Be sure to check out our 2 week Texas and New Mexico Itinerary and the Southwest Region page for other ideas around the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park!
*Last updated 9/5/2023
Best Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Table of Contents
How Long to Spend at Carlsbad National Park
Most people that visit Carlsbad Caverns only visit the cave, which takes about 3-6 hours depending on how long you spend in the cave and visitor center. Additionally, if you are visiting while the bats are in season, you will probably want to stay overnight so that you can see the bats fly out of the cave. However, there are numerous hikes above ground that you can take, so you could spend a few days if you are also looking to do some hiking.
About Carlsbad National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is great place to visit while you are in the New Mexico and west Texas area. We spent about a half day to see the caverns.
I would plan for at least 4 hours. This will allow you to stop in the visitor center, walk into the cave, tour the main cavern and then take the elevator back out.
Additionally, make sure to have time to spend 30 minutes to and hour in the visitor center, it is pretty big and the kids will have fun with interactive displays and information.
Getting into and out of the Cave
Unless you have medical reasons that requite taking the elevator into the cave, I would recommend taking the trail down into the cave. It is an amazing sight and definitely doable, even for most younger children.
However, I think most people choose to take the elevator back out, which is what we did. Additionally, the main cavern with the elevator is over 1000 feet deep, so it takes a long time to walk down and I’m sure an even longer time to walk up.
Watching the Bats
The Carlsbad bats are a popular sight and many people gather around to view them fly out of the cave every evening. However, be aware that the bats are migratory, so they fly south for the winter.
The NPS “bat flight” program runs from May to October and there is an amphitheater near the entrance where you can sit to watch the bats exit.
We were there in January, which was a wonderful time for cooler desert temperatures. Additionally, we were not able to see the bats since it was not the right season. However, I do remember seeing them as a kid and it was a very memorable sight to see!
Cave Formations
There is a lot to see in Carlsbad Caverns, so enjoy your time to walk around. I’ve included a few pictures of the formations, but cave picture just never do them justice. They really look so much more amazing in person!
Here are some of the spelotherms, which are formations made from dripping water. However, they are a very old due to the dry desert conditions.
- Columns
- Soda straws
- Draperies
- Helictites
- Popcorn
If you are interested in the geology of Carlsbad Caverns, be sure to check out the US Geological Survey site that details more information.
Also Consider Nearby
Finally, check out some of the other sights in the Southwest page. That would include visiting nearby White Sands NP, Big Bend NP and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Also, be sure to check out our 2 week Texas and New Mexico Itinerary!