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
Thursday, Feb 19
Sunny
High: 68.7°F | Low: 46.4°F
Humidity: 26%
Wind: 30.2 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.2
Sunrise: 06:36 AM
Sunset: 05:47 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (3%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 43.7°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Friday, Feb 20
Sunny
High: 63.5°F | Low: 38.8°F
Humidity: 48%
Wind: 34.7 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.2
Sunrise: 06:34 AM
Sunset: 05:48 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (7%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 40.5°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, Feb 21
Sunny
High: 61.5°F | Low: 34.3°F
Humidity: 31%
Wind: 13 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.3
Sunrise: 06:33 AM
Sunset: 05:49 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (14%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 34.2°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (3)
High Wind Warning issued February 18 at 8:51PM MST until February 19 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Effective: Feb 18, 2026 10:51pm
Expires: Feb 19, 2026 1:45pm
* WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, west winds 35 to 55 mph with
gusts up to 75 mph. For the High Wind Watch, west winds 30 to 50
mph with gusts up to 70 mph possible.
* WHERE...Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
* WHEN...For the High Wind Warning, until 9 PM MST /10 PM CST/
Thursday. For the High Wind Watch, from Friday morning through
Friday evening.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile
vehicles like campers, vans, and tractor trailers. Severe
turbulence near the mountains will be hazardous for low flying
light aircraft. Aviation interests may experience localized but
extreme turbulence, or strong downward airflows if flying in the
near the Guadalupe Mountains.
High Wind Watch issued February 18 at 8:51PM MST until February 20 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Effective: Feb 18, 2026 10:51pm
Expires: Feb 19, 2026 1:45pm
* WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, west winds 35 to 55 mph with
gusts up to 75 mph. For the High Wind Watch, west winds 30 to 50
mph with gusts up to 70 mph possible.
* WHERE...Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
* WHEN...For the High Wind Warning, until 9 PM MST /10 PM CST/
Thursday. For the High Wind Watch, from Friday morning through
Friday evening.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile
vehicles like campers, vans, and tractor trailers. Severe
turbulence near the mountains will be hazardous for low flying
light aircraft. Aviation interests may experience localized but
extreme turbulence, or strong downward airflows if flying in the
near the Guadalupe Mountains.
Fire Weather Watch issued February 19 at 2:52AM CST until February 20 at 8:00PM CST by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Effective: Feb 19, 2026 3:52am
Expires: Feb 19, 2026 4:00pm
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF
20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT, AND HIGH
FIRE DANGER ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, UPPER TRANS PECOS, PERMIAN
BASIN, VAN HORN CORRIDOR, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND MARFA PLATEAU...
The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Fire
Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from Friday morning through Friday evening.
* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent.
* RFTI...4 or near critical.
* IMPACTS...
* SEVERITY...
FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5).
WEATHER...Near Critical...2 (out of 5).
FIRE ENVIRONMENT...5 (out of 10).
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
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