Carlsbad Caverns New Mexico is one of three amazing National Park caves in the United States. This cave is known for it’s Carlsbad Cavern bats which take flight nightly at dusk for much of the year. Carlsbad Caverns is full of spectacular cave formations with names like Rock of Ages, Giant Dome, and Bottomless Pit.
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Where to Stay in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
There’s no lodging or camping inside the national park, but there are several options for places to stay near Carlsbad Caverns. Hotels near Carlsbad Caverns include many popular hotel chains, so you can get free breakfast for your stay or use points you’ve accumulated to book your room.
If you’re looking to stay close to the park, White’s City Cavern Inn is one of the best Carlsbad Caverns hotels with less than a 15 minute drive to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center.
Carlsbad Caverns RV Park and Campgrounds
As for Carlsbad Caverns camping, you’ll find both boondocking and RV parks within a 30 minute drive. Small trailers and motorhomes will find oversized parking at Carlsbad Caverns for their visit, but we wouldn’t recommend visiting with long trailers during peak season. Campgrounds near Carlsbad Caverns include Whites City RV Park, Hildalgo RV Park, and Carlsbad RV Park. Carlsbad Caverns RV Park is just under a 30 minute drive away in the town of Carlsbad and has the most campground amenities. We stayed at a free Carlsbad Caverns National Park camping area during our visit that we found on Campendium.
When is the Best Time to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Summer in Carlsbad Caverns New Mexico is very hot, so that might not be the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park. But since the cave temperature is so cool, it would be a great activity for a warm day. If you’d like to see the Carlsbad Caverns bats, you’ll want to visit between spring and fall, when the bats are active at the cavern. This is one of the most popular things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, so don’t visit in the winter months if you want to see this.
Things To Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Tour the Carlsbad Caverns Big Room
The main cave portion of Carlsbad Caverns available for touring is called the Big Room. This mostly accessible 1.25 mile path takes about 90 minutes to walk, but there is also a shortcut partway through the 1 way route. There are 2 ways to access the Carlsbad Caverns Big Room. Guests can take an elevator that descends 750 feet from the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center. Or they can take the Natural Entrance trail.
Natural Entrance Hike
Taking the Natural Entrance is one of the most popular things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and most Carlsbad Caverns National Park reviews mention it. The path starts with a steep switchback descent into the cave. Visitors continue to descend along a paved pathway with railings as their eyes get adjusted to the dark. It surprised us just how many switchbacks and steeply sloped paths there were along the 1.25 mile route. Check out the 3D map in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center to see just how long and deep this trail goes. Plan on a 1 hour downward walk to reach the Big Room. (So you’ll need a total of 2-2.5 hours to do the Natural Entrance and the Big Room Carlsbad Caverns.) Then you’ll exit via the Carlsbad Caverns elevator.
Ranger Guided Tour
This 90 minute tour of King’s Palace and other chambers of the cavern that are only accessible on the tour. This isn’t one of the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns for families with young kids though, because the minimum age for the tour is 6 years old. Be sure to book your tickets in advance, because they will sell out.
See the Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight
Beginning in early spring and ending in October, the Carlsbad Caverns bats will exit the cave at dusk.
Audio Tour
Rent an audio device for a small fee to learn more about the cavern at each of the numbered markers.
Underground Lunchroom
If you visit during peak season, you can purchase a snack down in the cavern. This is one of the most unique things to do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the lunchroom has a quirky little history all of its own.
Hiking in Carlsbad Caverns
If you’d like to hike during your visit, there are a few trails in the park. But since the cavern is part of the same mountain range as Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we decided to save our hiking days for our visit there.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center
Make sure you save some time to explore the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center. Hands-on exhibits, a 3D model of the cave trail system, and information about the animals who live in the cave educate visitors about the cave before they even see it. You’ll also find a gift shop, bookstore, restaurant, and kennel facilities here.
Carlsbad Caverns Scenic Drive
If you enjoy the winding road up to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center, be sure to drive the 9 mile Walnut Canyon Desert Drive before you leave.
Tips for Visiting Carlsbad Caverns
Timed entry Carlsbad Caverns reservations are required to spread out visitors in the cave and make the self-guided tour more enjoyable for everyone. You can book your time slot in advance online. We visited in the winter, when visitation is low, so we didn’t have to plan very far in advance, but that might be very different in the busier months. Then when you arrive, you’ll need to swap your Carlsbad Caverns reservations for physical tickets for your group.
Make note of the latest entry time and the time the cavern closes for the day. The latest you can enter the cave will be more than an hour before the cavern closes for the day.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and take a light jacket. The Carlsbad Caverns temperature instead of the cave is 56 degrees.
If this is your first visit to a National Park, check out our tips here.
Best Things To Do Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park – It takes less than an hour to drive from Carlsbad Caverns to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, so visiting these parks back to back is an easy decision! Enjoy a hike or two in Guadalupe Mountains along with your Carlsbad Caverns bats sighting and cave tour.
White Sands National Park – While not as close as Guadalupe Mountains, the drive from Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands National Park is less than 4 hours. From the Carlsbad Caverns National Park reviews we’ve seen, many people build a road trip, stopping at all 3 National Parks.
Sitting Bull Falls – This small desert waterfall is also a popular picnic area.
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park – If you don’t spot any desert wildlife from Carlsbad Caverns to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, this small zoo is a great place to see native reptiles, bison, roadrunners, javalina, and birds of prey. There’s also a nature trail of native desert plants.
Carlsbad Museum and Art Center – This free museum displays local history and art.
Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area – A great place for biking, fishing, boating, and swimming.
Carlsbad Water Park – If you’re visiting Carlsbad Caverns in the summer months, enjoy cooling off at the local water park.
1 Day Carlsbad Caverns Itinerary
Plan to arrive at Carlsbad Caverns about an hour before your cave entrance time, so you have plenty of time to tour the Visitor Center. Rent an audio device if you’d like one and pick up your printed ticket. If you have time for a 2.5 mile walk (about 2.5 hours), exit the Visitor Center and make your way to the Natural Entrance. If not, you can take the Carlsbad Caverns elevator to descend directly to the cavern. Enjoy walking the Carlsbad Caverns Big Room and seeing the wide variety of cave formations. If it’s open, have a snack at the Underground Lunchroom.
If you’re visiting during the right time of year, you’ll want to save some time in the evening to see the Carlsbad Caverns bats. But first, enjoy the scenic Walnut Canyon Desert Drive and then have dinner in the Visitor Center’s restaurant.
2 Day Carlsbad Caverns Itinerary
If you’d like to spend 2 days in Carlsbad Caverns, book the ranger tour for your first day so you can learn all about the park. Then at dusk, attend the Carlsbad Caverns bat flight program.
On your second day, follow 1 day itinerary and explore the rest of the things to do at Carlsbad Caverns National Park at your own pace.
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Kids – 2025 Guide
