Carlsbad travel guide

Carlsbad Tourism | Carlsbad Guide

You're Going to Love Carlsbad

With a population of 26,138, Carlsbad is a must-see destination in New Mexico, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Carlsbad deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Carlsbad

Carlsbad in December
Estimated hotel price
$132
1 night at 3-star hotel
Carlsbad in December
Estimated hotel price
$132
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Carlsbad in June, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 95 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 28.4 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 2.3″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Carlsbad, with an average rainfall of 0.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Carlsbad

Plane

When flying to Carlsbad, you’ll arrive at Carlsbad Cavern City (CNM), which is located 10 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Carlsbad departs from Portland and takes around 22h 06m.

Car

Another option to get to Carlsbad is to pick up a car rental from El Paso, which is about 225 km from Carlsbad. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Dollar, among others, in El Paso.

Bus

Carlsbad’s bus station is located 0.3 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Carlsbad, you’ll arrive at Carlsbad Cavern City (CNM), which is located 10 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Carlsbad departs from Portland and takes around 22h 06m.

Car

Another option to get to Carlsbad is to pick up a car rental from El Paso, which is about 225 km from Carlsbad. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Dollar, among others, in El Paso.

Bus

Carlsbad’s bus station is located 0.3 km from the city center.

Airlines serving Carlsbad

United Airlines
Good (4,938 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,125 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,479 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (770 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (5,785 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (308 reviews)
Advanced Air
Excellent (1 reviews)

Where to stay in Carlsbad

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Carlsbad and Comfort Suites Carlsbad.

Where to stay in popular areas of Carlsbad

Most booked hotels in Carlsbad

Comfort Suites Carlsbad
2 stars
Excellent (9, 686 reviews)
$163+
Hyatt House Carlsbad
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 257 reviews)
$167+
Sleep Inn and Suites Carlsbad Caverns Area
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 512 reviews)
$129+
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Carlsbad
2 stars
Excellent (8, 628 reviews)
$153+
Motel 6 Carlsbad, NM
2 stars
Good (6.7, 471 reviews)
$91+
Great Western Inn & Suites
2 stars
Good (6.5, 537 reviews)
$96+

Renting a car in Carlsbad

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $67 per day, on average, or $134 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Carlsbad (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 16% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Carlsbad costs $67 per day, on average, or $134 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Carlsbad (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Carlsbad is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 16% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.