Do you like dark, quiet places that make you question what you think you know about the planet? Come hang around with the bats and experience a universe that has never seen sunshine. Staring at the stalagmites and stalactites is just as fun as watching the clouds pass by in the sky as you let your imagination run wild… What do you see? Formations come in all shapes and sizes, it’s a museum of some of Mother Nature’s greatest works of art.
Carlsbad Caverns is probably one of the more famous of the national parks, and was also one of the first to come into existence. The park consists of an intricate maze of underground caves as well as the ground above them. Apparently there is a cave larger than the one currently open to the public which is used solely for scientific research, as these are some of the few places on the planet with little to no human interference. Outside the main cave there is a large visitor center and amphitheater from which visitors can participate in various activities led by the rangers.
Reception is weak around the mouth of the cave, but visitors can still find a signal. Once underground, there is nothing. Carrying a park map is always helpful, but the caverns are well labeled, and it isn’t an absolute necessity to have one while wandering around down there. If you go without a specific plan, head straight to the ticket counter at the visitor center during operating hours. You can talk to a park ranger about your options here or at the information desk. They are there to help you make your adventure the best they can, but be mindful as to not take up too much of their time so they can do their jobs and help other people, too!
When to go and how long
One of the best things about Carlsbad Caverns is that this destination can be enjoyed during any time of the year. With that said, some times of the year are better than others for one simple reason: BATS in the summertime.
The temperature within the cave fluctuates in the 50s F (~10-15 C). Some rooms in the cavern are colder than others. While it is not perfectly consistent, it doesn’t get much warmer or cooler than that.
Up on the surface, things are drastically different. Winters are cold and dry. Spring and fall are more mild, averaging in the 70s and 80s (~21-31 C). Summers are HOT. It is the middle of the desert out here. This is not the time of year for strenuous outdoor activities, but being down in the cave will feel like you are hanging out in the comfort of an air conditioned room. Wandering around the cavern at any point during the year will yield a similar experience.
Bats come from Mexico in the spring (late April/May) and migrate out of the area in the fall (around September/October). The exact dates will vary every year as they are based on weather and migration patterns. At the end of the season, apparently at some point in August, the baby bats will emerge from the cave for the first time, and this is when the most exciting bat flights take place because there are more of them. In the earlier part of the season (April/May), the bats do still fly out around sunset but the quantity will be less impressive than the end of the season. Every day is different, though. It is possible that they fly out so long after sunset, you wouldn’t be able to see them anyway because the sky is too dark.
Carlsbad Caverns can be enjoyed in one day. The park isn’t huge and aside from the cave itself, there aren’t many other major attractions in the park.
Where to stay
There are no overnight options inside the park (unless you are planning on camping in the backcountry, where a permit would be required).
White’s City, located just outside the park entrance about 15-minutes drive from the visitor center, has one RV campground and an inn, as well as a gas station and a couple small shops.
Carlsbad (the city) is about 35-45 minutes north of the visitor center and is where many people will stay when visiting this area. You will find plenty of other activities (more on this later) and loads of hotel options within the city limit. The Trinity Hotel is a famous landmark.
There are many RV campgrounds and primitive campgrounds in the surrounding areas.
Guadalupe National Park is about a 45 minute drive to the south and has three major campgrounds. (My detailed post on visiting Guadalupe National Park is linked here.)
How to get around
Drive. There is no public transportation to or within the park.
Walk. While the trails above ground are more primitive (maintained dirt paths), the entirety of the trail inside the cavern is paved and suitable for people with limited mobility. All cave walkways include guardrails. Visitors have the option to follow the trail of switchbacks in/out the cave or take the elevator.
Food and money
There is one restaurant at the visitor center at the back of the gift shop which operates from late morning to mid-afternoon (times vary by season). It is a great option for people who are doing multiple tours and those hanging around waiting for the bats to come out. Prices are mostly reasonable but options are very limited. If you are staying the entire day and don’t plan on driving back and forth to the city, packing a lunch is a good idea.
A variety of food options are available in the city of Carlsbad, and there is one little cafe in White’s Canyon (open Tuesday through Saturday).
Cavern entrance fee and private tours are currently $8 per person (as of 2024). The Big Room tour is the main attraction, and it is also included in the price of the other tours if you are able to get a spot. To do anything in the cave, you’re paying $8. Reserving your spot in advance costs an additional $1.
Lodging prices in the city of Carlsbad are mostly average. There’s a range of everything from nice hotels to cheap motels. Prices aren’t outrageous, but aren’t the cheapest.
Campsites in the surrounding areas are almost mostly average, and free camping is possible if you are comfortable driving out into the backcountry. The more developed campgrounds and RV parks near the city will be more expensive.
What to do at Carlsbad Caverns
Tour the cave. First tours begin at 830a and last entry is at 230p. (as of spring 2024)
All tours begin inside the cave, and you have two options for getting down there.
The elevator option will take you all the way from the visitor center directly into the cavern without any unnecessary walking. The second option gives visitors the opportunity to hike down into the mouth of the cave on a series of switchbacks which lead to the same point as the elevator drop off. The 1.25-mile trail to get down is fully paved and takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour. All guests are welcome to take the elevator back up, as the reverse hike is very strenuous and very few people choose to exit that way, although some do. Some of the coolest restrooms exist down in the cave by the elevator. There is an information desk down there as well, and it is also the meeting spot for the most exclusive tours. (Snacks used to be available for purchase down there, but it the area is currently undergoing construction and the kiosk is not in operation.)
Both the elevator and the hiking trail lead visitors directly to the Big Room, which is the most frequently visited attraction in the park. They have implemented a timed-entry system to ensure it doesn’t get too crowded down in the cave. Reservations are not necessary but always recommended, and cost $1 to reserve in advance. The Big Room consists of a giant paved loop trail which is mostly flat and a little over 1-mile long, and brings guests face-to-face with loads of cool formations. This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how slow you walk and how many photos you take. If you’re a photographer and/or hyper-interested in rocks and nature, you could probably spend more time…
There are currently two ranger-led tours offered in the caverns with limited spots available: Kings Palace and Lower Cave. The Kings Palace Tour brings guests into another massive room packed with beautiful formations similar to those found in the Big Room, and includes relevant commentary from a ranger (1.5 hour). The Lower Cave Tour has guests climbing around through caves and squeezing through small holes into other rooms full of formations (3 hours). Both tours include stairs and additional hiking. Half of these reservations are available to reserve in advance, and the other half are first come, first served. The reservable spots book long in advance and the day-of spots get filled first thing in the morning because there are very few spots, allowing only for limited number of people each tour.
The visitor center on ground level has a restaurant, museum, and two gift shops (one park-official store by the cave elevator exit, and the other by the restaurant with way more variety).
You can also hike on the grounds above the caves. There is a Desert Nature Trail that departs from the visitor center (just over 1 mile) and a few other outlooks and short trails (10-15 minute walks) scattered along the road on your way into the park.
Bat flight stuff
Watching the bat flight is an extremely popular attraction which can only be enjoyed seasonally. In the late spring, bats migrate back into the area after spending the wintertime in Mexico. Usually by the middle of the month of May, bats regularly fly out of the cave around sunset and return around sunrise. At the end of the summer (at some point in August), baby bats will emerge for the first time and the number of bats coming out at sunset is even more impressive. When it gets cold in the fall, the bats go back down to Mexico and the phenomenon will not be witnessed again until the next season. No tour into the cave will bring you into the area where the bats reside, so this is the only opportunity you have to see them. Absolutely no photography or use of your electronics is permitted during the bat flights. (Link to the NPS web page regarding the bat flight program)
For those who enjoy staring at the stars after dark, Carlsbad Caverns also offers guided night hikes and star parties. Night hikes require registration at the visitor center in advance.
Other stuff you may want to know before you go
Pack an extra layer of warmth if you get cold easily. Some people are totally fine in shorts and a tee shirt in 50 F, but many of us are not. 🤚
Water is the only thing you are allowed to consume in the cave. No outside food or flavored beverages. No smoking or vaping.
Yes, flash photography is okay inside the cave. 👍
Use your indoor voices unless you want everyone else touring the cave to also be part of your conversation. Noise travels far down in the cavern.
No pets in the cave. They have a dog kennel, so if you are traveling with your four-legged friend, there is a place for your pet to hang out and wait for you while you go on your tour. No overnights. (Follow this link to the website for additional information about boarding your cat or dog.) Different rules apply to service animals.
Other stuff to do in the area
The city of Carlsbad is packed with activities of all kinds:
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, guests seem to have a positive experience here, all the exhibits are related to the native flora and fauna. Open 9a-5p, last entrance at 330p.
- Lake Carlsbad Beach Park, also has a campground, but you don’t need to camp there to enjoy the shores and get some sunshine!
- Brantley Lake State Park, another lake area you can visit, also has a campground.
- Carlsbad Museum and Art Center, full of exhibits related to the history of the area, lots of indigenous artifacts.
- Carlsbad Water Park (summer only), this is your generic water park with slides, pools, and lots of splashing.
- Hike to Sitting Bull Falls, the walk is less than a mile and there are restrooms at the trailhead.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is about a 35-45 minute drive southwest of the visitor center. There are fantastic hiking options in this park, as well as an opportunity to learn about some local history. The park boundary sits right on the border of New Mexico in the state of Texas. (My detailed post about Guadalupe Mountains NP is also linked here.)
If you’re into outer space and aliens, the city of Roswell is about a 1-hour drive north. The entire community there is decorated with alien themed decor and murals. This was where the first “sightings” of UFO activity took place back in the 1940s.
White Sands National Park is a bit further away, but it does make for an absolutely beautiful pitstop for anyone on a road trip if you are coming from or heading west. Here you will be able to walk around some pristine white sand dunes, and it is an epic place to watch a sunset. It is about a 3.5-hour drive to the west of Carlsbad Caverns.
My thoughts
I really like this park. While it seems small compared to many others, most of the park is underground. I learned there is an even larger cave in the park that is *not* open to the public, as they are preserving it for research purposes.
Because the caverns aren’t influenced much by the weather, this makes for a really cool spot to hang out on a stormy day or when it’s really hot out. The other two national parks like this one (Mammoth Caves, Kentucky + Wind Cave, South Dakota) offer two very different experiences, but Carlsbad has made everything really easy for visitors and the bat flight is an epic bonus feature.
Have you been to Carlsbad Caverns National Park yet? Did you have a favorite formation? Did you do the Lower Cave Tour? What would you consider to be a must-see? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy traveling! 😊
(And always remember to follow #leavenotrace principles!)
🖤
Laura the explora: the blog 
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