Carlsbad Holidays 2026 & 2027

Set along the Pecos River in the Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad offers underground exploration, riverside recreation, desert scenery and easy access to some of New Mexico’s beautiful natural wonders.

Most people come to Carlsbad – and will even make a detour off the Route 66 – to see the world-famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is home to more than 119 caves formed over millions of years as sulfuric acid dissolved the region’s surrounding limestone. From massive rock formations and high ceilings to intricate underground passages and some of the largest cave chambers in all of North America, the Caverns are easily worth the trip in and of themselves.

But, while Carlsbad is generally used as a base for exploring the region’s world-class sites, it has its own charms too. Lake Carlsbad Beach Park is a recreational oasis right in the centre of town on the Pecos River offering swimming, sandy areas and picnic spots. Sitting Bull Falls is a desert oasis on the western edge of the city tucked into the nearby Lincoln National Forest Foothills, and boasts a series of stunning spring-fed waters as well as a small swimming and recreational area. And the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, also located just outside of the city, is a sanctuary that lets visitors see the native plant and animal life of the arid Chihuahua Desert region in its natural habitat.

Visitors interested in exploring Guadalupe Mountains National Park will likely also want to pass through, as its 40-minute proximity allows one to explore the park’s rugged peaks, desert canyons and wonderful hiking trails as well as one of the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reefs.