Carlsbad Caverns National Park
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. — nps.gov
Carlsbad Caverns National Park at a glance
- State
- New Mexico
- Established
- May 14, 1930
- Size
- 46,766 acres
- 2025 visits
- 410,778
- Busiest-park rank
- #46 of 63
- Entrance
- $15 / person
Best time to visit
When is Carlsbad Caverns quiet?
Carlsbad Caverns is busiest in July and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, February is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 410,778 recreation visits, the #46 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Carlsbad Caverns open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: JanuaryBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Carlsbad Caverns
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
Book ahead
Timed-entry reservation to enter Carlsbad Cavern (by elevator or on foot)
Year-round · $1 reservation, plus the $15 per-person entrance fee
“A timed entry reservation must be purchased to access Carlsbad Cavern. In addition, an entry pass must be purchased at the visitor center.”
Things to do
Things to do in Carlsbad Caverns
- Bat Flight Program0-60 Minutes · Summer, Fall
Enjoy an evening ranger talk about the park's population of Brazilian Free-tailed Bats and experience their emergence from Carlsbad Cavern.
- Walnut Canyon Overlook Trail5 Minutes · All year
This short 180 yards (165 m) paved walkway provides great views of Walnut Canyon.
Pets OK - Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail30 Minutes · All year
Enjoy views of the Guadalupe Mountains and explore Chihuahuan Desert plant life along this short 0.7 mile (1.1 km) loop trail.
Pets OK - Explore the Cavern at Your Own Pace1-3 Hours · All year
The Big Room and Natural Entrance trails can be enjoyed at your own pace. The Big Room Trail is easy to moderate in difficulty. The Natural Entrance Trail is strenuous. Enjoy one or both to experience a variety of cave…
Reservation/permitFee - Night Sky Programs1-2 Hours · Summer, Fall
Enjoy the night sky at Carlsbad Caverns National Park during a ranger-led night sky program.
- Walnut Canyon Desert Drive1 Hour · All year
Discover canyon views, desert plants, and wildlife along this unpaved road.
Pets OK - King's Palace Tour90 Minutes · All year
The King's Palace Tour takes visitors through four highly decorated chambers and the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public.
Reservation/permitFee - Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail90 Minutes · All year
A scenic 0.5 mile (1 km) hike that leads to viewpoints overlooking Slaughter Canyon.
Show all 17 things to doShow fewer
- Old Guano Trail2 Hours · All year
- Juniper Ridge Trail3 Hours · All year
- Lower Cave Tour3 Hours · All yearReservation/permitFee
- Lower Rattlesnake Canyon Trail3 Hours · All year
- Upper Rattlesnake Canyon Loop Trail4 Hours · All year
- Slaughter Canyon Trail7 Hours · All year
- Yucca Canyon Trail9 Hours · All year
- Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT)5-6 Days · Winter, Spring, FallReservation/permitFee
- Rattlesnake Springs Picnic AreaAll yearPets OK
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Astronomy44
- Birdwatching48
- Camping60
- Caving7
- Dining20
- Food46
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs25
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Picnicking34
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking22
- Stargazing39
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southeast New Mexico. Summers are hot with temperatures between 90°F (32°C) and low 100s °F (38°C). Windy conditions and mild temperatures are common in early spring (March-May) with frequent rain in early fall (August-September).
This part of the country also sees cold temperatures in the winter with occasional snow and icy conditions. Most days, the park is enveloped by a gorgeous blue sky with very few clouds, 278 sunny days a year!
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Carlsbad Caverns
To access the park's only entrance road, New Mexico Highway 7, turn north from US Hwy 62/180 at White's City, NM, which is 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Carlsbad, NM and 145 miles (233 km) northeast of El Paso, TX. The entrance road stretches a scenic seven miles (11.3 km) from the park gate at White's City to the visitor center and cavern entrance.
The address for the park's visitor center is 727 Carlsbad Caverns Hwy, Carlsbad, NM, 88220, located 27 miles (43 km) from the town of Carlsbad.
727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway, Carlsbad, NM, 88220 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Carlsbad Caverns
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park25 mi~1 h drive (est.)
- White Sands National Park113 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Big Bend National Park212 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- Petrified Forest National Park360 mi~9 h drive (est.)
- Saguaro National Park363 mi~9 h drive (est.)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve395 mi~9 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: San Antonio (403 mi) · Austin (421 mi) · Dallas (456 mi) · Oklahoma City (465 mi)
Road trip
Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains & White Sands
3 parks, about 128 miles between them (~3 h of driving, estimated).
Carlsbad Caverns is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Carlsbad Caverns National Park
FAQ
Carlsbad Caverns, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in February, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
- $15 / person. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 2026?
- Yes, for some visits: Timed-entry reservation to enter Carlsbad Cavern (by elevator or on foot) Year-round Cost: $1 reservation, plus the $15 per-person entrance fee. (checked on nps.gov, October 1, 2026).
- What are some things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 17 things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, including Bat Flight Program, Walnut Canyon Overlook Trail, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, Explore the Cavern at Your Own Pace, Night Sky Programs. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Carlsbad Caverns National Park become a national park?
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park was established as a national park on May 14, 1930.
- What is the closest national park to Carlsbad Caverns?
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about 25 miles away in a straight line (roughly 1 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Carlsbad Caverns National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Carlsbad Caverns National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/cave.
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