After we left Texas at the beginning of 2021 we headed back to New Mexico to check out Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We found a great dry camping spot near the park and we definitely plan on going back!
We loved spending time in the trees and near the water during our three weeks in Texas over the holidays, but it was time to head back to the desert for some more free camping. We left Texas and headed to Chosa Campground, a BLM lot about 6.5 miles south of Whites City, NM. This developed lot is basically a large fenced gravel parking lot with a trash receptacle in one corner. Carlsbad Canyons visitor center is just 14 miles to the northwest.
How to get there
Chosa campground is on Dillahunty Rd (County Rd 424) about 6.5 miles south of Whites City, NM, or about 9 miles north of the Texas/New Mexico border in southeast New Mexico. The city of Carlsbad is a half hour drive to the north, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a beautiful 20 minute drive on a winding road up the mountain to the northwest of the campground. The entrance to the park itself is just outside of Whites City.
Amenities
Bureau of Land Management camping is almost always dry camping and it was no different here. There is a large trailer for trash in a corner of the campground but there is no electricity, dump station, or water. The closest dump station is in Carlsbad, but there is nowhere to get fresh water. Your stay here may be limited on how much water you can carry with you. There is no RV camping within the national park, but there are developed campgrounds in Whites City and Carlsbad in addition to the BLM camping south of Whites City.
We did laundry at the small laundromat in Whites City. We were the only ones doing laundry while we were there and it was quiet. The machines are older but they worked well enough.
Propane was is available in Carlsbad, on the northwest corner of the first stop light as you head north into the city.
What to do
The main attractions in this area are Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We didn’t have time to visit both so we opted for Carlsbad Caverns.
Once you reach the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center you have several options for surface hikes and access to other caverns within the park. The main attractions, the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails, are accessed by an elevator inside the visitor center or by the natural entrance outside, respectively. We took the elevator.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park does not have the entrance fees that are typical for most of the national parks. Instead, there are fees to enter the caverns. Tickets are purchased in the visitor center and are free with a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands pass.
Once inside the cavern you take take a self-guided tour around the 1.25 mile loop or opt for the shorter 0.6 mile loop. The cavern is lit and headlamps and flashlights are not necessary. Ranger guided tours were not available at the time of our visit, but there are always rangers around to answer any questions you may have.
Although pets are not allowed in the caverns, on trails, or in the visitor center, nor is it legal to leave them in a vehicle, the park does provide kennels for a fee. Service animals are always permitted in most of the park, with a few exceptions of off-trail cave tours.
We picked up the Junior Ranger booklets for the kids after we toured the cavern and returned later in the week to get their Junior Ranger Badges. Our kids love participating in the Junior Ranger program and it’s a great addition to our homeschool.
We loved our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and we look forward to returning there to explore more of it. Have you been to this national park? What did you think of it? We’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below, email me at alicia@simplejoyfuljourney.com, or find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest @simplejoyfuljourney. Have a great week!