CITY SPOTLIGHT:

YOUR GUIDE TO Las Cruces, New Mexico

adobe home in Las Cruces

Know Before You Go: About Las Cruces

Before you go there, let us help you map out your journey to Las Cruces, a geographical wunderkind, where fun awaits for the whole family.

The corner of New Mexico where Las Cruces rests could be one of the coolest geographical and historical mashups in the country. You've got the gypsum dunes of White Sands, prehistoric dinosaur tracks and the dramatically towering Organ Mountains—all situated between Mexico and the state's famous hot springs. So pack those bags, bring your gadgets and get the heck out of your house. It’s family vacation time!

Desert Climate

The weather in Las Cruces is warm to hot in the summer months, yet mild the rest of the year. The region receives approximately 3 inches worth of snow and 8 inches worth of rain yearly. You can find relief from the scorching heat in the mountains near town, where you can go horseback riding, hike or mountain bike. Golfing is popular all year long. Skiing is possible only two hours away at the Ruidoso ski resort. The drive is breathtaking, and in the summertime, you can enjoy riding your road bike along scenic Highway 70.

Fossil Tracks and Furry Critters

Want to walk the paths where ancient animals treaded? The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument makes for a great hike, but the best fossils have been pulled from the site and housed at either the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science or the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science. For histories of some more current creatures, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is a family-friendly spot with livestock to pet and demonstrations of blacksmithing and milking. Other must-see stops include the Las Cruces Museum of Art and the Las Cruces Railroad Museum. Save time for a quick journey north to the town named Truth or Consequences and maybe soak in a natural hot spring.

Nuts and Missile Bolts

One glance at the family farms around Las Cruces and you may start dreaming of pecan pie. The pecan industry has grown considerably here in the Mesilla Valley thanks to hearty demand overseas and innovative farming techniques that counter the natural lack of water in the desert climate. The White Sands Missile Range, site of the first atomic bomb testing and a backup landing site for the Space Shuttle, is where tomorrow’s aerospace and defense technologies prove their mettle. Visit the Trinity test site—but be aware of excess radiation, which the Army says is now pretty low.

One Little Roadblock

Las Cruces is situated in the Mesilla Valley, a historic valley. Las Cruces has verdant soils that support agricultural activities and mountain ranges to the north, known as Organ Mountains. The region is also close to the city of Hatch, home of the famous Hatch chili peppers. The desert-worthy name will help you pinpoint the city's public transportation: the RoadRUNNER Transit Service. New Mexico offers a Gold Route bus service to and from the Texas border city as well. If coming by plane, you'll want to fly into the El Paso International Airport.

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Things to Do in Las Cruces

We know the best things to do in Las Cruces—home to the White Sands Missile Range—and our guide will help you plan a great vacation.