Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park of the United States in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. This one stands 4 mi west of Whites City. It is run by the National Park Service. The 2025 count was 411K visitors.
A national park, 4 mi west of Whites City
March is the busiest month
March averages about 51,389 visitors, 2.5 times January. When to go ↓
Summers are hot
June, July and August highs run 94–95°, and about 121 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Whites City is inside the park
Whites City sits inside the park’s boundary. Where to stay ↓
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 84K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 96% of the 7,770 attractions we track.
Whites City is the nearest base
Whites City is 4 miles east, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
When to visit
Below are monthly visits and typical highs at Carlsbad Caverns.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park of the United States in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park is the show cave Carlsbad Cavern. Visitors can hike in on their own via the natural entrance or take an elevator from the visitor center.
The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/180, approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The park has two entries on the National Register of Historic Places: The Caverns Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. Approximately two-thirds of the park has been set aside as a wilderness area, helping to ensure that no future changes will be made to the habitat.
- Type
- National Park
- Established
- 1930
- Area
- 73 square miles
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- World Heritage Site (1995)
- Wikipedia readers
- 84K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/cave
Useful details
- Timed Entry Reservation - Location$1
- Per Person$15
Hotels and campgrounds near Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The nearest towns with places to stay are Carlsbad (57) and Whites City (5).
- 1Lechuguilla Cave
- 2Guadalupe Peak
- 3Guadalupe Mountains
- 4Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- 5Bat Flight Amphitheater
Carlsbad
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
32,524 people
20 mi northeast of the visitor center · 16 mi to the park
Compare 4 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad | 20 mi northeast | 30 min | 57 25 hotels · 9 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 18 RV parks | 32,524 | $200K | D |
| Whites City | inside the park | 5 min | 5 3 hotels · 1 campground · 1 RV park | — | — | — |
| Loving | 22 mi east | 30 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 RV park | 1,391 | $172K | — |
| La Huerta | 23 mi northeast | 35 min | 1 1 RV park | 1,288 | $345K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Make a day of it near Carlsbad Caverns
Other well-known places within 32 miles.
14 mi CaveLechuguilla Cave
231 mi MountainGuadalupe Peak
331 mi National ParkGuadalupe Mountains National Park206K visitors a year
421 mi GardenLiving Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
5in town TheatreBat Flight AmphitheaterPhoto credits
Lechuguilla Cave: Dave Bunnell / Under Earth Images, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Guadalupe Peak: Zereshk, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Leaflet, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park: J Dykstra, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bat Flight Amphitheater: Daniel Mayer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visitor numbers: 410,778 in 2025
Here are the yearly counts from 2016 to 2025.
Questions people have about Carlsbad Caverns
What town is Carlsbad Caverns National Park near?
Whites City, NM, about 4 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
October, with a high of 78°. March is the busiest month (about 51,389 visitors).
How many people visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park each year?
410,778 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 520,026, set in 2017.
What is the closest airport to Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM), about 15 miles away. The nearest big hub is El Paso (ELP), about 116 miles.
Where should I stay near Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Carlsbad (20 mi, 57 places to stay) and Whites City (4 mi, 5 places to stay).
Local tips in Whites City
There are no tips yet, so start one in Whites City’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.