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Carlsbad Koa

3.7 (95 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Reviews With Photos - Carlsbad Koa

Disgusting bathroom with black mold
Angie W.

Well clean the two bathrooms you have. Black mold on top! Filthy . The bathroom s showers by check in we're not available because there was no hot water and I was told it would be three months anyways this was not fun. The two of the three bathrooms that were available the showers were disgusting. We just packed up and left. The actual pad to pull your RV on was fine except for the picnic table. Wood is so rotted and full of splinters cannot use it even if you put a tablecloth on it is so warped and old. It just needs to be replaced. I don't understand how they can claim to be number one in New Mexico, because theLas Cruces KOA is fantastic.

Tony R.

Place is ok. Spots are all gravel but mostly level. Not much tree vegetation to block the constant WIND. Can't cook can't sit outside and enjoy it blows the the open landscape non stop. Since it's all gravel including roads it's a battle with the dust especially when cars go flying by at 20 mph. There's nice bathrooms in two locations. The one by the playground are all in one private bathroom/sheer. Nice showers as they aren't elbow bangers. A lot of things to do in the summer as there are lakes, bottomless pools, a big lake down the road. Of course there's Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell, sitting bull waterfall. Also nearby sling in the winter. Not sure where the closest store is, probably Carlsbad about 20 minutes away.

Entrance
Megan K.

Cute little KOA. 20 miles either direction to get to a restaurant or a grocery store though. It's very barren, hardly any trees but there is a dog park and a place to walk your dogs. No poop bags provided. Spots are nice too and the bathrooms were nice.

Water Hardness Test
Troy M.

Be warned; the water is super hard. Nice campground. Everything is well maintained. The employees are friendly and helpful. That being said, the water is extremely hard. Driving into the campground there are some potholes that need to be filled. They collect water and it's like navigating a mine field trying to keep the RV from getting splashed and muddy. During our stay, a film started developing on our fixtures. This film covered everything, including our coffee maker, dishwasher, sinks, faucets, and ice maker. I tested the water with a total hardness test strip; the result was off the chart (see picture). This was after going through the water softener. The water softener was recharged approx one week before our stay at the campground. Depending on water hardness and amount of use, it usually lasts a month before needing to be recharged. The water is so hard here that it had to be recharged after a couple of days. After our stay, we had to drain and flush the fresh tank, recharge the water softener, replace all the water filters (in-line, whole house, and refrigerator filters) then clean everything that was touched by the water. Literally, everything touched by the water had a haze on it. A couple of days work, $100 for filters and we are getting back to normal.

PatrickJ T.

We had a pleasant stay at Carlsbad KOA in New Mexico. Loved the large campsites, and the spaciousness of the property. Easy to maneuver the trailer. Only complaint I had would be regarding the unisex restrooms. All three of them were not very clean. The Men's restroom in the main building was closed for remodeling so I went to the smaller building several times during our stay. Each time those unisex restrooms were a mess. Perhaps it was bad timing. Anyways, overall it was a pleasant stay. Would stay here again if in the area.

Welcome sign
David B.

This is a nice little campground near Carlsbad. I stayed three nights. Location wise, it is great. It's near several natural areas, state parks and about 40 minutes from Carlsbad National Park and an additional 30 or so to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Additionally, it is around 20 minutes from both Carlsbad and Artesia. The grounds are well kept, and my cabin was clean and cozy. The showers and other facilities were great after a hard day hiking. The workers were extremely friendly and accommodating. There was a stray cat around who had been abandoned by the road that the campground took in, fed and took care of, which was nice. The cat simply hung around and wasn't a bother to any one. This was my first time in a KOA and it was a great one. I would recommend this location to any one and would stay again if I took another vacation to this area.

Games outside of the bathroom and laundry area.
Paula D.

Clean sites and friendly staff. Free showers was a plus. This is my first time at a KOA and overall a great stay. We requested a buddy site and got one, but not with a swing and covered table as advertised. Oh well. Nice stay. Caverns were amazing!! I'll be back!

Ed M.

This was a great place for a stop in Carlsbad, NM. Pulled in, checked in and a real nice guy escorted us to our site. The sites in this place are gravel and wide open. Not that many shade trees to speak of but it was clean and neat. But let me tell y'all about some dust!!! Very dry and dusty here. I'm not complaining, I am just setting the picture. The KOA was convenient to town, the lake and to the caverns. When coming to Carlsbad, think about staying here.

Rec Roof. All free!

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Ask the Community - Carlsbad Koa

Review Highlights - Carlsbad Koa

It's located centrally in between Carlsbad Caverns, probably the reason you came here, and Roswell New Mexico.

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

4.7(505 reviews)
28.4 mi

First time here and was staying close by Carlsbad. Getting here super easy for a National Park…read more Parking was easy and close to the visitor center. Visitor center gives a great overlooking view of the valley below. Great educational preview for the caves and bat show. Wear good shoes you will be walking down A Lot ! No flops or crocks your feet will hate you. Bring a backpack for a light jacket and flashlights are allowed. Good for looking into some deep portions of the cave. I brought 2 flashlights one that clipped on my backpack and aimed down so I can see my footing. There are some wet spots in the cave and slipping IS a Possibility. Second one was bright enough to look into deep openings around the caves. My EDC is a Wurkkos TD11 has up to 3k Lumen which is plenty. The pack also had some snacks that you can only eat at the bottom where the food court is. Brought 2 water bottles that were packed with ice and electrolytes. Now the big issue. Cell phones are great but I also brought my insta360 x5. Good for low light and extra batteries. No one up top told me I couldn't bring it in. Mind you I was using just the standard stick. Yes it extends but I only used it as the short stick. I also did bring a clip on rig just in case. 3/4 down was stopped by one Ranger and told yes as long as I didn't extend the stick it was ok. At the bottom by the food court another ranger told me no MUST put it away period. Fine for the main big chamber I used the clip on mount to get my shots. Just be aware that Rangers vary. Yes I was responsible and didn't interfere with the environment. Just wanted to capture the beauty. Now the rest of the story. Lots and lots of down hill switchbacks. Tons of spots to take AMAZING pictures. The bats are just below the entrance of the caves and in a separate chamber. You can spot a few outside that chamber. Way way way way way down you go switchback and beautiful spots of picture taking. Blown away and the final Big chamber. If your planing go for the Ranger led tour as it will bring you further down into deeper chambers! Remember camera restriction as mentioned. Handicap can take an elevator down to the main chamber so they can experience the awe. As for going back up 2 options elevator or hike back up. I love my hips and knees so I chose elevator. As for the bat show. Get there 630pm ish is fine show starts 730p-830p. but do know that if its windy (past 20mph) no bat show as the bats are too small to battle hight winds. If you miss it there is live viewing on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/live/BwiIsjXt3KI?si=uf5eNH9g2KD0hnfl

Call me the naysayer. I hated this place…read more I bought the tickets ahead of time for the timed entry. Self guided big room tour. We decided to do elevator up and down. It's 750' down to the cave. That's like 50 stories. Then it's a 1-1/4 mile loop walk. It's relatively cool, damp and dark in the cave. They have lights everywhere. And some signs you can read. But I didn't see a ranger anywhere in the cave. So why didn't I like it. The whole walkway is paved with railings on both sides. And they have brought lights in. Which made it seem unnatural to me. I almost felt like I was at Disneyland the cave ride. Then as I was walking around - I felt like you see 1 stalagmite you've seen them all. Ok - so I guess one looks like a Chinese theater and another looks like a penis. But they are all stalactites and stalagmites. It was probably the lack of ranger interaction - nobody to ask questions to or give any insight into the caves. So 1-1/4 miles of looking at the same boring crap. Granted it didn't help that some other visitors brought their screaming toddler down there. And that's all I heard the whole time. And when you got near the elevators - they actually have restrooms down there that smell like a sewer. I will 100% say this was the worst national park I ever visited.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Fairy Land

Fairy Land

Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Bigggf cave

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Bigggf cave

Carlsbad Koa - campgrounds - Updated July 2026

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