Kartchner Caverns in May 2026: The Hidden-Gem Day Trip 50 Miles Southeast of Tucson — and What's Open Now That the Big Room Is Closed for Bat Season

Fifty miles southeast of Tucson, tucked into the eastern flank of the Whetstone Mountains, sits one of the most carefully preserved show caves in the country — and one of the Tucson metro's most underrated day trips. Kartchner Caverns shifted into its summer rhythm on April 15: the Big Room closed for the cave myotis bats' annual maternity season, and the Throne Room — with the world's longest known soda-straw stalactite and the 58-foot Kubla Khan column — became the only cave tour available until October. The park is also running its monthly Bat Walk on Saturday, May 9, the Foothills/Ocotillo loop is at peak bloom, and the four west-facing camping cabins fill quickly through the summer. Here is a sourced May 2026 guide for Tucson residents, weekend visitors, and out-of-state buyers exploring the southeastern corner of the metro.