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Carslbad caverns

Quick Facts | Top Experiences | Best time to Visit | Guides

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, tucked beneath the Chihuahuan Desert in southeastern New Mexico, is home to more than 119 awe-inspiring caves carved from limestone over millions of years. Its star attraction, the Big Room, is the largest accessible cave chamber in North America and is big enough to fit 6 football fields inside! From late spring through early fall, visitors can also witness the evening flight of hundreds of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats emerging from the caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns Quick Facts

Native Lands: Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache) and
Mescalero Apache (Native Land Digital).

Founded: May 14, 1930

Annual Visitors: ~460,000 visitors in 2024

Size: 46,766 acres

Location: New Mexico

Entrance Fee: $15/person (Free for ages 15 and under)

Top Experiences in Carlsbad Caverns

  1. Hike down the 1.5-mile Natural Entrance Trail
  2. See the bats from May to October
  3. Drive the Scenic Drive up to the Visitor Center and read about the natural and human history of the area
  4. Go on a guided ranger tour to the King’s Palace
  5. Explore the Big Room Loop

Best Time to Visit Carlsbad Caverns

The most popular time to visit Carlsbad Caverns is from May to October, when above-ground temperatures are mild and bat season is in full swing. Although we just missed watching the bats during our visit in April, we enjoyed cooler above-ground weather and fewer crowds.

No matter when you go, the caverns stay a constant 56°F year-round, making them comfortable to explore anytime. That being said, above ground in the summer can be brutal, with daytime temps reaching over 100°F.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guides

Carlsbad Caverns Videos

Watch us explore two National Parks in two days on YouTube! We explore Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands in two unbelievable days.

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