What to watch: Looking for an easy long-weekend trip that doesn’t require flights or major planning? Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one of the closest national park trips, about three hours west of Midland, and offers a quick option for families looking for something different to make the most of the long Presidents Day weekend.

Carlsbad offers a mix of outdoor activity, kid-friendly learning, and flexible pacing. Whether you want a one-day trip or a full weekend getaway, we’ve gathered the key details so you can choose what works best for you and your family.

The big picture: Carlsbad Caverns is known for massive underground limestone cave formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and large cavern rooms. Families can choose self-guided cave tours, short surface hikes, or extend the trip into the nearby city of Carlsbad for food, parks, and additional attractions. Most families complete a typical cavern visit in about two hours.

Go deeper: Timed cave entry reservations are required. Tickets are $15 for ages 16 and older and free for those 15 and under. Admission is free on some federal holidays, including Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16), but reservations fill quickly.

Inside the caverns, temperatures stay near 56 degrees year-round. Visitors should wear closed-toe shoes and bring light jackets. Only plain water is allowed inside the cave system. Strollers are not allowed, so families with small children should plan to use carriers. Photography is allowed. A small flashlight or headlamp can help in dim sections.

Main cave routes include:

• Natural Entrance Trail — 1.25 miles, steep 750-foot descent, takes about 1 hour
• Big Room Trail — 1.25 miles, mostly level and elevator accessible, takes about 1.5 hours

How to plan your day

The hiking day can start as early as 9:30 a.m., but my personal recommendation is to head out of town around 9 a.m. and aim to arrive at the caverns for lunch. Many families pack a cooler and eat at the picnic tables near the parking area before heading inside. There is also a small restaurant with limited food and drink options in the above-ground visitors center.

Eating is prohibited in the cave, except in the designated snack bar area of the underground rest area, which offers limited food and drink options. Only plain water is allowed within the remainder of the cavern.

Once everyone has a full belly, you can take your pre-reserved post-lunch entry time slot and head into the caves. The last timed tickets are typically 2:15 p.m. There are two ways into the cavern: the elevator or the 1.25-mile natural entrance trail, which takes about one hour, though it is a very steep descent.

Once inside, the big room trail is a relatively flat 1.25-mile walk that takes about an hour and a half. There are other ranger-guided tours in the cavern and on surface trails in the park. You must either hike the natural entrance trail out by 3:30 p.m. or take the last elevator up at 4:45 p.m.

Extend your trip

If you want a slower pace, one option is to arrive on Saturday for an afternoon cavern visit, spend Sunday hiking or at Carlsbad attractions, and explore more on Monday before heading back to Midland. Families can choose to camp near the park or stay in hotels in Carlsbad.

For camping, White’s City RV Park & Campground (about seven miles from the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center) offers about 60 full-hookup RV spots plus tent areas. Amenities include Wi-Fi, showers, laundry facilities, BBQ grills, and picnic tables. Rates typically range from $20–45 per night, and it’s dog-friendly.

For hotels in Carlsbad, options range from the historic Trinity Hotel (downtown hotel with restaurant, roughly $150–250 per night) to budget options like Post Time Inn (complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking, roughly $66–100 per night).

Explore Carlsbad

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park features a 1.3-mile walking trail with desert wildlife, including Mexican wolves and black bears ($5 entry for adults; free for children under 6).

Halagueno Arts Park offers public art and community events, while the Lake Carlsbad area along the Pecos River includes parks, playgrounds, swimming areas, and walking trails. Main Street also has small shops, antique stores like Pecos River Antique Mall, galleries, and more for browsing local goods.

Where to eat

For breakfast, Blue House Bakery and Cafe is a common stop for pastries and coffee (about $5–10 per person). Trinity Hotel Restaurant offers a sit-down breakfast option (about $10–15).

For lunch, Lucky Bull Grill is known for its burgers (about $8–12), and Aquino’s Deli offers sandwiches (about $7–10; closed Sunday–Monday).

Dinner options include Yellow Brix for American food (about $15–25) or Trinity Hotel Restaurant for a higher-end dinner option (about $20–30).

Wrap up and costs

For most Midland families, this trip falls into the “affordable long weekend” category, depending on lodging and dining choices. A typical three-day trip for a family of three usually falls between about $400 on the low end (camping and preparing some meals) and about $1,000 on the high end (hotel stay and eating out for most meals).

For many Midland families, the short drive and flexible planning make this one of the easier “feels like a vacation” trips within driving distance.