyball. There is so much to do and see at CavernFest that you may just want to plan your Carlsbad Caverns National Park visit so that you can experience this exciting event at the same time. 

Dawn of the Bats

Dawn of the Bats takes place on the third Saturday of July each year at the Bat Flight Amphitheater in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This free event is a time when visitors can see the return of the Brazilian free-tailed bats from their migration.

During Dawn of the Bats, the park offers bat-related activities during the day at the visitor center , and at the end of the day, visitors will gather at the Bat Flight Amphitheater for the Bat Flight Program.

This event is a spectacular sight that the whole family can enjoy at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. If you are able to plan your trip and participate in the Dawn of the Bats, you will leave with memories to last a lifetime. 

National Park Week

National Park Week is celebrated throughout the nation each year in April. Carlsbad Caverns National Park celebrates National Park Week with additional programs, activities, and workshops. When visiting the park during this week, you also have the chance to see Carl S. Bat, the resident bat mascot, in different areas of the park.

Another added bonus of visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park during National Park Week is that all of the entry fees are waived, allowing a completely free experience. Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park during National Park Week will allow for special experiences that can’t be enjoyed during any other time of the year. 

There are very few options for lodging in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, so it’s either primitive camping or setting up a home base in one of the nearby communities. There’s a perfect solution for your accommodation needs in or near Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Inside the Park

The only option for lodging in Carlsbad Caverns National Park is to set up camp for the night and sleep under the stars.

There are no developed campgrounds in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, so the only option for those wanting to stay inside the park is to camp in the backcountry. For those who choose primitive camping as their lodging, a free permit must be obtained at the visitor center upon arrival. Camping in the great outdoors is an exciting way to experience the natural beauty of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Towns Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

There are 2 towns that make great places to stay near Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Both towns are nearly an hour and a half away from the park.

Carlsbad, New Mexico

Carlsbad is about 50 miles from the park and has several options for lodging, dining, and recreation. There is a variety of accommodations, including family-owned bed and breakfasts, chain hotels budget, friendly motels, and campgrounds. No matter which style of lodging you prefer, you will find exactly what you’re looking for in Carlsbad. 

The dining scene is a treat, with several locally-owned restaurants, bars, and cafes around the city. Some favorite restaurants include barbecue joints, authentic Mexican restaurants, and steakhouses. There are also several chain fast food options, should you need to grab something in a hurry. 

Carlsbad is in an incredible location for visitors who enjoy adventure. There are numerous opportunities to hike, sightsee, swim, and explore in this town. It’s also in close proximity to 2 national parks, a national forest, several state parks, and the Pecos River.

Carlsbad makes an excellent home away from home during your Carlsbad Caverns National Park vacation. It’s got everything you need and more for a fantastic trip.

Whites City, New Mexico

Whites City is about 80 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This city is an awesome place to set up a base camp during your national park vacation. Whites City has a few options for lodging, including RV parks and campgrounds, a lovely resort, and budget-friendly motels. Whether you want to sleep under the stars or under a roof, there is something for every traveler.

There are several places to eat, including authentic cultural restaurants and locally-owned diners. If you can’t find what you are craving, you are in close proximity to other towns with more options. 

For recreation, Whites City is in a wonderful location for cave tours, scenic drives, and nature and wildlife tours. From hiking to biking, from fishing to swimming, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy. With its convenience to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and several options for lodging, dining, and recreation, Whites City is an excellent choice for a home base during your vacation.

There are a couple of options for dining in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and several places nearby. No matter if you want to eat within the park’s boundaries or if you want to venture further out for more variety, you can find the perfect solution to what you crave in and near Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Carlsbad Caverns Restaurant

Should you start to get hungry when exploring Carlsbad Caverns National Park, you are in luck, as this national park has a restaurant right inside its visitor center.

Carlsbad Caverns Restaurant serves a variety of hot and cold meals, with excellent customer service and a lovely dining room where you can rest up from your park adventures. Some of the options on the menu include fresh salads, baked fish, quesadillas, veggie burgers, and hot panini sandwiches. 

You can’t ask for a more convenient place to dine than Carlsbad Caverns Restaurant in the visitor center at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This is the perfect place to take a quick break from your explorations, refuel, and get right back to the fun. 

El Jimador is a top-rated restaurant just 20 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves authentic Mexican cuisine. 

The menu at El Jimador seems endless and features Mexican favorites like burritos, nachos, fajitas, and signature dishes that will satisfy every palate. Customers rave about the specialty burritos, sizzling fajitas, and margaritas. El Jimador is a great place to enjoy a fantastic meal, listen to live local music, and recuperate from your park adventures. 

Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company

Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company is a highly-ranked restaurant just 17 miles from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This family-owned brewery is located in Carlsbad and offers a family-friendly environment featuring live music and an exceptional menu.

The fantastic menu features brick oven pizzas, sub sandwiches, paninis, salads, and appetizers. Some of the favorite dishes of locals and tourists include the New Mexico Green Chile Chicken Pizza, the Extreme Nachos, and the Create Your Own Pizzas. 

Those who love a cold glass of beer are in for a treat at Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company. The brewery features 12 taps of delicious craft beer for you to try. For an incredible meal and relaxing environment, be sure to stop in at Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company during your trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

The Lucky Bull

The Lucky Bull is a favorite restaurant of locals and tourists in Carlsbad, approximately 20 miles from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This restaurant is open each weekday for lunch and dinner and also has a tap room with an incredible selection of local brews on tap. 

This top-ranked restaurant is an American bar that serves creative dishes with a Southwestern flair. The menu features high-quality hand-cut steaks, sizzling burgers, and massive nacho entrees. Favorite dishes include the Pecos Valley Poutine, the hand-cut rib eye steak, and the hand-battered country-fried steak.

The Lucky Bull offers karaoke nights and trivia nights and features live music on a regular schedule. Be sure to drop by while visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park for an amazing meal and a fun time.

Yellow Brix Restaurant

Yellow Brix Restaurant is 20 miles down the road from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves authentic, homemade food made to order with top-quality ingredients.

There’s something for every palate at Yellow Brix, including tapas, sandwiches, soups, and salads. This restaurant also has an impressive wine and beer menu. Some of the dishes loved by locals and visitors alike include chicken cordon bleu, BRIX meatloaf, tenderloin carne asada, and the green chile cheeseburger. Whatever you find yourself craving, you can find exactly what your tastebuds need at Yellow Brix Restaurant.

With its close proximity to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and its extraordinary menu, you will want to add Yellow Brix Restaurant to your itinerary when visiting this part of New Mexico.

1. A New National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park was established as Carlsbad Cave National Monument on October 25, 1923, by President Calvin Coolidge. On May 14, 1930, the park was established as Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Congress. 

2. A Park of Many Caves

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is not composed of a single cave but of many caves. At this time, there are over 120 caves that have been discovered in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This number continues to grow as research and exploration continues. 

3. The Cave’s First Explorer

Settlers didn’t know about the cave until 1868 when a 16-year-old cowboy named Jim White saw a huge mass of bats rise from the desert hills. He assumed they came from a cave and went to see where the bats were coming from. He lowered himself into the cave on a homemade ladder and began exploring the underground cavern. When he shared his newfound knowledge of the cave with the locals, they didn’t believe him. 

4. First Tours

Eventually, curious visitors wanted to see this mysterious cave. Jim White began the first tours in Carlsbad Caverns. He lowered guests into the cave in a large guano bucket. Today, the park has an elevator available to lower visitors 750 feet into the cavern in the exact spot. 

5. The Big Room

The Big Room was named by Jim White and is a massive limestone chamber that features mesmerizing stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations. The Big Room is large enough that 6 football fields could be held in it. The Big Room Tour is one of the most popular tours offered at the park. 

6. National Register of Historic Places

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has 2 districts that are featured on the National Register of Historic Places. This prestigious honor means that the National Park Service will work to preserve the historic district that is located on its property. The 2 districts in Carlsbad Caverns National Park that are on the National Register of Historic Places are the Cavern Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District . The park museum contains around a million cultural artifacts that are being protected and preserved.

7. Original People of the Park

American Indians lived in the Guadalupe Mountains 12 to 14 thousand years ago. The tribes that once lived in the park boundaries are believed to have been the Zuni Pueblo and the Mescalero Apache . Researchers believe these tribes made their home in the park because they have found several artifacts from them within the park boundaries.

Some of these artifacts include pictographs, cooking pits, and cave paintings. These artifacts are on display at the park for guests who want to learn more about the original people of the park.

8. Largest Caves in Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns is composed of many caves. The largest cave in the park is Lechuguilla Cave . This cave is over 140 miles long and is only accessible today by researchers and explorers. Carlsbad Cavern is a little over 30 miles and is a developed cave open to public tours. This cave is the largest accessible cave chamber in North America .

The other large caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park include Spider Cave and Slaughter Canyon Cave. Spider Cave is undeveloped and is a little over 3.5 miles long. Slaughter Canyon Cave is 2.3 miles long and is minimally developed. Both of these caves are open for guided adventure tours. 

9. An Abundance of Animals

Many animals live in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The most well-known animal is the bat, but there are several other types of creatures that can be spotted in this national park. There are 67 species of mammals, 17 species of bats, 54 types of amphibians and reptiles, and nearly 400 types of birds that call this park home.

Some of the animals that can be seen in this park include weasels, skunks, otters, shrews, wolves, coyotes, and cave swallows. This is a great park for wildlife viewing as there is such a variety of wildlife that can be spotted in the park.

10. World Heritage Site

In December 1995, Carlsbad Caverns National Park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

11. Famous Visitors

Many famous people have visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park, including the Obama family and Amelia Earhart. 

12. Record-winning Cave

Carlsbad Caverns National Park holds one of the deepest limestone caves in the U.S. Lechuguilla Cave is the second deepest cave in America , measuring 1,604 feet deep. This cave is also the eighth-longest cave in the world and measures over 140 miles long. 

13. Mesmerizing Formations

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has countless unique formations that will catch your eye and make you wonder. Some of these phenomenal formations include lemon yellow sulfur deposits, hydro magnesite balloons, cave pearls, and 15-foot soda straws. 

14. A Park That’s Gone Batty

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has 17 different species of bats that call the park home. Some of the most significant bat species in the park include the Brazilian free-tailed bat, the cave myotis, the fringed myotis, hoary bats, and eastern red bats. These bats can be seen roosting in different parts of the caverns and flying in and out of the natural entrance. Other areas where these animals can be spotted include trees, rock cliffs, and cracks around the park.

One major concern for the bats in Carlsbad Caverns National Park is white-nose syndrome . This is a deadly fungus that is killing bats around the U.S. Over 7 million bats in America have died due to white-nose Syndrome, so Carlsbad Caverns National Park is making efforts to stop this spread. Be prepared to take precautions upon entering the caverns in order to protect this animal species. 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a land of magic and mystery just waiting to be explored. From mesmerizing caverns to dozens of acres of wilderness to explore and from incredible sights in the night sky to bat flight experiences, there’s no shortage of adventure at this national park. Book your trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and discover what brings so many visitors from around the world to this remarkable park. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do the entry fees cost at carlsbad caverns national park.

An entry fee is collected for each individual that enters the park. For visitors ages 16 and older, a fee of $15 is collected. Children age 15 and under can enter the park at no cost.

How many days should I plan to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

It is recommended that visitors spend 4 to 6 hours visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This will allow plenty of time to explore the caverns and the landscape.

What is the weather like at Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

The weather varies throughout the year at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The coldest month is January when the low temperatures dip down to the low 30s, and the warmest months are June and July when the high temperatures reach nearly 90 degrees.

Is there Wi-Fi available at Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

Public Wi-Fi is not available at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Cellular service is limited and unreliable.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park: The Complete Guide

Things to Do

• Best Hikes & Trails

Where to Camp

How to get there, tips for your visit.

Explore 119 caves, created when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone, in one of the largest cave systems in America at Carlsbad Caverns National Park . Located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeastern New Mexico, not far from the Texas border, Carlsbad Caverns has two districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Cavern Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. Mescalero Apaches survived in the area, in the Guadalupe Mountains, followed by Spanish explorers, and then in 1930, Carlsbad Caverns was designated a national park.

Today, you can hike in the canyons and see the Big Room and Natural Entrance on your own or join an informative ranger-guided tour (tour tickets must be purchased in advance). Hike on the surface, outside of the caverns, on one of the many trails, and learn about the bats essential to the ecosystem. And, if you love the night sky—and who doesn't?—then join a ranger-led night tour and geek out over the Milky Way during a telescope program, star walk, moon walk, or meteor shower viewing. There’s a visitor center, which is a helpful place to plan out your adventure. See the park film, stroll through the exhibits, speak to a park ranger, and pop in the bookstore, gift shop, or restaurant.

Your gateway to adventure begins on one of two trails. The most popular is the 1.25-mile Big Room Trail, where you can wander through the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. Give yourself a couple of hours to explore. You’ll see the Hall of giants, Bottomless Pit, and Crystal Spring Dome. Other interesting cave formations include The Caveman, Chandelier, Chinese Theater, Doll’s Theater, Longfellow’s Bathtub, Rock of Ages, Temple of the Sun, Totem Pole, and Giant and Twin Domes. The Big Room also has a cutoff if you find that you’re claustrophobic or just want a shorter trail—the shortcut is a total of 0.6 miles, which should take about 45 minutes to hike. Also, parts of the Big Room Trail are accessible via wheelchair—the visitor center can assist you in planning.

The Natural Entrance Trail is the second and less populated option. Not accessible for wheelchairs or people with disabilities, this 1.25-mile trail is remarkably steep and challenging. You can expect to gain and lose about 750 feet of elevation, and the hike takes about one hour, on average, to complete. However, you’ll be rewarded with views of Devil’s Spring, the Whale’s Mouth, Devil’s Den, the Twilight Zone, Witch’s Finger, and Iceberg Rock, hiking on the same route that early explorers took themselves.

One of the most spectacular wildlife experiences is seeing the Brazilian free-tailed bats fly out of the Carlsbad Cavern each night in the summer in search of food. The park’s Bat Flight Program (May—October) includes an evening ranger talk each evening before the flight. You’ll sit in an amphitheater for this free program—no reservations are required. On the third Saturday of July, visitors can watch the bats return to the cave during a ranger-led Dawn of the Bats annual celebration.

Best Hikes & Trails

In addition to the two central self-guided trail systems in the caves, there are several surface-level trails to enjoy. Be sure to wear proper footwear and bring enough water, food, and sun protection for the adventure. It’s a smart idea to stop by the visitor center before you head out to experience the splendor of the Guadalupe Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert. You’ll need to discuss the weather as well as trail safety. For backpacking, it’s necessary to have sufficient water, food, and shelter. You’ll also need to bring a first-aid kit, headlamp, navigation tools and maps, and appropriate clothing layers.

• Walnut Canyon Overlook : At 180 yards, easily accessible from the parking lot, this is the shortest and easiest surface trail in the park. You’ll reach an overlook and be able to take beautiful photographs on this trail that begins along the paved road to the visitor center.
• Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail : Also easy, accessible, and short, this .5-mile trail is mainly paved. Take note of the markers along the way, noting the desert flora, and enjoy the wide-open spaces that you’ll see.
• Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail : You’ll need to drive yourself to the trailhead and meet a ranger for this guided cave tour. You’ll gain 500 feet in elevation over a half mile and enjoy stunning views of Slaughter Canyon. This is a rugged trail, not for the faint of heart. Sturdy hiking boots are required.
• Old Guano Trail : One of the most popular trails in the park, hikers here will begin at the dirt road next to the Natural Entrance to the cavern. You’ll wander on the historic route, which used to haul bat excrement in the early 1900s and see mining ruins. The 3.7-mile trail ends at White's City campground.
• Juniper Ridge : This easy, 3.5-mile trail is a must-do when visiting the park. Enjoy expansive views and take many photographs while on the trail and the picturesque Desert Loop Road.
• Lower Rattlesnake Canyon : This moderate three-mile trail, with an elevation change of 600 feet, is available for overnight camping with a permit.
• Yucca Canyon : If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you’ll easily make it to the trailhead for this challenging 7.7-mile hike, with an elevation change of 1,520 feet, where incredible basin outlooks await. You’ll travel on foot across the plateau until you can see a view of the Big Canyon. Expect the hike to take 8.5 hours, one-way, and keep in mind that a free permit is required for overnight camping.
• Guadalupe Ridge : Overnight camping requires a free permit for this difficult 12-mile trail, which will take about 14 hours to complete. The elevation change is 2,050 feet, which will give you incredible views.
• The Guadalupe Ridge Trail , a designated National Recreation Trail, is 100 miles long, which provides an adventurous wilderness experience for backpackers in the Chihuahuan Desert and the Guadalupe Mountains. You’ll begin at Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and continue through the Lincoln National Forest and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) before ending at Carlsbad Caverns National Park (for 21 miles) in White City, New Mexico.

While no overnight lodging, RV parking, or campgrounds are available at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, primitive permitted camping is allowed in the backcountry (free). The park’s visitor center issues the permits, which are only available upon arrival. The park is also surrounded by BLM land, and permit-free RV and tent camping is permitted when you contact the BLM office at 575-234-5972.

• White’s City RV Park: This is the closest camping and RV park that you’ll find near Carlsbad Caverns. Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Home2 Suites by Hilton Carlsbad: With an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and open-air grilling space, this is a comfortable and affordable option for overnight stays in nearby Carlsbad, located about 20 miles from the park. Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Camping is also available at this national park, located 40 minutes away across the border in Texas.

The park is located just over 300 miles from Albuquerque. Only one entrance road, which extends for seven miles from the park gate at White’s City to the visitor center and cavern entrance, is available into the park: Carlsbad Caverns Highway. You’ll drive north for 20 miles from US Hwy 62/180 at White’s City, New Mexico.

Additionally, Greyhound and TNM&O bus lines serve Carlsbad. Rental cars are available from the Carlsbad airport.

• Ranger-led tours must be arranged in advance as availability is limited. All tickets must be picked up at the visitor center at least 30 minutes ahead of the tour.
• Proper footwear, with closed-toes and good tread, is essential for exploring the cave systems.
• Children younger than 4 years old are not permitted on any ranger-led cave tour.
• When hiking, especially in the backcountry, stay on marked trails to protect the fragile desert ecosystem.
• Pets are not allowed in the amphitheater or the public spaces at the park.

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Best Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park – A 1-Day Itinerary

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an incredible natural wonder in New Mexico. From the stunning highly decorated Big Room to the magical bat flight at night – there are so many things to do and see inside the caverns and above the surface.

The best part is you can enjoy the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park all in one day! My one day in Carlsbad Caverns itinerary has everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip. It includes the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where to stay, where to eat, what to pack, and more.

Table of Contents

Things to Know About Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Here are a few things to know about Carlsbad Caverns National Park to help prepare and plan your trip. It includes where to sleep, where to eat, general information about the caverns, and more.

Make a Reservation!

At this time, Carlsbad Caverns National Park requires visitors to make reservations to enter the caverns. You cannot make reservations at the park, only ahead of time at this website or by calling 877-444-6777.

The reservations are only for selecting an entry time to go inside the caverns. Tickets to enter Carlsbad Caverns National Park must still be purchased upon arrival, or you can use the U.S. National Park Pass.

Combine Carlsbad Caverns with Three Other National Parks

One day in Carlsbad Caverns is the perfect side destination on an epic West Texas and New Mexico National Park road trip. West Texas and New Mexico are full of desert and mountain adventures, so the cool underground caverns are a refreshing place to explore.

On our two-week road trip, we went to (in order) White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park.

If time is limited, you can easily visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in one weekend. The parks share the Guadalupe Mountains range and are only a 45-minute drive apart.

Read Next: Ultimate Itinerary for 3 Days in Big Bend National Park

Cavern Temperature

Whether it is blazing hot outside or freezing cold, the caverns stay at 56ºF (13ºC) year-round. Therefore, you should come prepared with proper attire and equipment. To learn what you should pack for Carlsbad Caverns, keep reading this guide or click here .

Plan Your Day Accordingly

If you only have one day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, you must plan your day well because it is not a 24-hour operating park.

The self-guided cavern is open from 8:30 am, with the last entry time of 2:30 pm. So you will need to plan your hike or take the elevator according to the operating hours of the caverns. Additionally, if you plan on going on a ranger-guided and self-guided tour in one day, you definitely need to plan your time appropriately.

Hopefully, my 1-day itinerary at the end of this guide can help you time and plan well. It includes an example of the perfect day at Carlsbad Caverns with a self-guided and ranger-guided tour.

Bringing a Baby or Toddler

If you are bringing your baby or toddler to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, here are a few things to know. A stroller is not allowed inside the cavern. Therefore, you will need a baby carrier or backpack to hold them.

Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the caverns. However, you can bring unflavored water, and there is an underground snack bar. You can feed your baby formula or breast milk in this designated eating area.

We brought our 11-month-old son to Carlsbad Caverns and had a fantastic time as a family. I hope you do too!

Where to Stay

There are no overnight lodging or campgrounds at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Primitive camping is only allowed in the backcountry, requiring a free permit issued upon arrival at the visitor center.

The closest lodging to Carlsbad Caverns National Park is Whites City Caverns Inn.  Whites City Caverns Inn  offers an RV park, campground, and hotel rooms with amenities and a restaurant on-site.

There are several lodging options in Carlsbad, about 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Carlsbad has accommodations for every budget and almost every brand imaginable such as Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Wyndham, and more. 

Since we travel with kids and are loyal Hilton members, we stayed at  Home2 Suites By Hilton Carlsbad New Mexico . The hotel met our expectations and was the perfect location for our trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. 

Where to Eat

There are two places to eat at Carlsbad Caverns National Park – the restaurant inside the visitor center and the underground snack bar inside the cavern.

Please note that only unflavored water is permitted inside the caverns. Visitors are not allowed to bring outside food and drinks. If visitors have diabetes or other medical conditions, they are allowed to eat or drink on a limited basis.

The food purchased at the underground snack bar must be consumed in the designated eating area. Furthermore, the underground snack bar is only open from Friday to Sunday.

The restaurant inside the visitor center has limited food options, such as salad, sandwiches, hot dogs, and nachos. There are also bottled drinks, fountain drinks, and hot drinks.

Of course, you can always bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the patio or a picnic table outside the visitor center.

Best Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

In my opinion, the caverns are mind-blowing and where I recommend, you spend most of your time. Especially if you only have one day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

With that said, there are plenty of things to do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park – both inside the caverns and above the surface that you cannot miss.

If time permits, here are the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park for one day.

Hike the Natural Entrance Trail

There are two ways to enter and exit Carlsbad Cavern – by elevator or on foot. If you are looking for a fantastic experience, hiking the Natural Entrance Trail is one of the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I should elaborate that I recommend hiking the Natural Entrance Trail into the cavern and taking the elevator to exit the cavern.

This trail is not recommended for visitors with heart or respiratory conditions.

The Natural Entrance Trail is a steep 1.25-mile descent that leads into the Big Room. The trail is so steep that you gain or lose 750 feet, equivalent to walking up or down a 79-story building. 

You might think that the trail is moderately easy because you are descending. However, that is not the case. The Natural Entrance Trail is a strenuous hike because the descent is brutal on the knees and ankles, and the incline is challenging. Overall, it can take around 1 hour to complete.

The beginning of the hike alone is quite impressive. Sharp switchbacks lead into the pit known as the Devil’s Den, the entrance into the cavern. Once you get below the surface and into the cavern, the experience only gets better.

Explore the Big Room

Walking the Big Room Trail to explore the cavern is, hands down, the best thing to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is essentially the main attraction.

The Big Room is the largest single cave limestone chamber by volume in North America. Needless to say, it is mind-blowing. The Big Room is an underground city of beautiful rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites.

Again, you can hike the Natural Entrance Trail or take the elevator down to the Big Room. Once you arrive, you can explore the Big Room by walking the 1.25-mile trail. The trail is primarily flat and takes about 1.5 hours to complete or longer if you plan to make multiple stops for pictures.

It is also considered a self-guided tour. So visitors can enjoy the Big Room at their own pace. Along the trail are informative signs of special cavern features such as the Bottomless Pit, Lion’s Tail, and Silent Bell. You can also rent a handheld audio guide (from the bookstore) for more in-depth descriptions of the Big Room’s formations, geology, and history.

Go on a Ranger Guided Tour

Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers five excellent ranger-guided tours for an additional price. Each tour gives visitors a unique experience to explore more of the caverns. Some are more adventurous with rock scrambling, free climbing, and crawling through tight passageways. 

Currently, the King’s Palace is the only operating tour. It is also the most popular ranger-guided tour. To go on the tour, visitors need to make additional reservations. An adult must accompany anyone under 16; children under four years old are not permitted on the King’s Palace Tour.

The King’s Palace Tour is a 1-mile walk through four highly decorated chambers and into the deepest portion of the cavern. It also includes one of the best cavern experiences, total darkness. Rangers will conduct blackouts by turning off all artificial lights to reveal the natural darkness of the cave. 

You can learn more and book the Kings Palace 1.5-hour long tour  here . Additionally, you can find more information on the other ranger-guided tours  here .

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail

If you have a green thumb, you cannot miss hiking the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail. The easy paved trail is only .5 mile long and takes 30 minutes to complete.

Along the pathway are multiple markers on the flora of the Chihuahuan Desert. A few beautiful plants include prickly pear cactus, sotol, ocotillo, and yucca faxoniana.

The trail will close just before and during the Bat Flight program. So if you are waiting for the Bat Flight program to begin, hiking the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail is (literally) a beautiful way to kill time.

Read Next: Best Hikes in Big Bend National Park That You Cannot Miss!

Watch the Bat Flight

You cannot miss the bat flight program if you plan your trip to Carlsbad Caverns from Memorial Day weekend through October. The bat flight program is one of the best things to do at Carlsbad Caverns. It is also my favorite experience at the park.

About 200,000 – 500,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats call Carlsbad Caverns National Park home, and guests can watch them fly out of the cave and into the sky to search for food. Every night from Memorial Day weekend through October, a ranger will lead this FREE program to educate visitors on the bats before their flight.

This event does not require reservations; it is first-come, first-served. Therefore, I recommend arriving at the amphitheater at least 30 minutes before the program begins. Make sure you check with the visitor center on what time the event starts.

If you have seen  Batman Begins , the experience feels like the movie – when Bruce stands in the cave while the bats circle around him. Hundreds of thousands of bats circle the Natural Entrance like a tornado. Then they gradually break out of the formation and into the night. Everyone is dead quiet, and all you hear are wings flapping. It’s beautiful.

Participate in a Night Sky Program

In addition to the bat flight, the Night Sky Program is another beautiful evening event at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. There are two different night sky programs – star viewing and night hikes. 

The star viewing  – a park ranger leads this program and educates visitors about astronomy. Some sky viewing dates include seeing a meteor shower and a super moon. 

No telescopes are involved in the program, but the park ranger will use a laser pointer to help show the astronomical features of the night. If you want to see the stars better, it is encouraged to bring your binoculars.

The night hike  – a park ranger leads this program and takes guests on a 1.5-mile hike through the desert. This is a unique experience and an excellent opportunity to explore Carlsbad Caverns National park at night. 

Both programs are free and take place on specific dates of the year. There is no registration for the sky viewing, but the night hike has a first-come, first-serve basis sign up at the visitor center. You can learn more about each program and the specific dates  here .

Other Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Most of the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National are within the caverns. However, if you have more than one day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, here are two more things to do above the surface.

Drive the Scenic Walnut Canyon Desert Drive

The Scenic Walnut Canyon Desert Drive is a one-way 9-mile gravel road through the mountains of Carlsbad Caverns. It takes about one hour to complete the scenic drive. You can spot wildlife such as rattlesnakes and bighorn sheep along the way.

The road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles and is closed to RVs, buses, and trailers.

Find the Rattlesnakes Spring Oasis

Above the surface of Carlsbad Caverns is Rattlesnakes Springs – a little hidden oasis in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. Rattlesnakes Springs has a crystal clear natural spring with towering cottonwood trees surrounding it. This area is perfect for a shaded picnic and to go bird watching.

What to Pack for Carlsbad Caverns

I recommend packing a light jacket and closed-toe shoes with good traction because the caverns are 56ºF, and the pathways are slippery.

More importantly, the clothes and shoes you pack for Carlsbad Caverns cannot have been in another cave in the past ten years per the National Park Service (NPS). This also applies to any camera equipment.

If you have clothing, shoes, and equipment that do not meet the requirements, do not fret. You can wipe everything with disinfectant. These precautions help protect the health of the Brazilian free-tailed bats from White-nose Syndrome, a deadly fungus to the bats.

1-Day in Carlsbad Caverns Itinerary

Now that you have all the information needed to plan the perfect day in Carlsbad Caverns, here is an itinerary you may use at your leisure.

If you plan to attend a ranger-guided tour such as the King’s Palace, you will need to plan your one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park around the tour. With that thought in mind, this itinerary will include a proposed tour time. You can adjust the itinerary as needed for your tour time.

10:00 am – King’s Palace Tour (1.5 hour tour) 12:00 pm – Lunch 1:30 pm – Hike the Natural Entrance Trail (1 hour) or take the elevator down 2:30 pm – Explore the Big Room (1.5 hours) 4:00 pm – Hike the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail (30 minutes) 4:30 – 6:30 pm – Dinner 7:00 pm – Watch the bat flight program 9:00 pm – Enjoy a night sky program

I hope you have found my guide on the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park with a 1-day itinerary helpful. Enjoy your time at Carlsbad Caverns. It is truly an incredible natural wonder.

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The Ultimate Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guide

LAST UPDATED – 1/27/24 – Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guide

Consisting of 117 known caves, the biggest of which spans roughly 8 acres and is the largest accessible cave chamber in North America, Carlsbad Caverns is one of the most unique landscapes in the American National Parks system. In addition to being an amazing landscape, the national park is also home to some fantastic wildlife.

The most notable wildlife residents are the park’s many species of bats. There are 17 species of bats found in the park and they all live within the caverns. In fact, the park was initially discovered by a young cowboy named Jim White when he saw a large group of bats leaving the caverns back in 1903.

In this Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide, I am going to give you all of the information you need to plan a successful trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  I will review the best times to visit the park and what the top things to see and do are while you are there.  I will also cover where you can stay while you are visiting the park and what other attractions in the area are worth visiting.  With this information in hand, you can be assured that you will get the most out of your visit to one of America’s most unique national parks.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guide Navigation Menu

How to get to carlsbad caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the state of New Mexico, along the southern border with the state of Texas.  In fact, the park is located in very close proximity to Guadalupe Mountains National Park if you are looking to combine multiple national parklands into one trip.  In fact, I included both of these parks in my Desert Mountains and Caves National Parks Road Trip.

If you are visiting Carlsbad Caverns from outside of New Mexico and would like to fly into the area, there are several large cities nearby that you can fly into.  The closest cities to the park are El Paso, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  However, if you plan on seeing more of the region you can also fly into some of the other nearby cities in Texas and Arizona.  If you are interested in seeing where these cities are in proximity to the park, I have included an area map in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below for you to review.

View Larger Map

To access the caverns, you will want to take the Carlsbad Caverns Highway (Hwy 7) to the Visitor Center.  Once at the Visitor Center, you can either enter the caverns through the front entrance, which requires a walk of about 1.25 miles to reach the center of the cavern complex.

The walk isn’t overly long, but it is a steep walk so you should be prepared for that.  The other option is to take the elevator in the Visitor Center down to the center of the cavern complex.  It costs $15 for adults to ride the elevator down, but it is well worth the price if you are in a hurry or don’t feel comfortable with the steep walk.

When to Visit Carlsbad Caverns

One of the most important decisions you will have to make when planning a trip to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park is what time of year to plan your visit.  To assist you in this planning, I have included some information in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below on the average temperature, precipitation level, and the number of visitors you can expect at the park throughout the year.

Average Temperature (°F)

Even though the cavern complex is a consistent 56 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, the temperatures outside can get uncomfortably hot during the summer months of June through August.  If you don’t do well in hot weather, you will want to avoid visiting during these months.  Throughout the rest of the year, the temperatures are rather moderate, though it can get fairly chilly at night during the winter months of December through February.

Average Precipitation (Inches)

Because Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in a desert landscape, you shouldn’t expect to see too much precipitation throughout the year.  However, that doesn’t mean that the park doesn’t get any rain.  While most of the year is rather dry, during the summer and early autumn months the park can see a fair amount of scattered rain.  However, I wouldn’t worry about planning your trip around the rain because most of the storms don’t last very long.

Average Visitors (1,000 visitors Per Day)

Carlsbad Caverns isn’t one of the most heavily trafficked national parks in the US National Parks System, but it does get a fair amount of visitors in the late spring and early summer months.  If you are looking to visit the park when the traffic is low, I would plan your trip during the winter months of December through February.  During these months you will practically have the park to yourself.

Other Things to See in the Area

The desert mountains of southwestern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are some of the most beautiful areas in the American Southwest.  In addition to Carlsbad Caverns, there are a lot of other amazing landscapes to see in the area.  To assist you in filling out your trip’s itinerary, I have listed some of my favorite places in the region for you to review in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The Guadalupe Mountains may not be the most well-known of America’s mountain ranges, but they are without a doubt the most unique.  It isn’t often that you see mountains this big and this beautiful in a desert landscape.  If you are a big fan of back-country hiking and camping, then this park is right up your alley.  If you have a few days to spend at the park, I would recommend hiking to the top of Guadalupe Peak.  Hiking to the summit requires a backcountry camping permit, so make sure you plan ahead.

White Sands National Park

There may not be a prettier landscape in the American Southwest than White Sands National Park.  The water table found underneath the group at White Sands keeps the beautiful white sands from blowing away.  Over the years, the accumulation of the sand has created some of the most spectacular and beautiful white sand dunes you will ever see.  You can choose to visit and drive-thru the park or take a hike through the dunes to get an up-close look at their beauty.

If you are a fan of the old-time American West, then you will absolutely love making a stop in Tombstone, Arizona.  This infamous Old West location was the site of the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral between Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, and company and the outlaw Cowboys gang.  The old town part of the city remains much as it was during the time of the gunfight and there are plenty of Wild West activities that visitors can enjoy.  You can visit an old-time saloon, watch a reenactment of the gunfight, get an old-time family picture taken, or even take a horse and carriage ride through the city.

Saguaro National Park

If you want to see something different and amazing on your trip, then adding a stop a Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona is something I would strongly recommend.  Located on both sides of the city of Tucson and known for the high concentration of native Saguaro cactuses that grow in the area, Saguaro National Park is one of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the United States.  The Saguaro cactuses grow to be as tall as telephone poles and you will absolutely marvel at their size and beauty when you see them in person.

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is one of the most heavily trafficked national parks in the central United States, and for good reason.  This stunning national parkland is located on the southern border of the United States with Mexico and includes a beautiful mixture of mountain and desert terrain.  Visitors can see the infamous Rio Grande River, which forms the US and Mexico border through much of Texas, and marvel at the beauty of the vast expanses of mountain desert landscape in the area.

Where to Stay Near Carlsbad Caverns

If you are planning on spending the night in the area of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, there are plenty of campgrounds in the area that you can stay at.  Many of the campgrounds are located in the backcountry, but I have highlighted two below that are accessible without having to hike.  If staying at a campground is not your thing, I also outlined some hotel options at different price points in nearby Carlsbad, New Mexico for you to review.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Resources

There are a lot of amazing things to see and do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  While I have outlined some of my favorite things to see and do in the park in this guide, I wanted to also provide you with some additional park resources for you to review when planning your trip.  I have included a list of those resources in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below for you to review.

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park – General Information
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Directions and Transportation
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Things to Do
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Things to Know Before You Visit
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Plants and Animals in the Park

Top Things to See and Do in Carlsbad Caverns

There is no shortage of amazing things to see and do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  Whether inside the caverns or in the beautiful countryside surrounding it, the park is ready for you to explore.  If you are looking for some ideas of things to see and do while in the park, I have included my list of the top things to check out in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below for you to review.

Explore the Caverns

One of the top things to do in Carlsbad Caverns is to explore the caverns themselves.  There are a few different ways in which you can explore the caverns.  If you don’t mind doing some walking and would like the full tour, you can hike into the caverns using the front cave entrance.  The walk from the entrance to the heart of the caverns is roughly 1.25 miles.

The other option is to take the elevator located in the visitor center directly down to the heart of the caverns.  The cost of taking the elevator is $15 for each adult for a round-trip ride down and then back up to the top.  However, most visitors will walk into the caverns and then just take the elevator back up.

Look for Bats

As you hike through the caverns, keep your eyes peeled for some of the 17 different species of bats that call the caverns their home.  These remarkable creatures call the caverns their home during the day and then fly out en masse each evening to feed.  If you have the time, I would strongly suggest that you take part in the Bat Flight Program .  The program runs between late May (Memorial Day Weekend) and early October and features a ranger talk about the bats and a viewing of the bats leaving the caverns.

Take a Hike Through the Park

The caverns themselves may be the highlight of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but the parkland includes much more than just the caves.  There are a bunch of beautiful lands that surround the park that are worthy of exploring.  If you are up for doing some hiking, there several trails that I would recommend checking out that I have listed below.

• The Yucca Canyon Trail Hike
• The North Slaughter Canyon Trail Hike
• The Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Hike

Take a Guided Tour

In addition to the Bat Flight Program, there are also guided tours of the caverns that I would strongly recommend that you leverage to learn more about this amazing cave complex.  The ranger guiding your tour will teach you more about the amazing formations you see in the caves, explain how the caves were discovered and continue to be researched and explored, and challenge you to explore your curiosity as you make your way through the caverns many caves.

Carlsbad Caverns Photo Gallery

There is no shortage of amazing things to photograph in the Carlsbad Caverns cave complex.  If you are interested in seeing some of the beautiful photographs, I was able to take at the park, I have included a gallery for you to review in my Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide below.

If you would like to see more of my travel photography, I would also encourage you to give me a follow on Instagram . Putting this blog together to pass on my free guides, itineraries, and travel photography tips is a lot of work and your support in the form of a follow-on Instagram would be so very much appreciated!

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Published by Josh Hewitt

Avid traveler and photographer who loves to see new places, meet new people, and experience new things. There is so much this world can teach us, we just need to explore! View all posts by Josh Hewitt

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2 comments ›.

Wonderful guide. We skipped this on our SW road trip 1.5 years ago. It was on our itinerary but flexibility is one of our guiding principles of road tripping and we decided we’d return one day and see the caves along with Guadalupe Mountains Nat’l Park, just as you suggested. It probably didn’t help that this area was near the end of our 3-week sojourn, about the time your thoughts start turning toward home. However, your post is making me wish we hadn’t skipped it. It looks fantastic!

Thank you so much! I can totally relate. I’ve has to skip things on trips before as well because I just didn’t have enough time to see it all. I agree 100% on your principle of flexibility. 😀👍

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Plan the Perfect Trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Explore the caves of Carlsbad Caverns with this quick and easy guide. Featuring everything you need to know before you go, including, what to bring, when to go, and top things to do.

After spending an amazing season working at Lajitas Golf Resort down near Big Bend National Park on the border of Mexico , we were finally heading out for our big summer road trip. To kick off our trip we headed to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, our first of sixteen national parks we had planned on our 5 month road trip itinerary.

Carlsbad Caverns sits in the Chihuahuan Desert and features over 700 plant species, over 350 birds species, and 17 species of bats. The park has currently found 120 caves in the caverns, with more to be discovered with continued exploration, making this park one to add to your bucket list.

This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Carlsbad Caverns

Getting to Carlsbad Caverns

When to Visit

What to Bring

Amenities Nearby

Top Things to Do

ABOUT CARLSBAD CAVERNS

Carlsbad Caverns is a 46,000 acre national park located in southeastern New Mexico. It was established in 1930 and is known for having the largest and most readily accessible cave in North America, “The Big Room”, measuring 8 acres in size. The park features 50 miles of backcountry hiking trails, scenic drives, Bat Flight program, guided tours, and incredible night sky viewing.

RESERVATIONS

Timed entry reservations are required year round to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Reservations can be made online .

ENTRANCE FEE

$15 per person which is valid for 3 days. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass to enter for free.

Pets must be leashed at all times no longer than 6 feet in length. They aren’t allowed in the cave, on unpaved trails, or near the Bat Flight Program. If you are bringing your pet with you, the park will require you to kennel your pet for $15 per day. A record of rabies vaccination is required.

GETTING TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in southeastern New Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert. The park is situated off US Hwy 62/180 just 30 minutes north of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park - 36 miles or 30 minutes

El paso, tx - 150 miles or 2 hours, white sands national park - 182 miles or 3.5 hours, las cruces, nm - 188 miles or 3 hours, big bend national park - 242 miles or 4 hours, albuquerque, nm - 300 miles or 5 hours, nearest airport, el paso international.

WHEN TO VISIT

Cave access is from 8:30 a.m. to 4;30 p.m. with the last guest entry being at 2:15 p.m. The caves of Carlsbad Caverns are 56 degrees year round making for a pleasant trip anytime of the year.

SPRING & SUMMER

Spring in Carlsbad is mild with average highs in the mid 70s with frequent windstorms . Summers bring extreme heat with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. Rainy season in Carlsbad is August to September bringing late afternoon and evening thunderstorms . Several ranger programs such as the evening Bat Flight and night sky viewing are available from summer through fall.

FALL & WINTER

September to November is an ideal time to visit. Sunny days bring warm temps with an average high in the 70s and 80s. Winter temps average high 60s and the low 20s with occasional snow.

WHAT TO BRING

Close toed shoes.

The floors of the cavern are wet, steep, and slippery. Closed toed shoes with good traction are highly recommended to provide ample support and comfort while exploring.

Light Jacket

The temperatures in the cave are 56 degrees year round which may be chilly for some. A light jacket is nice to have in case you get cold.

Only plain, unflavored water is allowed in the cave. Most visitors spend a couple hours exploring the caves so having plenty of water to stay hydrated is a great idea. Restrooms are available at the underground snack bar in the Big Room.

Flash photography is allowed in the caves of Carlsbad. We used a Canon Rebel T7 and loved out how our pictures came out. If you don’t have a DSLR camera, the latest smart phone does just fine in capturing low lighting.

Headlamp or Flashlight

Not necessary but for those with sensitivity to darkness may find having a flashlight or headlamp helpful.

AMENITIES NEARBY

In the park, visitor center.

Open year round and a great place to start your adventure in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Load up on info, pick up a park map, and get exploring. Here you can also find water filling stations, restrooms, gift shop, museum exhibit, and the park film.

CARLSBAD CAVERNS RESTAURANT

Located inside the visitor center and offers cafe style meals.

UNDERGROUND LUNCH ROOM

Located underground at the base of the Big Room. Offering a snack bar, drinks, restrooms, and seating.

TOWNS NEARBY

Whites city.

A small community at the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Whites City Cavern Inn

Whites City RV Park

Sunset Reef Campground

Chosa Campground

Cactus Cafe

The closest city to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Known for the Pecos River that runs along the city. Brantley Lake State Park offers several water activities and outdoor adventures.

La Quinta Inn & Suites

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Karbani Inn

Hyatt House Carlsbad

Home2 Suites by Hilton

Quality Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites

TownPlace Suites

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Days Inn by Wyndham

Comfort Suites

Candlewood Suites

Hidalgo RV Park

Coyote Flats RV Park

Greasewood RV Park

Southwest RV Park

Dark Canyon RV Park

Brantley Lake State Park

Carlsbad RV Park & Campground

Taylor RV Park

Gavin’s Hideout

Gateway RV Park

Stop & Shop

La Tienda Thriftway

TOP THINGS TO DO

Visitor center exhibit & park film.

Start your exploration of Carlsbad Caverns at the Visitor Center. Grab a park map & check out the park exhibit. Stop at the restroom and get the latest scoop from the park ranger. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at the park store.

Natural Entrance Trail

Take the steep climb down through the mouth of Carlsbad Caverns. The natural entrance trail is a 1.25 mile hike down 750 feet into the cave which brings you right into the Big Room. The path features several switchbacks with plenty of birds flying around as you make your way deep into the cave.

The Big Room

The Big Room is what bring most visitors to Carlsbad Caverns. It’s the largest and most accessible cave in North America and has some of the most unbelievable features you might ever see from stalagmites, stalactites, spires, and pools. The path around the Big Room is 1.25 miles and can be accessed via the natural entrance or the elevator. For those looking for a shorter trail around the Big Room, a 0.6 mile path is available.

Get on a Trail

A great way to explore the incredible nature of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Whether it’s an easy scenic stroll or a challenging day hike, Carlsbad Caverns has something for everyone. Always bring plenty of water and sun protectant, especially if you plan on hiking in the summer months.

For easy hikes consider | Walnut Canyon Overlook, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, Juniper Ridge

For moderate hikes consider | old guano trail, lower rattlesnake canyon, upper rattlesnake canyon, for strenuous hikes consider | slaughter canyon cave trail, slaughter canyon.

Bat Flight Program

Witness hundreds of thousands of bats take their evening flight out of Carlsbad Caverns during the Bat Flight Program. This program is offered May through October and is located at the Bat Flight Amphitheater right outside the natural entrance. The program is free to join and requires no reservations. Seating is on a first come first served basis. It’s important to note that no pictures or electronic devices are allowed when the bats take their flight. Dawn of the Bats is another program, offered once a year, to witness the bats make their return flight into the cave.

For more information about the Bat Program are Carlsbad Caverns, visit the park website .

Experience the Dark Skies

For a memorial experience join an evening ranger program or stay overnight in the backcountry and experience what a truly dark sky looks like. Star viewing and night hikes are offered July through October and are free to join.

Ranger Guided Cave Tour

For a more extensive experience of Carlsbad, take a ranger guided tour through Kings Palace, Slaughter Canyon, or Hall of the White Giant. Cave tours are offered year round and can be reserved online .

For more information about cave tours in Carlsbad Caverns, visit the park website .

Parks as classrooms.

What better way to learn then by bringing the classroom to the park! The National Park System provides a series of curriculum covering topics such a math, science, social studies, and language arts for elementary and middle school learners. A great option for homeschooling or field trips.

Junior Ranger Program

If you’re not able to plan a visit to Carlsbad Caverns then this is great way for you’re kids to still learn about the park without actually being there. The Virtual Junior Ranger Program consists of a series of videos and activities to complete with a Virtual Badge to be given at the end.

Backpack the Wilderness

For a more in depth exploration of Carlsbad Caverns National Park pick up a free backcountry permit and tour the parks remote wilderness. This is a great way to avoid the crowds and experience the incredible night sky. Permits can be picked up from the visitor center. No pets are allowed in the backcountry.

ONE DAY ITINERARY

Stop 1. Once you enter the park, stop at a couple pull offs and see if you can spot any wildlife.

Stop 2. Explore the visitor center, check out the exhibits, & watch the park movie.

Stop 3. Grab lunch at the Cafe or bring your own. Best to fill up before heading into the cave.

Stop 4. Take the Natural Entrance path down into the cave. If you’re unable to take the natural entrance then take the elevator straight to the Big Room.

Stop 5. Take a self guided tour around the Big Room.

Stop 6. Head back up to the visitor center and take a short scenic hike, such as, Walnut Canyon Overlook or Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail.

Stop 7. Experience the Bat Flight Program.

Stop 8. If time allows, stay for night sky star viewing.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever been to Carlsbad Caverns.

READY TO VISIT CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK?! SAVE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!

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10 Key Ranger Tips For Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, is known for its namesake, Carlsbad Cavern. It’s simply named “Big Room” is the largest single cave chamber — by volume — in North America.

Because it’s located in the Chihuahuan Desert, the park also offers a study in contrast. Inside Carlsbad Cavern, the temperature is a steady 56 degrees year-round. Above ground, however, visitors find rocky canyons, flowering cacti, and desert wildlife.

Carlsbad Caverns is 145 miles northeast of El Paso , Texas , and about 300 miles from Albuquerque , New Mexico , so a visit does require some advance planning. To help make that task easier, the National Park Service has released its “Top-10 Tips for Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park,” written by the rangers who work there.

So let’s get right to it. Here are the rangers’ top tips for planning a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

1. Make Reservations

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all visitors must make reservations for timed entry into Carlsbad Caverns, rangers explain. Reservations cannot be made at the park.

Also, reservations only reserve entry times, so visitors need to purchase entrance tickets as well.

You can make reservations here or over the phone by calling (877) 444-6777.

You can learn about entrance fees and park passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass, here .

2. No Eating And Drinking In The Cavern

“Eating and drinking anything, except plain, unflavored water, is not allowed in Carlsbad Cavern,” rangers explain. “This prevents attracting wildlife into the cavern. It also prevents littering as well as potential cave contamination.”

Visitors may eat and drink in the underground snack bar or outside the cavern.

3. Explore On Your Own

Rangers suggest exploring Carlsbad Cavern on your own by following two trails. The first is the Big Room Trail, which takes about 90 minutes to walk. The extremely steep Natural Entrance Trail takes about an hour to walk.

Pro-Tip: There is a shortcut on the Big Room Trail which shortens the hike to 45 minutes.

“Depending on whether you decide to hike up or down, you gain or lose about 750 feet — equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building — on the Natural Entrance Trail,” rangers explain. “This trail is not recommended for visitors with heart or respiratory conditions.”

You can learn more about both trails here .

4. Big Room Accessibility

One mile of the Big Room Trail is accessible to wheelchairs.

“Please note the trail is wet from dripping water and can be slippery, bumpy, uneven, and difficult to navigate,” rangers explain. “It isn’t Americans with Disabilities Act-approved and should only be attempted with assistance.”

You can find the park’s accessibility guide here .

5. Experience Walnut Canyon Desert Drive

Rangers encourage visitors to “discover the Chihuahuan Desert along the unpaved Walnut Canyon Desert Drive,” where they can “explore the stories of ancient life, people of the past, and desert survival,” according to rangers. 

The nine-mile-long drive takes about an hour. You can learn more about Walnut Canyon Desert Drive here .

Pro-Tip: The gravel road is not recommended for vehicles with low clearance. It is closed to RVs, buses, and trailers.

6. Take Pictures

“Don’t forget your camera! Take photos in the cavern to record your adventure,” encourage the rangers. “Flash photography is allowed in the cave — just be courteous to other visitors.”

7. Enjoy A Less-Visited Area

“Rattlesnake Springs, part of Carlsbad Caverns, is a lush oasis in the desert,” rangers explain. “This riparian ecosystem features a natural spring and a large grove of cottonwood trees. It’s an ideal place for bird watching and picnicking.”

You can learn more about Rattlesnake Springs here and find a map of the area here .

8. Watch Bats Emerge From Carlsbad Cavern

“In the summer, you can watch about 400,000 Brazilian free-tail bats emerge from Carlsbad Cavern around sunset,” the rangers write. “The best bat flights normally occur in August through September, when baby bats — born in early summer — join the flight.”

9. Take A Hike

“Be sure to hike the short Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail so you can learn about the unique plants found in the park and see two natural entrances to Carlsbad Cavern,” suggest the rangers.

The trail, which is 0.7 miles long, is mostly paved. The hike takes about 30 minutes.

Pro-Tip: The upper section of the trail is wheelchair accessible and leads to a viewpoint with a shaded shelter.

You can learn more about the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail here .

10. Eat And Shop

Rangers encourage all visitors to stop at the park’s restaurant, gift shop, and non-profit bookstore in the visitor center. The restaurant, located in the visitor center, has food options and drinks. The non-profit bookstore has educational merchandise “that helps tell the story of the park,” they explain.

While you’re thinking about the park, be sure to read our coverage on Carlsbad Caverns and the Guadalupe Mountains .

Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.

How to Make the Most of One Day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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America’s national parks have something for everyone. Whether you love historic sites, back-country trekking, or delving deep underground… there’s a park for that! It turns out that I personally am partial to the latter: I have loved caves and caving since I was a child (along with mining and mineshafts, which is a weird thing for kids to love!). Unsurprisingly then, some of my favorite national parks have caves – and it’s also unsurprising that Carlsbad Caverns National Park jumped right onto my list of personal faves since IT’S ALL CAVES.

If you’re planning a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, you might have some questions: what is there to do? How long do you need to visit? And what if you – like most Americans – are short on vacation time and want to do as much as possible?

I’m here to help! In March 2023, my friend Marissa and I took our annual national parks trip and visited three parks in four days. We did – almost literally – exactly what I’m about to recommend to you if you want to make the most of one day in Carlsbad Caverns. (I also have resources on nearby Guadalupe Mountains and White Sands national parks, which all together make for a great road trip itinerary.)

So grab your pencil, take some notes, and get ready to dive deep underground with me. Carlsbad Caverns is such an incredible place – I can’t wait for you (and everyone!) to see and be awed by it, too.

Note: There are a number of closures on the surface level of Carlsbad Caverns National Park right now; I’ve made notes in this post where applicable. Be sure to check the CCNP conditions page as part of planning your trip.

In this post, I promote travel to a national park that is the traditional lands of the Mescalero Apache and Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache) peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore  Native Land .

This post was originally published in March 2023, and was updated most recently in March 2024.

Table of Contents

Planning a Visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Before jumping into the step-by-step itinerary I recommend for one day in Carlsbad Caverns, here are a few important logistical details to cover first – and which make sense for my suggestions later.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Entrance Fees

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a fee-collecting site within the National Park System. You’ll either need to pay an entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass to enter.

Here are your options:

• The cost to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park is $15 per adult. (Children under 16 are free.)
• Reservations are required to visit Carlsbad Caverns – but more on that below!
• An annual  America the Beautiful Pass  is $80.  This gets you into every national park and all fee-collecting federal lands. I got my first one in 2019, and it’s such a money-saver. The  America the Beautiful Pass is totally worth it , and I buy one every year! 

You can read more about the fees – and check that the above is accurate – on the  Carlsbad Caverns NPS website .

Driving & Parking in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

For the most part, Carlsbad Caverns is a pretty easy park to visit; there’s one road, a few pull-outs, and a large parking area with an overflow lot up at the visitor center (which is the only way to access the main caverns). You don’t really need to worry about driving or parking availability in the park at all – a welcome change from some parks where you need a special plan just to find a spot near the main sights.

Here’s how I would plan your day, depending on what time you get your cavern tour reservations (more on that in a sec): set out 45-60 minutes before your reservation window opens and make stops at any interesting pull-outs along the way.

There are two pull-outs I recommend: one on the floor of the canyon (“Walnut Canyon Nature Trail” on Google Maps) which lets you walk into a small cave and one once you climb out of the canyon (“Walnut Canyon Vista Trailhead”) which takes you a short distance to overlook the canyon and the cars driving below. In total, you probably won’t spend more than 15 minutes at both – so you’ll still have plenty of time for the 7-mile drive to the visitor center (which takes 15-20 minutes), finding a parking spot, and lining up to check in for your reservation.

Carlsbad Caverns Ranger-Led Tours & Reservations

Speaking of reservations, Carlsbad Caverns has limited access – you need a reservation to visit the caverns, whether you’re on a self-guided tour or doing a ranger-led tour.

When I visited, there was only one ranger-led tour available (the King’s Palace Tour), and there were only 12 spots per tour, twice each day; as of June 2023, those two tours are at 10 am and 11:30 am daily. You MUST make a reservation 30 days in advance on Recreation.gov. Tours sell out 30 days in advance, so set a calendar reminder for 8 am Mountain Time 30 days before your planned visit, and grab tickets as quickly as possible.

If you miss getting tickets for the ranger-led tour, go ahead and book the self-guided tour; you also need a reservation for this (available on Recreation.gov too). There are 300 tickets per time slot (every hour on the half-hour from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm) so you can usually wait as late as a day or two before your visit and still get a reservation.

One last pro tip: there’s often a ranger-led afternoon tour available each day that’s not open to online reservations. The NPS offers this for people who don’t have access to a computer to make reservations, and it can only be reserved by arriving early in the day and requesting a spot if available. On the day we visited, the ranger told Marissa and me that there was still space on the 1 pm tour – we were there at 9:30 am, so I don’t know how long that lasted. Either way, arrive early and see if you can snag one of those tours – if not, you can just do the tour self-guided, as we did.

What to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park (When You Only Have One Day!)

As in all of my national park guides, I like to include a step-by-step list of things to do in the park in just one day. While that might not be enough for some parks, one day is the perfect amount of time to spend in Carlsbad Caverns (especially in light of some park closures, which I cover below this section). Here’s how to spend it and see it all (or as much as you can, anyway).

Drive the Carlsbad Caverns Highway

The seven-mile Carlsbad Caverns Highway is your primary (read: only) access to the Visitor Center and caverns. It takes 15-20 minutes to drive from Whites City to the Visitor Center, without stops (which I mentioned above and can be made before or after visiting the caverns).

Along the way, you can admire the Chihuahua Desert in the canyon all around you. Look for beautiful yucca and mountain goats hopping on the rocky walls.

Check-in at the Visitor Center

Once you arrive at the Visitor Center and find parking, you’ll need to check in; usually, this means you can go right to the caverns. If you have to wait for some reason (such as before a timed ranger-led tour), you can visit the small museum or browse the two gift shops.

There’s also a ranger information desk where you can learn about other parts of the park, including hiking trails and the (currently closed) Walnut Canyon Desert Drive/Reef Top Circle Drive.

Explore Carlsbad Caverns

At your appointed time (or whenever the ranger tells you), you can set out to explore Carlsbad Caverns themselves.

Without getting too granular, the primary area to visit is the Big Room. You can reach the Big Room in two ways: on foot through the Natural Entrance or by taking the elevator from the Visitor Center straight down to the Big Room.

The loop in the Big Room is 1.25 miles long and is paved with a few small hills. The hike down through the Natural Entrance adds another 1.25 miles and is also paved but at a steep grade. Only those with good mobility and stability should walk the Natural Entrance trail, but if that’s you: absolutely do the Natural Entrance trail. It is a fantastic addition to the Big Room with plenty of incredible formations to admire.

Once you arrive in the Big Room, it takes about an hour to make your way around the loop; you’ll want to stop, read signs, take photos, and just generally stand in awe of the work of Mother Nature in this hidden place.

On a return visit (when I hadn’t just hiked 10 miles in Guadalupe Mountains National Park the day before), here’s how I would explore the caverns:

• Start by hiking down through the Natural Entrance
• Do one loop of the Big Room to get oriented and take all the photos
• Potentially stop for a snack if I’m feeling hungry
• Do another loop of the Big Room using just my eyes to admire it all properly without my camera in the way

In total, that would be about 4 miles of walking, so keep that in mind if you want to do the same.

Enjoy Lunch in the Light (or Whites City)

After one or two loops of the Big Room, you’ll probably be feeling a bit hungry; it took Marissa and me 2.5 hours to do the Natural Entrance and one loop starting at 9:30 am, so we decided to grab some lunch. There is a small snack shop underground near the elevators, but your better bet for a full lunch is up at the cafeteria topside.

You could also drive out to Whites City and have lunch at the Cactus Cafe, the only restaurant in town. This is a bit of extra driving though, so I’d only do that if I wasn’t going to go back in the park – which I recommend if you only have one day in Carlsbad Caverns.

Take a Ranger-Led Tour

Photos courtesy of Peter Jones/NPS

If you’ve read this post and planned ahead, you’ll have the whole day planned out and will definitely have snagged tickets for a ranger-led tour. Depending on the time, you may need to rearrange my suggestions for this day, but I’m assuming here that you got onto the afternoon tour since it’s more likely you won’t get tickets online and do get tickets on the no-reservation tour.

In any case, currently, there is only one ranger-led tour – the King’s Palace Tour I already mentioned. This visits a different part of the caverns than the self-guided tour. As you will have already seen the Big Room (or will be visiting it later in the day), it’s cool to visit another part of the caverns that aren’t open to the public normally.

Specifically, the King’s Palace Tour visits the Green Lake Room, King’s Palace, Queen’s Chamber, and Papoose Room. These names don’t mean anything to you now, but you’ll soon see them – and they’re dramatic and different than even the Big Room with all it offers. This tour is a 1-mile loop, accesses the caverns by elevator, and requires the ability to climb 80 ft/8 stories up and down on sloped trails.

For my next visit to Carlsbad Caverns, I will absolutely be doing this tour!

Have a Snack, Underground!

Whether you did the self-guided tour in the morning, lunch, and then the afternoon ranger-led tour or vice versa, you’ll probably be feeling a bit hungry again – and that means it’s the perfect time to visit the underground snack bar for a treat.

While the underground cafeteria is no longer open, there are some cooler snacks and pastries (if memory serves). This is an incredibly cool and historic space, and there are displays up in the area to learn about it.

See the Bat Flight (Seasonally)

The timing here gets a bit wonky, so you may have time to go visit some of the pull-outs along Carlsbad Caverns Highway if you haven’t done that yet – or have dinner on your own or in Carlsbad (about an hour’s drive in total from the Visitor Center to town and back) – but no matter what you do in the late afternoon, you’ll want to be back for the bat flight if you’re visiting Carlsbad Caverns between May and October.

During this summer/pupping season, hundreds of thousands of bats call Carlsbad Caverns home; you’ll pass their home within the cave if you enter by way of the Natural Entrance trail.

Each evening at sundown, the bats come out in search of food. There’s an amphitheater where everyone can sit to enjoy the natural show. No photographs or video is allowed to help ensure the bats aren’t put off by device screens or flashes. (The photo I included here was taken by a photographer for the National Park Service.)

Go Stargazing

After the sun has fully set and the bats are out on the wing, there’s one last way to enjoy Carlsbad: under the stars!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is honestly not the best national park for stargazing – there are lots of light bubbles in the area due to cities El Paso, Whites City, Carlsbad, and Pecos (among others). You can still enjoy the stars despite this interference; the best place for stargazing in Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the Walnut Canyon Vista Trail. Out at the end of the 500ft path, there’s a concrete slab that’s smooth and level, perfect for a telescope or camera tripod if you want to try your hand at astrophotography.

I took the photos in this section during my trip, under a very dark moonless sky.

After stargazing and a long day of exploring Carlsbad Caverns, it’s time to turn in and rest for your next adventure.

What About Slaughter Canyon Cave or Walnut Canyon Desert Drive?

As you read this post, you might wonder about other parts of the park. As of writing (early 2024), there are two other parts of the park – but they are currently closed.

First, Walnut Canyon Desert Drive/Reef Top Circle. For clarity, the NPS calls this “Walnut Canyon Desert Drive” while it’s marked as “Reef Top Circle” on Google Maps. This dirt road sets out from near the visitor center on an 8.3-mile path atop the mesa, with access to other trails and caves you can visit on your own. Unfortunately, due to heavy rains in summer 2022, major portions of the road washed away and the entire area was closed – including the backcountry trails accessible along the road.

I asked a ranger about this during our visit, and he said it would be several years at a minimum before the NPS can come up with a plan to rebuild the road. Sounds a lot like Denali National Park , eh?

Second, there’s Slaughter Canyon Cave; this cave is reached from a different access road; it is only accessible on a full-day (5.5-hour) ranger-led tour; these restarted in summer 2023 after a muti-year break. It’s much different than the ones in the main parts of the caverns: Slaughter Canyon Cave is unlit, so visitors must hike up to the entrance and use headlamps/helmets inside the cave to admire the formations in cave.

Note : The following trails are also closed: the Yucca Canyon & access roads, Guadalupe Ridge (visitor center to west park boundary), Rattlesnake Canyon, Juniper Ridge, Ussery, and Double Canyon.

Where to Stay Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Last but certainly not least, you need to know where to stay near Carlsbad Caverns, even if you’re only spending one day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

To be totally honest, the most convenient options are limited: there is no camping in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and there’s only one hotel in the nearby town of Whites City. Whites City Cavern Inn is a decent overnight/multi-night stop; Marissa and I stayed here for two nights of our three-night national parks trip in this part of the country. Rooms are clean and large, with a mini-fridge, microwave, and free (and pretty decent) Wi-Fi.

Prices start from around $100 per night, which is also very reasonable – and way more convenient than Carlsbad for the same price (since you won’t have to make the 25-30 minute drive each way to/from Carlsbad).

Speaking of Carlsbad , there are lots more options here. There are  lots  of chain and cheap hotel options, but here’s where we stayed as well as a couple of other options:

• We stayed at the  Carlsbad Inn ; this motel doesn’t look like much, but the rooms are recently redone, clean, and the most affordable in town.  Book on  Booking.com  or  Hotels.com
• I liked the look of the aptly-named  National Parks Inn  but it was a bit out of our budget for this trip.  Book on  Booking.com  or  Hotels.com .
• The  Trinity Hotel  in downtown Carlsbad is where I  wish  we’d stayed if we had the budget to splurge a little more; it’s located in a historic building with cute boutique hotel-style rooms.  Book on  Hotels.com .

Okay, that just about covers it – what to do for a day in Carlsbad Caverns, all the logistics and tour details, AND where to stay after an epic day. Have any other questions about how to make the most of one day in Carlsbad Caverns? Let me know in the comments below!

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I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest – but my heart will always be out West. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge.

This was incredibly helpful. We are planning a trip to the Caverns next week and have been unable to speak with anyone there to answer our questions. We plan to take the self-guided tour, but didn’t know if there if there is info along the way or possibly even provided by headset. Thank you for putting this all together!

Glad to help – have a great trip, Evelyn!!

I have a question! When I select a time for a self guided tour or a ranger led tour, does the time we select need to be when we get to the visitor office or when we get into the caves? For example I want to do the natural trail, should i schedule a time for when I get to the bottom of the trail at the cave entrance? Not sure if that makes sense.

For ranger-led tours, I believe it’s when you meet the ranger up in the Visitor Center – but you could definitely call and confirm that.

(Also, double-check which entrance your tour will take – my guess is that they meet at the Visitor Center and take the elevator down, which means you wouldn’t do the natural entrance if you’re doing a ranger tour.)

For the self-guided, you need to be up at the Visitor Center a little before your start time, to get checked in, then you will head out toward the natural entrance if that’s how you want to enter the caves.

I was wondering where the welcome sign is in relation to the visitors center?

The welcome sign is at the beginning of the road; the Visitor Center is at the end.

Do you happen to know if you can see the bat flight without a ticket to enter the caves? Wondering if we could do the bats the night we arrive and the cave the next morning?

Great question – the NPS site will have the most up-to-date info for what’s currently required for access/admission!

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 A Family-Friendly Guide to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

by Christy Nicholson | Sep 2, 2022 | Camping/Glamping , Destinations , Family Adventures , South West , Traveling with Teens , USA

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I’d often heard travelers gush over the towering cave formations and majestic beauty of Carlsbad Caverns, but I had to wonder: Is it worth the hype? On a recent summer road trip through the southwest, we visited the caverns and discovered that they live up to the legend. Far from an overblown tourist attraction or a boring hole in the ground, Carlsbad Caverns National Park provides a peaceful, beautiful journey through one of North America’s natural wonders. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

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Even before you arrive at the cavern entrance, the landscape of Carlsbad Caverns National Park is breathtaking. Our family was oohing and aahing over the gorgeous views as our car drove the entrance road through the rocky hills on the way to the visitors center. There are parking areas where you can stop and take pictures just off the central road. Before or after your cavern tour, I recommend spending a few minutes savoring the surrounding landscape and watching for desert wildlife.

The cave system is the most well-known attraction at Carlsbad Caverns, but don’t miss the gorgeous desert scenery. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

Carlsbad Caverns is located in southeastern New Mexico in the Guadalupe Mountains. Even once you descend into the cave’s aptly named Big Room you will be over 3,600 feet above sea level (that’s official from the U.S. Geological Survey – you can even buy a magnet that says it in the gift shop). 

Millions of years ago the land in this area was covered by an inland sea. Sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone rock of the fossil reef, forming the system of limestone caves and massive caverns that run through the park today. While other cave tours I’ve experienced feature tiny pathways through narrow rock openings, the paths through Carlsbad Caverns are open and well-lit, making the caverns a great choice for anyone visiting a cave for the first time.

There are two options for entering the caverns: 1) You can walk down the steep, switchback Natural Entrance Trail, or 2) you can go into the visitor center and take an elevator down to the main cavern. I recommend taking the Natural Entrance Trail if you are able; the path felt safe but was just strenuous enough to give our family a bit of adventure. However, the elevators are a good option if you have limited mobility or are short on time.

You’ll experience quite an elevation change as you head down to the main chamber (and your leg muscles might be sore the next day). Photo by Christy Nicholson.

Planning Your Trip

If you remember only one tip from this article, this is the one: Reserve your time in advance! Timed reservations cost $1 each and are required to enter the cave, and they are not available at the park.

Even after you reserve a timed entrance online, you’ll still need to stop in at the visitor center and pay the cave entrance fee or show a national park pass . The entry ticket includes a self-guided tour and costs $15 for ages 16 and up (entry is free for ages 15 and under). The attendant will ask to see your reservation and ID and then let you purchase your tickets after confirming the date and time. 

Next, you can explore the museum exhibits in the visitor center to learn more about what you’ll see on your tour. Or you can head straight for the cave, either by waiting for the elevator near the ticket counter or by following the outdoor trail to the natural entrance, about a five-minute walk from the parking lot. 

When you reserve your entrance time slot, you’ll have an hour from the actual time listed to enter the cave. The visitor center opens at 8 a.m., and the first entrance time is 8:30 a.m. We arrived around 8:15 a.m. to get our tickets for our 8:30 reservation. By the time we made it to the natural entrance, there were already a dozen other people in line. 

Pro-Tip: If you want a less-crowded entry into the cave, the best time is right in the middle of your timed reservations (e.g. 9:00 a.m. for a reservation that allows entry between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.).

If you are taking the Natural Entrance Trail into the cave, plan on a 1.5-hour hike to get to the central attraction, the Big Room, as well as the elevators and restrooms. As you walk, you’ll descend 750 feet over 1.25 miles. Once you are in the Big Room (whether you hiked in or used the elevators), plan on another hour and a half to walk through the entire chamber, although you can also take a shortcut that will reduce that time by 45 minutes.

The latest you can buy a ticket to go into the cave is 2:15 p.m., with the last entry happening at 2:30. Elevators will return guests to the visitor center until 4:45 p.m., but you’ll need to leave by 3:30 if you plan to hike out the natural entrance instead. 

The rock formations in the caverns have quirky names like “Whales Mouth,” “Totem Poles,” “Bottomless Pit,” and “Iceberg Rock.” Many of the names originated with Jim White, who is credited with discovering the cave in 1898 (although Native Americans and European explorers may have found it earlier). Photo by Christy Nicholson.

What to Take

Due to the sensitive ecosystem of the cave, food is prohibited while hiking through the caverns. This also includes gum and flavored drinks. Only plain water is allowed inside the cave, with limited exceptions for visitors who need to eat for medical reasons.

The cave stays at a mild 56 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so consider wearing long pants and layers. Because our family kept a brisk pace as we hiked, I felt comfortable in my sleeveless tank without adding my hoodie, but I was glad to be prepared in case I got cold. We even felt drips from the cave ceiling at times (my teenager calls that the “interactive” part of the experience).

The ground is uneven and slick in places, so take shoes with good traction and avoid open-toed sandals.

I thought about buying flashlights or headlamps for everyone before we arrived at the cave. However, we found the sudden flashes and beams distracting when we saw other families using lights, and ultimately I was happy we skipped the extra purchase and relied on the cave’s lighting system instead. (But if headlamps will keep your kids happy as you explore, by all means, buy the headlamps!)

Carlsbad Caverns was declared a national monument in 1923, a national park in 1930, and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. You’ll see decades-old remnants left by scientific expeditions and curious explorers through the last century. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

Accessibility

Visitors who aren’t able to make the steep, 1.25-mile hike through the natural entrance can take elevators from the visitor center straight down to the Big Room. I recommend this option if you are visiting the cave with very young children who may not be comfortable walking the entire way (no strollers are allowed except for children with impaired mobility).

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Wheelchairs and walkers are allowed in certain parts of the Big Room Trail, and there are signs and maps available to denote which areas are accessible. However, due to the rugged terrain and moisture on the trail, the park recommends that visitors in wheelchairs use caution and keep assistance nearby.

One of the best things about Carlsbad Caverns is the fact that elevators, paved pathways, and hand railings allow visitors with limited mobility to see some of the most majestic cave formations. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

Things to Do At Carlsbad Caverns

Aside from the self-guided tour, you can purchase tickets for the ranger-led King’s Palace Tour for $8 per adult and $4 per child (no children under 4 are allowed on this specific tour). The King’s Palace tour meets near the cavern’s elevators and will take an additional hour and a half. Take note: this tour features blackouts when the ranger will turn off all the lights in the area. (Keep an eye on the park website for other tours to become available. I’ve heard great things about the famous ranger-guided tour by lantern light.)

Don’t forget the above-ground hikes! Fill up your water bottles, slather on some sunscreen, and explore the Guadalupe Mountains or the Chihuahuan Desert. Consider hiking in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid direct sunlight. And plan your route carefully: The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail and Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail are both half a mile long. While the nature trail is easy and accessible, the canyon cave trail is rugged and difficult. And the Guadalupe Ridge Trail is 100 miles long! 

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In the visitor center, there’s a free 16-minute movie as well as exhibits about the plants and animals in the caverns. If you are traveling with young kids, I recommend looking at the scale model of the cave paths before starting your cavern tour. The model is helpful for showing kids where you will be going and noting landmarks along the way (and trust me, it’s also good for nervous parents who don’t like caves!).

Check ahead of time for any night sky programs scheduled during your visit, especially during meteor showers. And visitors ages 8 and up can even experience a ranger-led night hike through the desert. While you’re in the area, consider a quick, 30-minute detour to Guadalupe Mountains National Park just across the Texas border.

Easy Souvenir Tip: When in the caverns, stop by the small souvenir area near the elevators and buy a postcard. There’s a USPS mailbox located right in the cave, and anything mailed there is postmarked with Carlsbad Caverns.

Bighorn sheep? Mountain goats? I still don’t know what these animals are, but we enjoyed seeing them as we drove through the park. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

Carlsbad Caverns Bat Talk

The Bat Talk Program was one of my favorite parts of our visit, and I recommend it to anyone traveling to Carlsbad Caverns. The program is free and does not require reservations.

From Memorial Day weekend through October, visitors to Carlsbad Caverns gather just before dusk in the Bat Flight Amphitheater. Park rangers will start the session by answering questions from the crowd. Kids usually get priority when the rangers ask for questions, which leads to awesome ones like “What is the most dangerous thing in the park?” (Answer: probably the sharp plants.) Once most of the crowd has gathered, a ranger will begin sharing about the bat species that make their homes in the cave, including the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat.

When dusk hits, rangers ask the spectators for absolute silence. And then, right on time, the bats emerge from the cave. They swirl and spin up into the air, dozens and dozens hurtling out of the cave entrance. As one round of bats drifts off into the sky for their nightly hunt, the next group emerges from the cave in another flurry of activity. If you are very, very lucky, you might even see ringtails, owls, or hawks nearby scoping out the bats for an evening meal.

Planning a family trip to gorgeous Carlsbad Caverns? Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Due to the bats’ sensitive hearing and sight, no electronic devices are allowed during the bat flight, not even old-school cameras. Sitting there quietly with hundreds of people and no cell phones or cameras was an amazing experience for me. However, the silence proved difficult for the younger members of the audience, and several families with small children snuck out once the wiggles were too much to hold in.

At least 20-30 minutes passed as we waited for all the bats to emerge. I thought the end of the program would be marked by an announcement from a park ranger, but everyone just began to wander away as the bat flight slowed to a few stragglers. The rangers waited at the back of the amphitheater to answer questions and sign junior ranger booklets as visitors left for the evening. 

Pro-Tip: The best seats for the bat flight are on the upper left side of the amphitheater, where you’ll have a clear view of the mouth of the cave.

To the bat cave! The Bat Talk Amphitheater is the place to be right at sunset. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

When You Go

Getting To Carlsbad Caverns From LA

The closest major airports to Carlsbad Caverns National Park are each a couple of hours away:

El Paso International Airport is 138 miles away and offers direct flights from L.A. on American and Southwest.

Midland International Air & Space Port is 164 miles away. While it doesn’t offer any direct flights from L.A., connections are available on American, Southwest, and United.

If you’re planning to see more of New Mexico, consider flying into Albuquerque’s airport (300 miles away, direct flights on major airlines including American, Delta, and Southwest) and taking a road trip through the state. 

Roswell’s airport is only 95 miles away and offers connecting flights from Dallas and Phoenix on American Airlines. And who can resist checking out their quirky, alien-themed downtown?

An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia ! This is where we start our research for the best deals!

If you’d like to be in the know for exclusive discounts to fly anywhere in the world, check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). Their website shows current deals, and they send emails when they find new deals. Try out their free 7-day membership to save BIG money on flights. I’m not kidding. They have the best deals out there and we’ve tried them all, or so it seems. There’s no need to buy a membership (you’ll still have access to great deals with their free trial).

Where to Stay Near Carlsbad Caverns

Many visitors to Carlsbad Caverns stay in Carlsbad, New Mexico, about a 30-minute drive from the park. The town of Carlsbad has several well-known hotel chains, including Hampton Inn , Fairfield Inn , and Home2 Suites . 

If you’re up for a unique retro motel experience, you can stay at the adorable White’s City Cavern Inn , which is located right outside of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. (Their mini water park looked pretty appealing when we visited the area in July.)

The adventurers out there might want to consider backcountry camping in the park. At times, camping is prohibited due to wildfire risk, so be sure to check before you go. Need a few extra amenities? Choose a nearby campground in White’s City or the town of Carlsbad (our fearless editor, Rina, had a blast camping nearby with her kids!). 

Where to Eat

There’s a cafeteria-style restaurant in the visitor center, and it offers Southwestern-style dishes such as tortas and tacos along with kid-friendly favorites like peanut butter and jelly. 

Inside the caverns, there’s a small snack bar located near the Big Room next to the elevator. I wouldn’t count on lunch after your hike, however. While I’ve seen other travelers mention multiple grab-and-go sandwich options, the snack bar was mostly closed when we visited and had only a few granola bars (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays seem to be the main days it operates). And keep in mind, food is not allowed in the rest of the cave, so everything must be consumed before you leave the snack bar area.

There are picnic tables near the visitor center for families who wish to bring their own food into the park. For more food options, drive into the city of Carlsbad, which has a selection of local and chain restaurants. 

Was I super excited to check out these bathrooms deep under the Earth’s surface? Yes, yes I was. Photo by Christy Nicholson.

You’ll need to drive a bit to get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but it is worth the effort to see this natural wonder. 

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park Travel Guide for First Time Visitors

How to plan your carlsbad caverns national park day trip.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is known for being the deepest and largest underground cave in the American Southwest. You will find caverns full of long tunnels, limestone chambers, stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, cave pools, flowstone, draperies, and bats. There are several hiking trails within the park and it is common to spot Barbary sheep while visiting. Plan your visit with this Carlsbad Caverns National Park Travel Guide.

You are excited to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, what not to miss, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do while visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this Carlsbad Caverns National Park travel blog.

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Where is Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is in Southeast New Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert of the Guadalupe Mountains off US Hwy 62/180. The closest airports are El Paso and Albuquerque . The park is a 2-hour drive from El Paso TX and a 4.5-hour drive from Albuquerque NM.

Facts About Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns became a designated national monument in 1923, a national park in 1930, and a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 46,770 acres, and 2/3 of the area is designated wilderness.

There are 116 caverns in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

The natural entrance route descends 750 feet underground.

Carlsbad Caverns chamber, the Big Room, is almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 225 feet tall.

The Big Room is the largest chamber in North America and 7 th largest in the world.

Kings Palace, the deepest portion of Carlsbad Caverns, is 830 feet underground.

The temperature in the cave is 56 degrees at all times.

It is possible to see the Milky Way with the naked eye at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

4000,000 Brazilian free-tail bats live in the caverns.

Will Rogers compared Carlsbad Caverns to the Grand Canyon with a roof on it.

Best Time of Year to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Winter, fall, and spring are good times to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The main travel season is Memorial Day through Labor Day. Summer is hot with temperatures above 100 degrees. Late summer brings monsoon rains. Winter highs are between 50-60 degrees F.

Day Trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Plan to spend 3 hours at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The highlight of the park is the underground cave. Park at the visitor center and watch the 16-minute Hidden World video.

Enter the cave through the natural entrance. The trail descends about 1.25 miles and will take about 1 hour to walk.

Highlights of the Natural Entrance include the Devil’s Spring, Whales Mouth, Devil’s Den, Iceberg Rock, and Witch’s Fingers.

Explore the Big Room on the self-guided 1.25 trail. Big Room highlights include the Caveman, Chinese Theater, Crystal Springs Dome, Temple of the Sun, the Chandelier, Mirror Lake, and the Bottomless Pit.

Return to above ground via the elevator traveling 79 stories in one minute.

Things to Do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Watch the 16-minute film “Hidden World” in the visitor center.

Hike 79 stories below ground on the Natural Entrance 1.25-mile trail.

Take a self-guided tour of the Big Room.

Use the mailbox to send a postcard marked ‘mailed from 750 feet below ground.

Grab a sandwich at the underground café.

Cruise the scenic 9.5-mile Walnut Canyon Desert Drive.

Enjoy the .5-mile Desert Nature Trail.

Hike 6 miles RT on the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail to an old homestead.

Sign up for a 1.5-hour ranger-led tour of Kings Canyon.

Experience the cave without electricity or paved walkways on the 5.5-hour ranger-led primitive tour of Slaughter Canyon.

Watch the bats leave the cavern nightly from late May through October,

Where to Stay at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

There is no lodging or camping at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Camping is available in the nearby Guadalupe Mountains and Lincoln National Forest. Backcountry camping is allowed on the Guadalupe Ridge Trail by permit. Hotel accommodations are available in Carlsbad New Mexico.

Tips for Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Purchase tickets online to ensure admittance.

Self-guided tours with audio guides are available.

Restrooms are available in the visitor center and underground rest area.

Bring a jacket, the temperature is consistently 56 degrees.

Cave trails are paved and well-lit.

The cave has 90% humidity and paths are often slick, wear close-toed shoes with good traction.

Never touch a cave formation, the oil on your hands ruins them.

Sound travels in caves, be sure to whisper.

Strollers are not allowed in the cave but infant daypacks are.

Pets are not permitted in the cave, there is a kennel service for a fee.

You may bring water into the cavern.

Be sure to check the website to ensure the elevator is operating.

Flash photography is permitted, be courteous of the person next to you.

Parts of the Big Room are wheelchair accessible.

Throwing coins or other objects into the cave pools is prohibited.

Be sure to practice Leave No Trace Principles .

Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks

Be sure to check with the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Service for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Visitors are able to make Self-Guided Tour reservations at a cost of $1.00 per person. 

****In addition to the reservation, the park charges an entrance fee payable upon arrival. The park honors Interagency Passes (Senior, Access, 4th Grade, etc.). Please visit Carlsbad Caverns Fees & Passes page for details .****  

****Masks are optional at this time.**** Masks are based on Community Health Level based on the CDC guidance for Eddy County, New Mexico. 

Tucked beneath the scenic and rugged Chihuahuan Desert, in the rocky slopes and deep canyons of Guadalupe Mountain range you will find Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Come explore the largest chambered cavern in North America.    

The Guadalupe Mountains are an uplifted portion of ancient reef, which thrived along the edge of an inland sea more than 250 million years ago. Preserved in the rocks are the ancient bodies of sponges, algae, snails, nautilus and more. This fossil reef formed the caves beneath the surface. Over time, sulfuric acid dissolved into surrounding limestone, creating stunning rock formations jutting down from the cave ceilings. More than 300,000 visitors travel to Carlsbad Caverns each year for a rare glimpse of the underground worlds preserved beneath the desert.  

Visitors may choose to hike the steep one and a quarter mile paved trail entering through the cave's Natural Entrance, which leads them into the spectacular one and a quarter mile Big Room trail. Or, you can simply take an elevator ride from the Visitor Center directly to the Big Room trail. 

Visitors are encouraged to review the tour details , which may include age or other restrictions, before making a reservation. 

Summary of Fees - Carlsbad Caverns National Park Tours  

Need to Know

THE RESERVATION FEE DOES NOT COVER THE PARK ENTRANCE FEE.

• The $1.00 reservation fee is an administrative charge to book a reservation. It is separate from the park entrance fee.
• This reservation holds a time for you to to begin the self-paced, self-guided cavern tour.
• In addition to the reservation fee, an entrance pass must be purchased inside the visitor center upon arrival. Please visit Carlsbad Caverns Fees & Passes page for details.

PASS HOLDERS MUST ALSO BOOK A TICKET

• The park honors Interagency Passes (Golden Age, Senior, Annual, Interagency, Military, etc) for the entrance fee.
• Pass holders MUST also reserve a ticket. You will not be admitted without a reservation confirmation.
• Pass holders MUST reserve tickets for ALL members of the group eligible to use the pass.  

CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENT FOR ENTRY

• Please bring the reservation confirmation email to present at the ticket counter upon arrival.
• Cell phone coverage may not be available. Before you arrive, please have your confirmation email saved to your phone or printed out. 

NO WALK UP TICKETS

• The park does not offer walk up, first-come, first-served, stand-by or wait list tickets.

Mask are optional at this time. This is based on Community Health Level as determined by the CDC for Eddy County, New Mexico. This Community Health Level may change at anytime.

Reserved Tickets. Please pick up tickets atleast 30-45 minutes prior to your scheduled time for Ranger guided tours. Late arrival may result in forfeiting your reserved tour. No refunds for late arrivals. No replacement tickets available for lost or misplaced tickets.

Reservations. Reservations are available 30 days in advance and up to 5:00 AM MT same day. 

Cave Tours . Most of the cave trail is self-guided; Natural Entrance and the Big Room. Ranger-led tours are additional areas that you can experience with a ranger. Visit the Carlsbad Cavern's park website to learn more. 

• NOTE: King's Palace Tours have restarted ! Each tour has a limit of 24 visitors per time slot, 12 spots are available by reservation for both the 10:00 and 11:30 AM MT time slots. Additional tours may be available; ask the Rangers when you get to the park. 
• The King's Palace and Left Hand Tunnel tours are year-round. Other tours may only be offered during the summer peak season. Keep checking back for when we restart Left Hand Tunnel tours. The Tour Schedule is available on the park website.  
• King's Palace Ranger guided tour prices: Adult: $8:00, Children (4-15 years old) $4:00, and Inter-agency Senior Lifetime and Senior Annual and Access Pass for passholder only: $4:00

The entry times are based on a 60-minute window beginning with the start time that you select. For example, if you select an 8:30am reservation time, you must enter the cave between 8:30am and 9:30am. Last entry for the day is 2:30pm. 

Last available Main Corridor (Natural Entrance Trail) hike out is at 2:30 pm.

Children 15 and under free to enter the cavern but must have a reservation as well. When booking your reservation, please ensure that you account for all adults AND children.

There are no refunds for Self-Guided Tour reservations (The cancellation fee of $1.00 per ticket is the same price as the reservation).

A large portion of The Big Room is accessible by wheelchair and entry is allowed only by elevators. Canes and crutches allowed only if needed for mobility. The park does not have any mobility chairs or devices available to use or rent.

Please visit our NPS webpage for more information.

Cave tours are not recommend for people with known heart or respiratory problems, back, knee, or walking issues of any kind, or for people with vertigo or claustrophobia issues. Determine your own physical ability!

You may experience long wait times to exit the cave by elevator. During Holiday weekends you may experience longer than normal wait times. See park website for additional alerts. 

Hiking boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Sandals or flip-flops are NOT recommended for self-guided tours. (See specific requirements for each tour).

Do not wear or bring any items that have been in any other caves or mines. White-nose Syndrome is a disease affecting hibernating bats. Help stop the spread of this fungus. A disease known as White-Nose Syndrome is killing bats in North America. To prevent it from spreading to our bats, do not wear shoes, clothing, or bring any gear into any cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park that were in another cave.

Baby strollers are NOT allowed on the cave trails.

There is no age limit for the Self-Guided Tour.

Plain water only! Candy, tobacco (inc. vaping products) or gum are NOT permitted to be taken into cave. The historic Underground Lunchroom offers drinks, sandwiches and salads.

The average cave temperature is 56 degrees with 90% humidity year-round.

Hiking poles are NOT permitted in the cave.

Photography, including using a flash, is allowed in the cavern. Be courteous to other visitors. 

• Photography is not allowed during the Bat Flight Program.

Phone Numbers  

Reservations : To reserve tour tickets, select the "book now" button on this page or call toll free 1-877-444-6777.  

GENERAL PARK INFORMATION ONLY (NO RESERVATIONS)

• Park information, Monday through Sunday: (575) 785-2232.

Visitor Center Operational Hours.

• Visitor Center is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Time .   
• NOTE: The park is close to the Central Time zone. Cell phones have been known to bounce between Mountain and Central Times zones if they are set to automatically adjust for times.

Booking Windows

Tickets are available 30 days in advance and 5 AM the day of the tour date.

Changes and Cancellations

*****RESERVATION FEE IS NOT THE ENTRANCE FEE.*****

The $1.00 reservation fee is an administrative charge of this system. It is NOT the park entrance fee.

This reservation system only reserves the time slot for self-paced, self-guided cavern entry.

Entrance fees into the cave must be paid inside the visitor center upon arrival.  

$15 per adult general cave entry fee or a National Parks Pass for upto 4 adults.

Children 15 and under are free. 

King's Palace Ranger guided tour: Adult: $8:00, Children (4-15 years old) $4:00, and Inter-agency Senior Lifetime and Senior Annual and Access Pass for passholder only price: $4:00

PASS HOLDERS MUST STILL RESERVE AN ENTRY TIME

Pass holders (Golden Age/Senior, Annual, Access, Military, 4th Grade etc) MUST reserve an entry time on this system. You will not be admitted without a reservation confirmation.

NOTE: Pass holders MUST reserve an entry time for ALL members of their group eligible to use the pass.

No refunds for the Self-Guided Timed Entry Tour. See Facility Rates for fees.

Contact Information

Mailing address.

727 CARLSBAD CAVERNS HWY Carlsbad NM 88220

Phone Number

575-236-1309 (GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY - RESERVATION INFO IS NOT PROVIDED)

Available Tours and Tickets

• Kings Palace Reservation
• Lower Cave Tour Reservation
• Carlsbad Caverns Timed Entry Reservation

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Planning a Trip in Carlsbad Caverns

Getting There

The main section of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, with the visitor center and entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, the park's main cave, is located about 35 miles from Guadalupe Mountains National Park. From Guadalupe Mountains National Park take U.S. 62/180 northeast to White's City, and turn left onto N. Mex. 7, the park access road. You enter the boundary of Carlsbad Caverns National Park almost immediately and reach the visitor center in about 7 miles. From the city of Carlsbad, head 30 miles southwest on U.S. 62/180 and then 7 miles on N. Mex. 7 to the visitor center.

Visitor Information

Contact Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 National Parks Hwy., Carlsbad, NM 88220 (tel. 575/785-2232; www.nps.gov/cave). Books and maps can be ordered from the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association, 727 Carlsbad Caverns Hwy. (P.O. Box 417), Carlsbad, NM 88221 (tel. 575/785-2486; www.ccgma.org).

The visitor center is open daily from 8am to 7pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day; and self-guided cave tours can be started from 8:30am to 5pm. The rest of the year the visitor center is open from 8am to 5pm, with self-guided cave tours from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Tour times and schedules may be modified during slower times in the winter. The park is closed on Christmas Day.

At the visitor center are displays depicting the geology and history of the caverns, bats and other wildlife, and a three-dimensional model of the caverns. You can get information about the tours available and other park activities, both above- and below-ground. There is also a well-stocked bookstore, a restaurant, and a gift shop.

Admission to the visitor center and aboveground sections of the park is free. The basic cavern entry fee, which is good for 3 days and includes self-guided tours of the Natural Entrance and Big Room, is $6 for adults and free for children 15 and under. Annual passes and senior passes are good for the entry of four adults.

A general cave admission ticket is required in addition to tour fees for all guided cave tours except those to Slaughter Canyon Cave and Spider Cave. Reservations are required for all guided tours. Holders of annual and senior passports receive 50% discounts on tours. The Kings Palace guided tour costs $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 15, and is free for children ages 4 and 5 with an adult -- younger children are not permitted. Guided tours of Left Hand Tunnel, limited to those 6 and older, cost $7 for adults and $3.50 for children 6 to 15. Guided tours of Spider Cave, Lower Cave, and Hall of the White Giant are limited to those 12 and older, and cost $20 for adults and $10 for youths 12 to 15. Slaughter Canyon Cave tours, for those 6 and older, cost $15 for adults and $7.50 for children 6 to 15. You can make reservations for cave tours up to 3 months in advance by phone or online (tel. 800/444-6777; www.recreation.gov).

Regulations & Permits

As you would expect, damaging the cave formations in any way is prohibited. What some people do not understand is that they should not even touch the formations, walls, or ceilings. This is not only because many of the features are delicate and easily broken, but also because skin oils will both discolor the rock and disturb the mineral deposits that are necessary for growth.

All tobacco use is prohibited underground. In addition, food, drinks, candy, and chewing gum are not allowed on the underground trails. Those making wishes should not throw coins or other objects into the underground pools.

Cave explorers should wear flat shoes with rubber soles and heels, because of the slippery paths. Children 15 and under must remain with an adult at all times while in the caves. Although strollers are not allowed for younger children, child backpacks are a good idea, but beware of low ceilings and doorways along the pathways.

No photography is permitted at the evening Bat Flight programs without a special permit.

Pets are not permitted in the caverns, on park trails, or in the backcountry, and because of the hot summer temperatures, pets should not be left unattended in vehicles. There is a kennel (tel. 575/785-2281 ) available at the visitor center. It has cages in an air-conditioned room, but no runs, and is primarily used by pet owners for periods of 3 hours or so while they are on cave tours. Pets are provided with water, but not food, and there are no grooming or overnight facilities. Reservations are not necessary; cost is $5 per pet.

Free permits, available at the visitor center, are required for all overnight hikes into the backcountry.

The climate aboveground is warm in the summer, with highs often in the 90s (mid-30s Celsius) and sometimes exceeding 100°F (38°C), and evening lows in the mid-60s (teens Celsius). Winters are mild, with highs in the 50s and 60s (teens Celsius) in the day and nighttime lows usually in the 20s and 30s (around 0°C). Summers are known for sudden intense afternoon and evening thunderstorms; August and September see the most rain. Underground it's another story entirely, with a year-round temperature that varies little from its average temperature of 56°F (13°C), making a jacket or sweater a welcome companion.

Crowds are thickest in summer, and on weekends and holidays year-round, so visiting on weekdays between Labor Day and Memorial Day is the best way to avoid them. January is the quietest month.

Visiting during the park's off season is especially attractive because the climate in the caves doesn't vary regardless of the weather on top, where the winters are generally mild and summers warm to hot. The only downside to an off-season visit is that you won't be able to see the bat flights. The bats head to Mexico when the weather starts to get chilly, usually by late October, and don't return until May. There are also fewer guided cave tours off season, although those tours will have fewer people. The best time to see the park might well be in September, when you can still see the bat flights but there are fewer visitors than during the peak summer season.

Ranger Programs

In addition to the cave tours, rangers give a talk on bats at sunset each evening from mid-May to October at the cavern's Natural Entrance (times change; check at the visitor center or call tel. 575/785-3012 ). Rangers also offer a variety of demonstrations, talks, guided nature walks, and other programs daily. Especially popular are the climbing programs, where rangers demonstrate caving techniques. In recent years there has also been a series of stargazing programs presented by graduate students from New Mexico State University. The park also offers a Junior Ranger Program, in which kids can earn badges by completing various activities. Details are available at the visitor center.

On the second Thursday in August (usually), a "bat flight breakfast" from 5 to 7am encourages visitors to watch the bats return to the cavern after their night of insect hunting. Park rangers prepare breakfast for early-morning visitors for a small fee and then join them to watch the early-morning return flight. Call the park for details.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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CS Ginger Travel

Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands: Planning the Perfect Road Trip in 2024

PLANNING A TRIP FROM CARLSBAD CAVERNS TO WHITE SANDS?

We can help! We made the drive from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands on our journey through New Mexico and had a great time. We’ll share our insights into all the different ways to enjoy this trip. We will fill you in on everything you need to know about the different route options, as well as recommend some of our favorite Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands highlights.

Transportation Between Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands 

White Sands National Park to Carlsbad Caverns (and vice versa) is a 189-mile journey via US 82 or 234 miles via US-54. Whichever route you decide to take, we recommend renting a car for this 3-and-a-half-hour road trip. There are several rental car companies in Carlsbad, NM, so securing a vehicle for your road trip shouldn’t be a problem. 

▶️ BOOK Rental Car

If you’re planning to take your time making your way from White Sands to Carlsbad Caverns, RV traveling could make all the difference for your trip. RVs can be a very comfortable place to stay while exploring on the open road. And believe it or not, it can be a more affordable means of travel. 

If you think an RV might be the best fit for your family, but you’ve never booked one before, don’t worry! RVs can be rented through a variety of companies and platforms, kind of like Airbnb for RVs. 

Outdoorsy is our preferred platform. It has over 40,000 vehicles listed. RVShare is also a peer-to-peer RV rental site. Both of these sites allow users to browse the details (like the overall size, features, and price) of each RV, so you can make sure you find the vehicle that best suits your needs.  

We love the convenience of having our food and beds with us when we travel in our RV!

▶️ BOOK an RV on Outdoorsy

Greyhound has a route that transports passengers from Carlsbad, NM, to Alamogordo, NM. This bus from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands, NM, requires passengers to transfer buses once and clocks a travel time of nearly 7 hours. 

Once travelers reach the Alamogordo Bus Station, they would need to hire a car to drive them the 19 miles to White Sands National Park. Bus tickets for this route can range from $76 – $108. 

Picking a Route Between White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns 

When planning a drive from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands, there are two routes you can take. Both journeys account for about 3 hours and 30 minutes of road time. That said, the overall mile count and the road experiences are significantly different, depending on what path you choose. 

Driving Through Artesia and Carlsbad

If you take the US-82, the distance is 189 miles. This road is very scenic. It leads you through Carlsbad, Artesia, Lincoln National Forest, and Cloudcroft. It’s such a pretty drive. This is the route we chose when making this drive and loved all of the mountain roads.

The important thing to note about this route is that the path includes a mountainous stretch. This beautiful pass brings about an elevation gain of approximately 4,000+ feet in about 16 miles. 

This may not be of much concern depending on your vehicle and level of mountain driving experience. It’s definitely something to be aware of when determining which road trip to Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands route is right for you. 

The timing of your visit will also determine whether or not this mountainous route could affect your travel, as it’s typically more of an issue in snowy winters versus sunny summers. 

We took this route on our trip from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands National Park. We drove in a large toy hauler at a total length of 57 feet, and we didn’t think it was too bad. That said, keep in mind that It is a winding road with some switchbacks, so it’s not the easiest drive.

Driving Through Fort Bliss and Guadalupe Mountains National Park 

If you’d rather bypass the mountain route, you can also get from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands on US-54. One of our favorite highlights on this route is the stretch from Carlsbad Caverns to Guadalupe National Park.  

This road eventually leads travelers almost all the way to El Paso, Texas, which allows you to avoid the mountains. Then you’ll reach Fort Bliss before finally arriving in White Sands. This route is 234 miles but has the same drive time as the shorter route because it’s freeway driving.

Albuquerque to White Sands to Carlsbad Caverns  

If you’re starting your road trip in northern New Mexico, a route through Albuquerque to White Sands and then on to Carlsbad Caverns would make for an epic trip. 

This I-25 S route is just shy of 450 miles and is nearly a 7-hour drive. The first leg of the trip from Albuquerque to White Sands is almost exactly half of the trip, with a drive time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. So, it’s a reasonable drive.

Once you’re ready to move on from White Sands, you can continue on to Carlsbad Caverns on I-25, or you can take a different route. The distance from White Sands Missile Range to Carlsbad Caverns is 250 miles via US-180 E and US-62 E. This alternative route would also take you from Las Cruces to Carlsbad Caverns on the final stretch. 

Things to Do in White Sands National Park 

Scenic drive .

There are so many fun things to do in White Sands National Park , the world’s largest gypsum dune field. We really enjoyed the scenic drive through this park. It’s a great way to get a feel of the size of the park and to check out the different dunes.

Your kids might notice that the sand dunes get bigger the farther you go into the park, with the biggest dunes being at the back towards the loop section of the drive.

We love sand sledding, and there’s no better place to do it than at White Sands National Monument , especially the Alkali Flat Trail! This area is one of the best places because it has the largest dunes to sled down. You can purchase sleds at the visitors center, but many area hotels offer them complimentary to their guests. So be sure to check with your hotel. 

Tours and Ranger-Guided Hikes

If you want to explore the park with an expert, take one of the guided tours or hikes. The Full Moon Tour is one of the best tours. It’s held once a month (April-December only), the day before the full moon.

It’s a short walk, but such a memorable, good time to hike beneath the moon and stars. 

Where to Stay Near White Sands National Park 

Hollomon lake – camping .

White Sands visitors have to drive a distance outside the park to find hotel accommodations. That said, if you want to stay close to the park, camping is your best option. 

There are portions of the park that allow backcountry camping as well as boondock locations just down the road.  

We love boondocking at Holloman Lake. It’s so close to the park. You can fit any RV here. The sand is hard-packed, so it can be easily driven through in most vehicles. Keep in mind that the entry gate is tight here, so use caution. 

If you don’t end up camping at this location, some of our other favorite camping spots near White Sands National Park include Hollomon AFB FamCamp, White Sands RV Park, Alamogordo White Sands KOA, Boothill RV Resort, and Edgington RV Park.

Speaking of camping, if you’re always looking for places to go camping, we highly recommend checking out The Dyrt , the #1 camping app. The Dyrt Pro has amazing resources to make planning so easy:

• Take advantage of PRO Membership discounts to save up to 40% on campground costs
• Plan camping road trips with the Trip Planner
• Find free dispersed camping locations
• Use The Dyrt app anywhere with offline access

We have arranged with The Dyrt to give the CS Ginger viewers a FREE 30-Day Trial using the code “csginger.” Normally the trial is 7 days!

White Sands Motel – Budget 

White Sands Motel is a comfortable but basic motel 15 minutes from White Sands National Park. The staying rooms are clean but simple, nothing over the top. Depending on the size of your party, you can choose from a standard room, a standard double room, or a suite that is suited for up to 6 guests. 

Each room is equipped with a microwave and refrigerator and features either a garden or mountain range view. There is free wifi throughout the motel area and a continental breakfast each morning. 

This property does not have a swimming pool, which may dissuade family travelers. On the flip side, they do offer complimentary sleds for extra fun when visiting White Sands down the road. The sleds must be returned after using them. 

➡️ Check Rates & Book: White Sands Motel

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Alamogordo Hwy 54/70 – Mid-Range 

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Alamogordo Hwy 54/70 is a clean and convenient place to stay when looking for a hotel near White Sands National Park . Only 17 minutes away from the park, your kids will love going from sledding down the gypsum dunes to splashing in the pool and relaxing in the hot tub. 

Standard rooms feature either king or queen-size beds. Suites consist of a king or queen-sized bed and sofa bed. All rooms include a microwave and refrigerator as well as a flat-screen TV and coffee maker. 

Unfortunately, this hotel does not have a convenience store for snacks or last-minute needs, but they do have vending machines. They also have an impressive fitness center and laundry facilities. 

You’re sure to have a great time when staying at this place. The property is clean and comfortable, the staff is friendly, and you have everything you need within reach. 

▶️ Check Rates & Book: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Alamogordo Hwy 54/70

Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns 

Carlsbad Caverns is a true highlight of New Mexico. The grounds are beautiful, with flowering cacti and winding canyons. But underground, it’s a whole other world. Check out all the amazing things to do in Carlsbad Caverns !

Explore The Cavern

The best way to explore the cavern is through the Natural Entrance, which is the extremely steep staircase down to The Big Room. The descent down the Natural Entrance is 1.25 miles and takes about an hour. Comparable to a strenuous hike, this isn’t recommended for visitors with heart or respiratory issues. 

Once you reach The Big Room, you can enjoy the wonders of the caverns, complete with spires reaching down toward you from the ceiling. 

Ranger Guided Tours 

A ranger-guided cave tour is one of the most fun experiences at Carlsbad Caverns. The park offers many guided cave tours into areas like Kings Palace, Queen’s Palace, Left Hand Tunnel, Lower Cave, and Hall of the White Giant. 

They also have a fun Bat Flight Program during the summer and early fall. This is an evening program where the ranger educates participants about the bats that live in the cavern and then leads the group to the best vantage point to watch them fly out for the evening. 

Where to Stay Near Carlsbad Caverns 

Backcountry camping .

The only camping option at Carlsbad Caverns is backcountry camping. This is considered primitive camping and is only allowed in specific backcountry camping trail areas of the park. A permit is required to spend the night in the park. You can pick up the free permit at the visitor center. 

If you’re ok not staying inside the park, you can also pitch your tent or set up your RV in the Bureau of Land Management land that surrounds the park. 

White’s City Cavern Inn – Budget 

White’s City Cavern Inn is a nice place to stay while visiting Whites City and the surrounding area. This Carlsbad Caverns hotel is comfortable, but it isn’t anything to write home about. This Inn survives because it’s the most convenient place to stay when visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Located just outside the park, this is the place to stay if you don’t want to drive 15-20 minutes into the city. The budget price is also a great plus to this property. 

The rooms here are pretty standard, equipped with king or queen-size beds, a microwave, refrigerator, and flat-screen TV. If you’re traveling with little ones and in need of a crib or toddler bed, you’re out of luck at this location. They do not offer rollaway beds either. 

You can fuel up in the morning before you begin your park adventure with a continental breakfast or something else at the inn’s restaurant, Cactus Cafe. 

Your family’s favorite part of this hotel is likely to be the fun outdoor pool and water park. It’s amazing! Keep in mind since the pool is outdoors, it is seasonal. This means it may or may not be open, depending on the timing of your visit. When we visited in early March, the pool and surrounding water areas were closed.

We also love the picnic areas here, complete with a barbecue grill for guests who would like to cook during their visit. It really is a fun place to stay while exploring New Mexico! 

▶️ Check Rates & Book: White’s City Cavern Inn

Quality Inn & Suites Carlsbad Caverns Area – Mid-Range 

Quality Inn & Suites Carlsbad Caverns Area is a great place for families to stay when visiting Carlsbad Caverns. One of the best things about this hotel is that it offers free RV parking for those traveling in larger recreational vehicles. 

Both standard rooms and suites are available at this hotel. Rooms include typical features like free wifi and cable channels, as well as a microwave and refrigerator for guest convenience. This location does have rollaway beds on hand that can be requested for an extra fee. 

The 24-hour fitness center and outdoor areas are great spaces to hang out and enjoy the property. There are picnic tables near the outdoor pool as well as a garden and terrace to enjoy the space. 

▶️ Check Rates & Book: Quality Inn & Suites Carlsbad Caverns Area

Visiting Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands in One Day 

It’s possible to visit Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands in one day, but your itinerary will be full! We recommend being at Carlsbad Caverns when it opens at 8 am. Then spend a couple of hours taking in the sights of the Natural Entrance and The Big Room. 

After checking out the highlights at Carlsbad Caverns, you can jump in the car and head toward White Sands. After the 3 hours and 30 minutes of driving, you will be able to spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening sledding down gypsum dunes, driving through the park, or taking a park ranger-guided tour. 

Added Stop: Carlsbad Caverns to Guadalupe National Park

If you want to add even more adventure to your busy day, consider stopping by Guadalupe National Park. This park is only 35 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns, so it could be your first stop on your way to White Sands. 

Guadalupe National Park is known to be a very underrated national park, so you shouldn’t have to worry about crowds cramping your style here. Guadalupe Peak is an amazing highlight of this park, but the hike typically takes 6-8 hours. We all know you won’t have that much time to spare during this jam-packed day. 

Instead, we recommend taking the scenic drive to the Guadalupe Peak Viewpoint. This vantage point provides an incredible view of the highest point, the top of Guadalupe Peak. We also recommend the El Capitan Viewpoint as you make a quick journey through Guadalupe National Park. 

FAQ: Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands 

How far is carlsbad caverns from albuquerque .

Carlsbad Caverns is around 300 miles from Albuquerque. There are different routes to take between the two spots, so depending on which road you take, your trip could take 4 hours and 47 minutes or up to 5 hours and 28 minutes. 

How Close Are Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands? 

Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands are roughly a 3-hour and 30-minute drive apart. Depending on which route you take, you could travel 189 miles or 234 miles. 

The amount of time you spend walking through Carlsbad Caverns will depend on your personal preferences. Most people take somewhere between 2-4 hours to explore the full national park. 

That said, a condensed version of the Natural Entrance Trail and The Big Room could be done within 2 hours. 

How Long Does it Take to Explore White Sands? 

How much time you spend at White Sands will depend on the level of interest you have in the park and its associated activities. We recommend the better part of a day to explore this park. 

Is One Day Enough for Carlsbad Caverns? 

Yes, one day is enough time to explore the best of what Carlsbad Caverns has to offer. Most visitors spend somewhere between 2 to 4 hours in the park. 

Conclusion: Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands

The United States is full of hidden treasures like those you will come across on your journey from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands. We’re so glad you’re on the road to adventure and hope you enjoy both Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park!

Candice Steele is the owner of CS Ginger, a blog that helps travelers explore the United States in their RVs. Since 2017, she and her family have been providing valuable insider tips about travel experiences suitable for families. They love exploring the country in their RV and offer helpful insights to make RVing easy and family-friendly.

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Hello all, looking to visit family in Lubbock in late November (from the East Coast). After our visit, the husband wants to hike Guadalupe peak (the teenager does not want to commit to that 8 hour trek) and I want to see the Grand Canyon. Thinking we head to Carlsbad for a few days to hike and see the caverns, maybe Roswell (?) and then continue on.

Silver City looks like a good single night stopping point (Rt 62 to I-10 according to google maps) but wanting to see what stop others might suggest for the overnight in between Carlsbad NM and the Grand Canyon.

The plan would be to fly back to the east coast out of Flagstaff.

3 replies to this topic

One thing that would be helpful to know is the total amount of time you have for this trip. That may dictate the route and number of stops along the way.

Also, when planning the road trip, please remember that the driving time that Google Maps provides is "wheels actually turning" time. It does NOT include stops for food, fuel, rest breaks, or sightseeing. You can typically add 20% to 30% to your Google Maps driving time depending on your travel style (e.g., a one-hour sit-down lunch vs. 20 minutes at a fast food joint).

Being from Maine, you're used to winter driving, but keep in mind that the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is at about 7,000 feet elevation, so snow and cold weather are very real possibilities in late November.

Again, not knowing how much time you have for this trip, I would suggest something like this:

Day 1 - Drive 3.5 hours Lubbock to Carlsbad Caverns; explore 6 hours; drive 3.5 hours to Las Cruces, NM; overnight Las Cruces.

Day 2 - Drive 5 hours to Tucson; explore Saguaro NP Rincon (East) district; overnight Tucson

Day 3 - Explore Saguaro NP West district in AM; explore Tucson in afternoon; overnight Tucson

Day 4 - Drive 4.5 hours from Tucson to Sedona; explore Sedona in afternoon; overnight Sedona

Day 5 - Explore Sedona in morning; drive 3 hours to Grand Canyon Village; overnight GCV.

Day 6 - Explore GCNP; overnight GCV.

Day 7 - Drive GCV to Flagstaff.

Tucson has quite a bit to offer, and it's a foodie destination worthy of more than 2 nights/1 full day. Sedona and the surrounding area (Cottonwood/Jerome) is also worthy of more than 2 nights/1 full day to do it right. Grand Canyon is also worthy of 3 nights / 2 full days. That, of course, would extend my proposed plan above.

Enjoy your trip.

Grand Canyon is in full winter mode then

It’s also at higher elevation so you will be exposed to wind and wind chill expect highs of 20 + wind chill

At the time of your travel Carlsbad/ Guadeloupe and big bend will have better temps

You will be packing shorts and full winter clothing.

White Sands National Park is worth visiting.

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9 awesome National Parks you can do in a day

Posted: July 26, 2023 | Last updated: July 26, 2023

Our team adores National Parks, and while we’ve spent countless hours planning and executing days or even weeks-long trips around some of the best National Parks for hiking, we know that sometimes you’re short on time. While there are many parks that really merit a longer visit, such as Yosemite and Glacier, believe it or not there are actually some parks that you can do justice to in a day. In this gallery, we’ve picked some of our favorite National Parks that you can get a feel for in a day or less that still deliver mesmerizing natural landscapes and great hiking opportunities. And just so we’re clear here, you can definitely spend more time in any of these parks, but if you’re short on time, you can see a lot in just a few hours. 

By Julia Clarke

1. Bryce Canyon, Utah

Utah’s landscape feels a bit like landing on Mars and it’s certainly worth spending some time visiting its five National Parks such as Zion and Arches. However, one of its five parks really lends itself to a short visit, and that’s Bryce Canyon down in the southwest, about a two-hour drive from Capitol Reef. 

Bryce Canyon is famous for being home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos. A hoodoo is a tall, thin rock spire (sometimes called a tent rock or fairy chimney) and Bryce’s vast collection of them can be found on a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase. With its proximity to Zion and Capitol Reef, this park makes a great stop between the two where you can stretch your legs with a short, easy hike like Sunset to Sunrise and take in some stunning views.

2. White Sands, New Mexico

Considered one of the world’s great natural wonders, White Sands in southern New Mexico is the largest gypsum dune field on the planet. Thousands of years ago, this desert basin boasted lakes and grasslands, but slow desert warming dissolved the gypsum from the surrounding mountains, leaving an otherworldly swath of white gypsum sand today. 

Hiking is a great way to get a feel for the landscape and there are boardwalk and sand trails, but you can also enjoy the vistas via a 16-mile drive of the stunning Dunes Drive Road, which takes under an hour.

3. Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

In Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park gets the most attention and it’s such a big park that the best way to do it justice is to spend a few days there. The state, however, has a few other National Parks that are equally splendid and easy to see in a day.

Take Great Sand Dunes down near Pueblo, for example. This park is often overlooked because it sounds, well, just like a giant sandbox. In reality, here you’ll find virtual mountains of wind-sculpted sand, some up to 750 feet high, making up the tallest sand dunes in North America over an area of about 30 square miles. The otherworldly dunes were formed by sediment from the surrounding mountain ranges after lakes receded from the San Luis Valley and are a must-see in Colorado. 

The best time to see the sand dunes is at sunset, so plan to arrive by the late afternoon to head up the dunes.

4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado

If you’re touring Colorado, make sure to stop off and gawp at the Black Canyon off the Gunnison in the southwestern part of the state near Montrose. 

Sometimes described as the Grand Canyon in miniature, this 48-mile long canyon plunges over 2,000ft into the earth and is easily big and deep enough to be vertigo-inducing. Carved out by the Gunnison River, and time, this near-vertical canyon is so-named because it is so deep that parts of the river receive no more than 33 minutes of sunlight per day. Fourteen miles of the canyon were declared a National Park in 1999 offering visitors the chance to marvel at geological history like the 2,250ft Painted Wall, the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado as well as activities like hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and camping.

Head to the ranger station on the North Rim for a quick view, or from there you can pick up the North Vista Trail and hike for up to seven miles.

5. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns are in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico and while there are above-ground with hiking trails that take you across the ancient sea ledges and deep rocky canyons, the true appeal of Carlsbad Caverns are its 119 caves, the longest of which is over 120 miles. 

You can explore the caves on your own, but the best way to see them, especially if you’re short on time, is to book a ranger tour. The landscape here was once part of an ancient underwater reef called Capitan Reef, and marine fossils can be found embedded in the rock.

6. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

If you’re heading down to south-central Kentucky, take a tour of these mammoth-sized caves with a park ranger. Not only is the cave system here twice as long as the next longest one (in Mexico), it might be even longer than we think. Some 400 miles of it have already been mapped out, but geologists think there may be another 200 miles of undiscovered cave system to go. 

Most of the tours take around two hours so you can learn all about the fascinating subterranean geology between breakfast and lunch.

7. Pinnacles, California

A little south of the Bay Area and inland from Carmel lies Pinnacles and as one of the smaller National Parks, it’s easy to see a lot in a day here. The landscape on show at Pinnacles displays started forming 23 million years ago, when multiple volcanoes erupted on the San Andreas fault 200 miles away and flowed to eventually form spectacular rock spires that are popular today among rock climbers. 

Visitors here can explore eroded vestiges of a long extinct volcano, high rock walls, talus caves that are home to over 13 species of bats as well as excellent bird watching including peregrine falcons and California Condors which are released here. 

8. Wind Cave, South Dakota

With 154 miles of explored passages, Wind Cave is the the third-longest cave in the US and the seventh-longest in the entire world. The cave is known for its extensive calcite formations, in particular honeycomb-like boxwork formations, and is so-named because the passage of air within the caves makes it feel as though it is breathing. You can only explore the cave in a ranger-guided tour and advance bookings are recommended.

9. Congaree, South Carolina

Congaree National Park is one of the least crowded National Parks in the country, lying down in South Carolina along the Congaree River. At less than 27,000 acres, it’s relatively small but protects the largest portion of old-growth floodplain forest remaining in North America and the tallest trees in the eastern United States. 

If you’re just stopping by, the 2.6-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail is the main hiking attraction, taking you on a raised wooden path through the swamp and diverse forest, but you can explore deeper into the backcountry with trails made for tree viewing and bird watching, all for free.

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Last updated: March 19, 2024

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