National Park · New Mexico, United States
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park in New Mexico, United States, covering 46,766 acres (18,926 ha), established in 1930; it recorded 410,778 visits in 2025.
Photo: Eric Guinther, User:Marshman via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | New Mexico, United States |
| Area | 46,766 acres (18,926 ha) |
| Established | 1930 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 410,778 |
| Coordinates | 32.1700° N, 104.4400° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About 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.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild weather; summers are hot
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Carlsbad, New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | El Paso International Airport |
| Getting there | The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/180, approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | No |
|---|
Famous trails
- Natural Entrance Trail — 1.2 miles (2 km) — Moderate
Like Carlsbad Caverns National Park? Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) · El Paso, United States · 116.1 miles away
- Abraham González International Airport (CJS) · Ciudad Juárez, Mexico · 122.3 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in New Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Where is Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is in New Mexico, United States (32.1700° N, 104.4400° W).
When was Carlsbad Caverns National Park established?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park was established in 1930, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park covers 46,766 acres (18,926 ha).
How many people visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park each year?
It recorded 410,778 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
March to May and September to November — mild weather; summers are hot.
Does Carlsbad Caverns National Park have campgrounds?
No — Carlsbad Caverns National Park has no campgrounds.
How do I get to Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
The nearest town is Carlsbad, New Mexico. The nearest airport is El Paso International Airport. The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/180, approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_Caverns_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/cave/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/hiking.htm — Named trails, as stated by the source.