One Day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: A Unique Natural Wonder

Located in Southeastern New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns is a unique National Park to visit. Full of endless gorgeous calcite formations, it is most well known for its limestone “Big Room.” The Big Room is almost 4,000 feet long and 625 feet wide. It is the largest chamber in North America and a stunning sight to see. Opt to spend at least one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park as part of a New Mexico road trip.  

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History of Carlsbad Caverns National Park

In 1898, a young teenager named Jim White stumbled upon the caverns and explored the cavern with a homemade wire ladder. He named many of the rooms and features. Throughout the years, visitors have explored the caverns in various ways. On October 25, 1923, the Carlsbad Caverns officially became a National Monument and then a National Park in 1930. In 1932, an elevator was installed and the visitor’s center opened. Today, over 400,000 people visit the park a year. 

Best Time to Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Any time of the year is a great time to spend one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In the summer months, the weather outside can get quite hot, but the cave will stay cooler. March to May is a bit colder and windier while August and September get more rain. In the wintertime, the area may get snow and the roads can be icy, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. 

How to Get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park

To get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the closest major airport is in El Paso, Texas. If you are doing a New Mexico road trip, you could also fly into Albuquerque. 

If coming from El Paso, drive north on the 62 for 145 miles. You will see the entrance to the park on the left. 

From Carlsbad, New Mexico take the 62 south for about 20 miles. The entrance will be on your right. 

Transportation Around Carlsbad Caverns National Park

To get around Carlsbad Caverns National Park you will need a car. There is one main road to the caverns as well as another main road that heads to a few hiking trails. 

Hours and Admission

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open from 8am to 3pm. The last ticket is sold at 2:15pm for a cave entrance at 2:30pm. 

Admission is $15/person or free for 4 people with an America the Beautiful Pass. The ticket is good for 3 days.

Note: Due to COVID, you must have a reservation to visit the caverns. You can make your reservation online ahead of time. Tickets are limited to 1000 people per day. If you do not make a reservation, there is a high chance you will not get into the cave. This changed days before we visited. Therefore, we got there at 6:30am to ensure we would get a ticket for the day. I recommend not doing this and getting your reservation ahead of time. 

Where to Stay

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best National Park hotels here!

The best area to stay to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park is in Carlsbad, New Mexico. This smaller town is located about 30 minutes from the visitors center. We opted to stay at the Home2 Suites by Hilton which ended up being a great location. There really is nowhere closer to stay unless you opt to camp near the park. 

What to See During One Day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Although there are a few hiking trails, the main site to see during one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the caverns!

Natural Entrance Route

Distance: 1.25 miles (one way)

For those who rather, you can opt to take the elevator down, but I recommend taking the Natural Entrance Route into the caverns during your one day at Carlsbad Caverns. This is a pretty easy walk that is mostly downhill into the caverns. You get to go through the coolest-looking entrance. From there you follow a path throughout various rooms in the caverns. 

There are several switchbacks along the path that descend 750 feet into the cave called Devil’s Den through the main corridor. Along the way, you will pass by the Bat Cave where the bats take residence in the summer months. You will also pass by the Devil’s Spring, a cave pool. Then, you will pass by the Green Lake Overlook, which overlooks another lake in the caverns, and the Boneyard, an area with swiss-cheese like limestone rock. The end of the route passes by Iceberg Rock, a single-ton thousands of-year-old boulder that fell from the ceiling. 

Big Room Route

Distance: 1.25 miles (loop)

The most popular and basic tour route during one day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the Big Room Route. This 1.25-mile self-guided route takes you past the cave’s largest room that is 8.2 acres large. Throughout this route, you will pass by features such as the Bottomless Pit, Giant Dome, Rock of Ages, and the Painted Grotto. It typically takes people an hour and a half to get through this route. If you opt to take the elevator into the caverns, this is where it will take you.

Bat Flight Program

In the evening from about mid-May to October, you can attend a ranger talk about the Brazilian free-tailed bats that live in the cave. Once it grows dark, you can watch the bats fly out from the cave. 

More Than One Day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park?

If you want a full day, you can add these things to your one day at Carlsbad Caverns itinerary or opt to spend another day in the park.

Take a Ranger Led Tour

During non-COVID times, there are a ton of ranger-led tours you can take. These tours take you deeper into the caverns and some through some pretty unique areas. Some tour options include The Lower Cave, the Hall of the White Giant, Slaughter Canyon Cave, and Left Hand Tunnel Tours. 

Note that there are specific requirements for each type of tour. Some require crawling and climbing, so make sure to read the requirements prior to booking the tour. 

One of the most popular tours is the King’s Palace Tour. This 1.5-hour tour is through four scenic chambers and descends to the deepest portion of the cave at 830 feet. The entire path is 1-mile long and you will have to climb back up at the end. Reservations are recommended and there is a separate fee for this tour. 

Desert Hiking Trails

There are a few hiking trails you can opt to do around Carlsbad Caverns National Park. These trails go through the desert surrounding the area. You can see the different trails here. Make sure to bring plenty of water and try not to hike at the hottest part of the day. Some of the trails are short, and some are longer multi-day hikes. 

Head to Guadalupe Mountains National Park

If you have another day, head to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This park is technically located in Texas, but it is only a 20-minute drive from Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This park has a ton of awesome hiking trails and viewpoints. 

Tips for Spending One Day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

• Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction.
• It gets chilly in the caverns so have some sort of jacket even in the summertime. 
• No food is allowed in the caverns, plain water only.
• Use quiet voices in the cave as sound carries.
• You can bring a flashlight or headlamp but everything is pretty well lit. 
• For your safety, stay on the paths and use handrails as needed. 

Other Carlsbad, New Mexico Information

If looking for places to eat in Carlsbad, there are actually some pretty decent options. If you like tacos I recommend El Charro. If you want a nicer sit-down restaurant, Yellow Brix has some tasty options. The Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company had some unique beers and also great pizza. It was the perfect place to chill after lots of hiking. Carlsbad also has a Wal-Mart in case you forget anything. 

Spending a day at Carlsbad Caverns National Park will be the highlight of your New Mexico trip. If you have more time, opt to head to Texas or Arizona. Tucson or El Paso are fun cities to add on or Venture to White Sands National Park. No matter what, you will enjoy anything New Mexico has to offer. 

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