The best camping near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Carlsbad Caverns National Park adventure.

Explore an underground wonderland in the Chihuahuan Desert.  

Popular ways to camp

Top-rated campgrounds near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

17%
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Coyote Flats RV Park

8 sites · RVs10 acres · Carlsbad, NM
Welcome to Coyote Flats RV Park! Nestled in Carlsbad, we are the newest, well-kept park in the area that welcomes extended stays. We offer 260 full hook-up sites with private cement patios, strong WiFi, a state-of-the-art laundry facility, a shower facility, gravel roads, a playground, a dog park, a sand volleyball pit, a covered picnic area, outdoor grills, and fireplaces, and more. Our campground is quiet and settled within a residential area. We also offer storage for your vehicles and RV's. You'll find many attractions nearby such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Living Desert State Park and Zoo, and the Carlsbad Waterpark! All facilities are electronic and can be paid for through credit/debit card. Cash payments will not be accepted once you have arrived at the park. Please note that additional fees may apply for pets, vehicles, etc. We have a $100 deposit is required at check-in. Refundable at check out if the site is left clean and no damage has been done.
Pets
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from 
$40
 / night
89%
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Country RV Park

20 sites · RVs3 acres · Carlsbad, NM
Welcome to Country RV Park Take a break and spend some quality time with your loved ones. If you are planning to have a short drive to see Carlsbad Caverns or go camping for a quick getaway, Country RV Park in Carlsbad, NM is the spot for you. From secure parking spaces to fully-equipped patio sites, our recreational vehicle park and campsite have them all. Our spacious sites can accommodate any sized rig and all of our sites are back in sites. We invite you to continue browsing to find out more about our company and services. Recreational Vehicle Park Like No Other Here at A Country RV Park, we support your love for recreational vehicles and road trip adventures. Enjoy a cozy RV camping with us. Some of our park amenities include BBQ area, dog run, laundry room, Wi-Fi, a RV wash, free ice and more! For the full list of facilities and services offered at our parking space and campsite, get in touch with us. Visit our Cozy RV Park Today For an exciting camping trip or a relaxing stay, visit A Country RV Park. We have a range of amenities for all your RV camping or stopover needs.
Pets
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from 
$42
 / night

The best camping near Carlsbad Caverns National Park guide

Overview

About

Though the focal point of this park is underground, Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers beauty and recreation above the surface, too. Take a guided cave tour—or explore on your own. Pick any of the 10 hiking trails to explore New Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert landscape. At dawn or dusk, watch the daily flight of the Brazilian free-tailed bats that call the cavern home. Though the National Park Service does not offer any campgrounds in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, backcountry camping is allowed by permit. Three designated campgrounds are available at Texas’ Guadalupe Mountains National Park, approximately 40 minutes away.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for RVers: Brantley Lake State Park offers full and partial hookups at campsites 45 minutes north of Carlsbad Caverns.
  • Best for boondocking: A number of boondocking sites and primitive campgrounds are available on nearby lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
  • Best for backpackers: Secure a free permit for backcountry camping at the visitor center and find your own spot in the desert for tent camping.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • Camping reservations through the NPS for Guadalupe Mountains National Park’s Pine Springs Campground and Dog Canyon Campground  may be made online up to 6 months in advance.
  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park’s campgrounds offer both tent sites and RV sites. No hookups are available.
  • Reservations for Brantley Lake State Park may be made online up to 6 months in advance.
  • BLM lands offer first-come-first-served camping spots.
  • Numerous private RV parks with full hookups and other amenities may be found in the nearby towns of Whites City and Carlsbad.

When to go

Summer is monsoon season at Carlsbad Caverns, with daytime temperatures sometimes topping the 90s. Afternoon thunderstorms may be expected. Conditions cool quickly in the desert evenings. July and August are the best months for the bat viewing. Spring and fall are pleasant, with highs in the 60s and 70s. Plan for chilly nights. Winter is a good time for visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, though campers may encounter freezing temperatures and occasional snows.

Know before you go

  • A variety of ranger-led guided tours are offered, and reservations may be made in advance by phone or on the Recreation.gov website.
  • Temperatures in the caverns vary based on location, unlike many cave systems where temperatures are steady. The large natural entrance and a cave system that goes more than 1,000 feet below the surface lead to variable conditions.
  • The Big Room is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • Audio guides are available for self-guided tours.
  • The park offers a night sky program, held after the bat flight program select weekends in summer and fall. Park rangers provide “tours” of the stars above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Camping is not allowed within Carlsbad Caverns National Park itself. However, you can find camping options nearby, such as at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which is about a 40-minute drive from Carlsbad Caverns. The Pine Springs Campground and Dog Canyon Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park offer tent and RV camping on a first-come, first-served basis.

The "Bottomless Pit" is a famous feature in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but it is not truly bottomless. The name comes from the fact that, in the early days of the cave's exploration, the depth of the pit was difficult to determine due to the darkness and the way debris would seemingly disappear when thrown into it. In reality, the Bottomless Pit is approximately 140 feet (42.7 meters) deep. It is still an impressive and fascinating feature within the caverns, and visitors can see it during their tour of the cave.

The best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns is during the spring and fall months, specifically between April and May or September and October. During these periods, temperatures are more moderate, making it comfortable to explore the caves and the surrounding area. Additionally, the park tends to be less crowded during these shoulder seasons, providing a more enjoyable experience. Keep in mind that the bat flight program, a popular attraction at Carlsbad Caverns, usually runs from late May to October, so if you're interested in witnessing this event, plan your visit accordingly.

Most visitors spend one to two days exploring Carlsbad Caverns. One day is sufficient to tour the main caverns, including the Big Room and Natural Entrance. If you'd like to experience additional cave tours or explore the surrounding area, consider spending two days at Carlsbad Caverns.

Top points of interest near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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