Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Designation: National Park
Location: New Mexico
📘 Park Overview
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.
🌤 Weather Information
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!
🚗 Directions
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.
Images
Giant and Twin domes in the Big Room.
Credit: NPS / Michael Larson
Big Room
Credit: NPS / Eymard Bangcoro
Mule deer find food in a drainage.
Credit: NPS / Michael Larson
Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern
Credit: NPS / Eymard Bangcoro
Chandelier and Caveman formations.
Credit: NPS / Eymard Bangcoro
Yucca blooming
Credit: NPS / Eymard Bangcoro
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Monday, Jun 1
Sunny
High: 97.5°F | Low: 65.1°F
Humidity: 33%
Wind: 21.7 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 11.8
Sunrise: 05:51 AM
Sunset: 07:58 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (96%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 68.6°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Tuesday, Jun 2
Moderate rain
High: 91.1°F | Low: 67.9°F
Humidity: 50%
Wind: 27.3 mph
Rain Chance: 73%
UV Index: 11.5
Sunrise: 05:51 AM
Sunset: 07:59 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (90%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 67.5°F
Cloud Cover: 73%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Jun 3
Moderate rain
High: 85.2°F | Low: 65.2°F
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 28.4 mph
Rain Chance: 73%
UV Index: 8.8
Sunrise: 05:51 AM
Sunset: 08:00 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (83%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 64°F
Cloud Cover: 73%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Park Alerts
Park Events
Christmas Day: Cavern and Visitor Center Closed
Location: Cavern and Visitor Center
Date: Dec 25, 2016 12:00am to Dec 25, 2016 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight Program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program, an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: Mar 24, 2026 12:00am to Mar 31, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight Program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: Apr 9, 2026 12:00am to Apr 22, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: Apr 24, 2026 12:00am to Apr 30, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight Program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: May 8, 2026 12:00am to May 28, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight Program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: May 15, 2026 12:00am to May 31, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Star Viewing
Event will happen after the Bat Flight Program. Visitors should be mindful of their headlights. Turn them off after parking. Park facing toward the visitor center. Use red lens flashlights or headlamps if you have them.
Location: Viewing will take place in the east parking lot near the picnic benches
Date: May 24, 2026 12:00am to May 24, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Night Hike
This is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) round trip hike along an unimproved trail, marked only by stick posts and rock piles in low-light conditions. Sharp-pointed plants with thorns are very common along the trail with a slight but rocky slope.
Location: All hikes will begin after the Bat Flight Program. Meet the rangers at the park sign in front of the visitor center at the designated program time.
Date: May 29, 2026 12:00am to May 31, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Bat Flight Program
Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater, located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.
Programs may be cancelled in the event of lightning.
Location: The seating area where you will sit to watch the bats is located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, about a five minute walk from the visitor center.
Date: May 30, 2026 12:00am to Jun 30, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Star Viewing
Event will happen after the Bat Flight Program. Visitors should be mindful of their headlights. Turn them off after parking. Park facing toward the visitor center. Use red lens flashlights or headlamps if you have them.
Location: Viewing will take place in the east parking lot near the picnic benches
Date: Jun 12, 2026 12:00am to Jun 14, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220
🏤 Mailing Address:
3225 National Parks Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220
📞 Voice Phone: 5757852232
📞 Fax Phone: 5757852133
✉️ Email: cave_park_information@nps.gov