Townapedia
Carlsbad New Mexico Public Library
Carlsbad New Mexico Public Library · AllenS, Public domain
Greetings from Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (6002219235)
Greetings from Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (6002219235) · Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
Greetings from Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5304543213)
Greetings from Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5304543213) · Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
Carlsbad New Mexico Municipal Building
Carlsbad New Mexico Municipal Building · AllenS, Public domain
Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra, Carlsbad, New Mexico 1
Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra, Carlsbad, New Mexico 1 · bobnieman, CC BY 4.0
Greetings from Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5349044384)
Greetings from Carlsbad, New Mexico - Large Letter Postcard (5349044384) · Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0

Carlsbad, New Mexico

Carlsbad is a city of 31,746 people in Eddy County, New Mexico, founded in 1888.

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Population31,746 +8.9% since 2019
Elevation3,294 ft 1,004 m
Founded1888
Land area32.5 sq mi
ZIP code88220
Nearest airportCavern City Air Terminal (CNM) 4 mi

Why visit Carlsbad

Townapedia lists 15 museums and landmarks, 40 parks and trails, 64 places to eat, 39 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include La Cueva 6, New Mexico State University Carlsbad, Carlsbad Irrigation District and First National Bank of Eddy.

June is the warmest month, with average highs of 97°F; January lows average 30°F.

About Carlsbad

Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 32,238. Carlsbad is centered at the intersection of U.S. Routes 62/180 and 285, and is the principal city of the Carlsbad-Artesia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 62,314. Located in the southeastern part of New Mexico, Carlsbad straddles the Pecos River and sits at the eastern edge of the Guadalupe Mountains.

From the Wikipedia article Carlsbad, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do4

La Cueva 6

Cinema and theater · 3.0 mi

2322 West Pierce Street, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps

New Mexico State University Carlsbad

School · 3.3 mi

Community college in Carlsbad, New Mexico, US

1500 University Drive, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +1-575-234-9200

Carlsbad Community Theatre

Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi

4713 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-887-3157

Cavern Theatre

Cinema and theater · 1.6 mi

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Museums and landmarks15

Carlsbad Irrigation District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.4 mi

Historic district in New Mexico, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

First National Bank of Eddy

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi

Historic building in Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Robert Weems and Mary E. Tansill House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi

Historic house in New Mexico, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Walter Gerrells Performing Arts and Exhibition Center

Museum · 2.1 mi

4012 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad

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Alejandro R Ruiz Memorial

Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi

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Carlsbad Irrigation Canal

Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi

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Carlsbad Municipal Fine Arts Center and Museum

Museum · 1.4 mi

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Eddy and Bissell Livestock Company Headquarters Historic Site

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Eddy County Courthouse Historic Site

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Eddy County Pits

Monument and historic site · 3.4 mi

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Eddy National Bank Historic Site

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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J J Hagerman House Historic Site

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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3 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds40

C.H. McLenathen Park

Park · 1.7 mi

1305 West Hagerman Street, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-885-6262

Lake Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course

Golf course · 2.6 mi

901 N. Muscatel Avenue, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-885-5444

Riverside Country Club

Golf course · 3.3 mi

1700 West Orchard Lane, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1 575 8853926;+1 575 8854253

Carlsbad Historical Marker

Park · 1.5 mi

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Carlsbad Water Park

Sports field and stadium · 2.2 mi

708 Park Drive

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Playground on the Pecos

Park · 2.0 mi

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Alejandro Ruiz Memorial Park

Park · 2.0 mi

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Arcadia Park

Park · 0.8 mi

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Bataan Recreation Area

Park · 1.5 mi

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Carlsbad Spring Park

Park · 3.3 mi

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28 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes64

El Charro

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi

1302 South Canal Street, Carlsbad

Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 575-361-4724

IHOP

Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 1.2 mi

2529 Fairfield Drive, Carlsbad

Mo-Th,Su 05:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 05:00-00:30

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-234-1599

Tina's Mexican Cafe

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.2 mi

3122 San Jose Boulevard

Su 10:00-14:00; Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-885-4239

Danny's BBQ

Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.9 mi

902 South Canal Street, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1 575 885 8739

Milton's Brewing

Bar and pub · 1.6 mi

108 East Mermod Street

Th-Fr 16:00-21:00; Sa 14:00-21:00; Su 14:00-19:00

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Nurvis Purvis

Brewery and winery · 3.3 mi

1602 North Canal Street

Mo-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-19:00

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Pizza Hut

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi

1201 South Canal, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1 575-887-1922

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.5 mi

1208 Pierce, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1 575-234-2136

Chili's

Restaurant · Tex-Mex · 1.0 mi

2249 South Canal Street, Carlsbad

Mo-Su 13:00-21:00

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Mei's Foodie Hub

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.2 mi

409 South Canal Street, Carlsbad

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Full Send Energy

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi

206 South Main Street, Carlsbad

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-302-0062

Happy's

Restaurant · 2.1 mi

4103 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad

06:00-19:30

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52 more on the map.

History

The development of southeastern New Mexico in the late 19th century was fueled by the arrival of colonies of immigrants from England, Switzerland, France, Italy; and emigrants from nearby Texas. Located along the banks of the Pecos River, Carlsbad was originally christened the town of Eddy on September 15, 1888, and organized as a municipal corporation in 1893; the settlement bore the name of Charles B. Eddy, co-owner of the Eddy-Bissell Livestock Company.

With the commercial development of local mineral springs near the flume for medicinal qualities, the town later voted to change its name to Carlsbad after the famous European spa Karlsbad, Bohemia (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic), which in turn was named after Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. On March 25, 1918, the growing town surpassed a population of 2,000, allowing then-governor of New Mexico Washington Ellsworth Lindsey to proclaim Carlsbad a city.

From the History section of Carlsbad, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay39

Churches and places of worship13

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Shopping15

Gas and EV charging19

Schools, colleges and libraries32

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Healthcare8

Map of Carlsbad

249 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°100°January: 0.6 in of rainFebruary: 0.5 in of rainMarch: 0.5 in of rainApril: 0.5 in of rainMay: 1.0 in of rainJune: 1.1 in of rainJuly: 2.0 in of rainAugust: 1.6 in of rainSeptember: 2.5 in of rainOctober: 1.0 in of rainNovember: 0.7 in of rainDecember: 0.7 in of rainJanuary: 59°FFebruary: 64°FMarch: 72°FApril: 80°FMay: 88°FJune: 97°FJuly: 96°FAugust: 95°FSeptember: 88°FOctober: 80°FNovember: 68°FDecember: 59°FJanuary: 30°FFebruary: 34°FMarch: 41°FApril: 48°FMay: 58°FJune: 67°FJuly: 71°FAugust: 69°FSeptember: 62°FOctober: 50°FNovember: 38°FDecember: 31°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan59°F30°F0.6 in1.0 in
Feb64°F34°F0.5 in0.4 in
Mar72°F41°F0.5 in0.1 in
Apr80°F48°F0.5 in0.0 in
May88°F58°F1.0 in0.0 in
Jun97°F67°F1.1 in0.0 in
Jul96°F71°F2.0 in0.0 in
Aug95°F69°F1.6 in0.0 in
Sep88°F62°F2.5 in0.0 in
Oct80°F50°F1.0 in0.0 in
Nov68°F38°F0.7 in0.5 in
Dec59°F31°F0.7 in0.7 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Carlsbad Hcn (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$72,306median household income
$200,000median home value
$1,236median monthly rent
36.7median age
19.2%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
70.2%of homes are owner-occupied
22.3 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1824%18 to 3424%35 to 6437%65 and over16%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Eddy County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.

  • 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2014-10-29: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2013-10-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
  • 2006-01-02: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex (Fire)
  • 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.

  • Livingston Wheeler 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
  • La Huerta 3 mi north, about 6 min by car
  • Happy Valley 3 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
  • Loving 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
  • Malaga 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
  • Atoka 28 mi north, about 45 min by car
  • Artesia 33 mi north, about 53 min by car
  • Lake Arthur 42 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Hagerman 50 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Dexter 55 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.