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.  

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Community favorites near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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Top-rated campgrounds near Carlsbad Caverns National Park

97%
(171)

Good Guad Land Co.

4 sites · RVs, Tents50 acres · Dell City, TX
Find extreme solitude and unforgettable views of Guadalupe Peak at this desert escape next to Guadalupe Mountains National Park! This is choose-your-own-adventure camping. The terrain is rugged, and the dust and wind blow some nights. Once you're here, there are zero amenities (other than picnic tables). If this sounds fine — you don't mind roughing it — you'll be sleeping under the stars at the foot of West Texas' tallest mountain range. And who else can say they've done that? Distance to nearby attractions: Guadalupe Mountains National Park Visitor Center, 11 miles; Black River Recreation Area, 42 miles; Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center, 52 miles Distance from nearby towns: Dell City, 34 miles; Van Horn, 56 miles; Carlsbad, 65 miles; El Paso, 104 miles
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$35
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100%
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Mountain View RV Park

1 site · RV5 acres · Salt Flat, TX
Family Owned RV Park Discover a peaceful retreat nestled in Dell City, TX, with full hook-ups and stunning views of the Guadalupe Mountains. Experience the best of nature and adventure! Experience the Uniqueness of Mountain View RV Park Tranquil Mountain Scenery - Easy Access to Outdoor Adventure - Central Location for Explore & Play - Stargazing Oasis
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from 
$30
 / night
Saved 3 times

More Travel Less Talk

7 sites · Lodging26 acres · Dell City, TX
Hello and welcome to More Travel Less Talk. All bookings are done through our website at "More Travel Less Talk". We are the closest privately owned campground to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and all hiking trails in the area. We do all of our bookings on our site, not here. Please go to our page and click the reserve button to book. Thanks. We are a small family owned "campground" that serves the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Salt Basin Dunes, and Dell City area. We cater to families and individuals looking for a true desert experience. We strive to provide a quiet, secluded, safe, friendly place for people looking for a unique experience in this amazing area. We offer the following services: Yurt rentals. Primitive tent camping sites. Group Sites Don't settle for a paved parking lot spot at the Guadalupe national park where you will be packed in like sardines for 30 dollars a night or a tent spot on top of your load neighbors. We have 26 acres of land you can explore and plenty of room between you and our other guests. We are conveniently located just 6 miles off of HWY 62/180 on FM 1576. 27 miles from Quadalupe National Park. Home of El Capitan and the highest peak in Texas. Just a quick 15 minutes from Dell City where you can stock up on supplies. Dell City is a beautiful and quaint farming community that offers two grocery stores, a NAPA, fueling stations, two restaurants, a post office, and a wonderful Hardware store owned and run by the Perry's. 14 miles to the Salt Basin Dunes. 70 miles (1 hour) from Carlsbad Caverns National Park If the idea of seeing a sky full of stars at night, being surrounded by all sorts of desert wildlife, being minutes away from some of the most amazing mountains and hikes you will ever experience, or just looking for a nice overnight experience while traveling or hiking....This is the place for you.
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from 
$75
 / 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.

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