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Whites City, New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Address:
Carlsbad Cavern Hwy, Whites City, NM
Directions:
Fifteen miles southwest of Carlsbad on US Hwy 62 to White's City, then follow Carlsbad Cavern Hwy several miles up into the hills to the cave entrance.
Hours:
Daily 8-7, cave 8:30-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
575-785-2232
Admission:
Adults $10.
RA Rates:
Major Fun
Save to My Sights
Carlsbad Caverns

Lovely formations; flat floors; nice, big, dry rooms; and an underground restaurant. It's the tourist cave of your dreams.

Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Visitor Tips and News About Carlsbad Caverns

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Carlsbad Caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns

Beautiful surrounding area and breathtaking views inside Carlsbad Caverns. A lot of walking, with few bathrooms inside the caverns.

[Jackie, 08/01/2018]
Carlsbad Caverns

The Carlsbad Caverns elevator has been down for several months. It's a fairly strenuous hike 720 feet down and back up, but doable if you hike at all. If can't hike, suggest calling first to see if the elevator is working.

[Joyce Mccaslin, 02/19/2016]

After several unsuccessful repair attempts, the elevator was finally restored to working order in mid-August 2016.

Carlsbad Caverns

Fantastic visit. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the self-guided tour. It's fun to find a restaurant and gift shop down in the caverns. Something new that started this year: the Caverns are now closed on Thanksgiving Day.

[Roger Sleight, 01/01/2015]

We wonder if the Caverns ever served Thanksgiving turkey dinner in its underground restaurant?

Natural cave entrance.

Carlsbad Caverns

The real fun at Carlsbad Caverns is when you hike one mile down through the natural entrance. It's a bit challenging for some people, but you definitely see all ages doing it and it's worth the effort.

The sunset bat fly-out can be watched from the amphitheater at the natural entrance every evening. It's an incredible sight -- if the crowd follows the rules outlined by the park rangers (The crowd must be quiet or it affects the number of bats that come out and it's much more spectacular if the bats are more plentiful). Worth driving back out there at sunset to witness!

[JC, 07/30/2013]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Ten-Foot-Tall Green AliensTen-Foot-Tall Green Aliens, Whites City, NM - 4 mi.
Apache Canyon Trading PostApache Canyon Trading Post, Whites City, NM - 5 mi.
Flying Paper Boy of the GuadalupesFlying Paper Boy of the Guadalupes, Queen, NM - 17 mi.
In the region:
Project Gnome Atomic Explosion Site, Loving, NM - 34 mi.

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