Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 16 min5:51 am – 8:07 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 10 h 2 min6:54 am – 4:56 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month June: highs 94°F, lows 64°FColdest month January: highs 58°F, lows 28°F14 in of rain a year, on about 28 dayswettest month September4 in of snow a year, on about 2 days97 days above 90°F, 83 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Dark Canyon Road station, 6 mi away; rain from Carlsbad Caverns
Parks and public landsCarlsbad Caverns National Parknational park · 9.5 mi · 46,458 acresLiving Desert State Parkstate park · 11.6 mi · 374 acresCarlsbad Wildife Refugenational conservation area · 13.4 mi · 11,566 acresBrantley Lake State Parkstate park · 16.2 mi · 2,664 acresGuadalupe Mountains National Parknational park · 30.1 mi · 385 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes687 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 197040 of magnitude 4+, 3 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.4 on 4 May 202546 mi away, near Whites City, New MexicoMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 25 Sep 202643 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModerateEddy County, NM, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsWinter weather Relatively HighIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality54% of days had good air in 2025196 of 365 days measured144 moderate, 24 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 1 unhealthy daysMedian index 49, worst day 168main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Eddy County monitors, NM
Drinking waterCarlsbad Municipal Water Systemserves 33,626 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 20212 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation3,996 ft1,218 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalCarlsbad Medical Center12.9 miPost officeWhites City Post Office9.9 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeSoutheast New Mexico College12.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportCavern City Air Terminal CNM9.3 miMajor airportEl Paso International Airport ELP120 miUS highwayUS 629.2 miCoachCarlsbad Road Runner ExpressGreyhound13 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 88221 ZIP area.
