Carlsbad Caverns National Park

About Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park located in New Mexico. 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!

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.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

The general entrance fee for Carlsbad Caverns starts at $1 (which commonly covers entry for a single private vehicle and passengers for up to 7 consecutive days). The park offers several fee options: Timed Entry Reservation - Location ($1), Entrance - Per Person ($15). If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80) is highly cost-effective, as general entry to most parks will quickly offset the pass cost.

🥾 Things to Do

Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Astronomy, Stargazing, Camping, Caving, and 13 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.