Las Cruces travel guide

Las Cruces, United States

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Las Cruces

Introduction

Las Cruces is the seat of Doña Ana County in southern New Mexico and the principal city of its metropolitan area, which covers the whole of the county. It is the largest city in southern New Mexico, and it sits within the broader El Paso–Las Cruces combined statistical area, so your visit here can easily be paired with time across the region.

Getting there

Las Cruces sits at the junction of Interstate 10 and Interstate 25, which ends here, so driving in is straightforward from either direction. If you're flying, note that Las Cruces International Airport, about ten minutes west of downtown in West Mesa at Exit 132 of I-10, handles general aviation and VIP flights rather than scheduled passenger service. For commercial airlines, head to El Paso International Airport in Texas, roughly a 45-minute drive south of downtown on I-10.

Intercity buses stop at the Mesilla Intermodal Transit Terminal at Lohman Avenue and Alameda Boulevard. Greyhound runs along I-10 between El Paso, Lordsburg, Tucson and Phoenix, with some routes continuing on I-25 to Albuquerque; because the Las Cruces stop is only a pick-up and drop-off point, buy your ticket in advance online or by phone and check schedules carefully. The New Mexico Park & Ride Gold Line connects Las Cruces with Anthony, Texas, and El Paso along I-10, while South Central Transit District serves the county around Las Cruces and RoadRunner Transit provides local service within the city. Flixbus picks up and drops off on the north side of the Mobile gas station on East University Avenue, with service to El Paso from Los Angeles, Phoenix/Tempe and Tucson.

Getting around

Las Cruces sprawls across the Rio Grande valley, so plan on driving for most trips. The city sits at the junction of Interstates 10 and 25, parking is generally easy (including near Old Mesilla), and rental agencies have offices along South Telshor Boulevard and South Valley Drive. If you arrive by air, you can rent at El Paso International Airport and drive up. There is no Amtrak station in town and no local rail, metro, or tram, so don't plan your visit around train travel.

RoadRUNNER Transit covers the main corridors, shopping areas, employment centers, and healthcare facilities, and its buses can carry bicycles, but service runs Monday through Saturday only, ends by evening, and is oriented toward commuters rather than visitor attractions. For regional trips, the Mesilla Intermodal Transit Terminal at 300 W. Lohman Ave. is the central bus station, served by Greyhound and the New Mexico Park & Ride Gold Line; buy tickets in advance and check schedules carefully. Uber, Lyft, and local taxis such as Checker Cab fill the gaps, though fares add up over the metro's distances. Walking works best in compact Old Mesilla, where you can park near the historic plaza and explore on foot, and guided walking tours of the historic downtown are available; bike rental shops offer city and mountain bikes.

Where to stay

Las Cruces spreads its places to stay along the main commercial strips rather than in a single walkable district. If you want something with character, the Lundeen Inn of the Arts on South Alameda Boulevard is a bed and breakfast housed in an art gallery. Near the convention center off I-25, Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces is a full-service option with meeting and wedding facilities, a swimming pool, and an on-site restaurant and bar; it also welcomes pets. SpringHill Suites, off I-10 at the Avenida de Mesilla exit, offers all-suite rooms, and the Ramada on East University Avenue has been remodeled and includes breakfast with your room.

Food & drink

Las Cruces eats in two directions: north along University Avenue by the NMSU campus, where student-oriented eateries serve lots of food at reasonable prices with less than haute cuisine, and southwest into Old Mesilla, the historic stop on the El Camino Real, where the restaurants are more of a destination. In Mesilla, D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro pairs a French country menu with a strong wine selection, and its European cheese plates are made to go with flights of wine. The Double Eagle is the upscale option, with standard New Mexican fare and locally inspired dishes, one of the few places in town serving aged steak, plus a bar with an extensive liquor selection and a popular Sunday brunch; local lore holds that the building is haunted. Andele draws people for Mexican food and a salsa bar, with green chile pork enchiladas, tacos al cabon and roasted jalapenos among the things to order, while El Paisano Cafe gives New Mexican cooking a European flair, using fresh ingredients in seasonal dishes. For Italian, there's Lorenzo's on University, with another location in Mesilla.

For nightlife, head to the Old Mesilla Plaza, where El Patio is the main bar, with live music. Mezcla, inside Hotel Encanto on South Telshor, is an upscale cosmopolitan restaurant with creative cocktails, wine, appetizers and dinner entrees.

What to see and do

Las Cruces rewards a few days of wandering between its museums and the open country east of town. At New Mexico State University you'll find the University Museum in Kent Hall, focused on local archaeology and culture, and the Zuhl Collection in the Alumni Center, with fossils, minerals, and petrified wood. The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum east of campus sits on a working cattle ranch with demonstrations, picnic tables, and food for purchase, and it can easily fill half a day. Downtown, the Branigan Cultural Center covers local history, the Museum of Art next door leans contemporary with a regional emphasis, and the Museum of Natural History keeps a small collection of live animals. The Railroad Museum, housed in the historic Santa Fe Depot, explains how the railroad shaped the Mesilla Valley.

Just west of Las Cruces, the separate and older town of Mesilla has a historic district of adobe buildings around a plaza and adjoining church, with a visitors center in the town hall. East of town, the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument offers hiking and rock climbing; follow University Avenue east past the Farm and Ranch museum to a primary trailhead with an interpretive exhibit, from which trails lead into the mountains, and some campground space is available. The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is another free option for exploring the outdoors.

Three days in Las Cruces

Day one: Start in Las Cruces itself, getting your bearings along the Rio Grande and the streets of the city before heading south to Old Mesilla, the historic settlement just outside town. Use the Gold Line or RoadRunner Transit to move between stops, or drive in on the Interstate from El Paso International Airport in Texas or Las Cruces International Airport on the West Mesa. If you arrive by bus, the Mesilla Intermodal Transit Terminal connects you to Greyhound, Flixbus and intercity services from El Paso, Lordsburg, Tucson, Phoenix and Albuquerque.

Day two: Head out into Doña Ana County to the north and west, using the Interstate exits off Lohman Avenue and Alameda Boulevard as your gateways. The New Mexico Park and the West Mesa give you open country and desert views, while the Gold Line and South Central Transit District services link the outlying communities. In the evening, return to the city along East University Avenue or South Telshor Boulevard for a meal.

Day three: Take a slower day around the city's commercial corridors, South Valley Drive and South Telshor Boulevard, before a final wander through Old Mesilla. If you are continuing onward, Greyhound, Flixbus and RoadRunner Transit connect you toward Anthony, El Paso and Texas, or north to Albuquerque. Allow time to reach Las Cruces International Airport or El Paso International Airport for your departure.

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