Las Cruces

Las Cruces is a city in New Mexico . The name means "the crosses" in Spanish. It is the state's second largest city, with a population of over 111,000 (in 2020), and is the site of New Mexico State University .

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Las Cruces International Airport

( LRU

IATA ).

Located 10 min west of downtown Las Cruces in West Mesa, at Exit 132 of I-10, the airport serves as a general aviation airport and for VIP flights. It also have ample facilities for unmanned Aerial activity, and testing and system development. Nearest airport for scheduled passenger airline services is El Paso International Airport, a 45-minute drive south from downtown Las Cruces on I-10.

Las Cruces has some degree of public transportation by the city bus line RoadRUNNER Transit . Service is limited to Monday through Saturday and ends by 7:30 in the evening. Buses can carry bicycles. Otherwise, just plan to drive, bike, or walk.

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New Mexico State University .

It is in Las Cruces, with an interesting museum or two, a large conference center, and a comfortable student union.

University Museum ,

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+1 575-646-5161 .

Tu-Sa noon-4PM .

In Kent Hall at NMSU. Emphasis on local archaeology and culture.

Free, but donations accepted .

Zuhl Collection .

M-F noon-4PM, except holidays .

In the Alumni Center at NMSU. Fossils, minerals, and petrified wood.

Free .

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New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum ,

4100 Dripping Springs Rd ,

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+1 575 522-4100 .

M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM .

East of NMSU on the way out into the countryside. This is a fairly substantial site based on a working cattle ranch, with demonstrations. You can spend half a day here; there are picnic tables as well as food available for purchase.

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Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument ,

15000 Dripping Springs Rd ,

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+1 575 522-1219 .

8AM-5PM .

Just east of town offer good hiking and rock climbing. Follow University Avenue east from NMSU past the Farm and Ranch museum to one of the primary trailheads, in a small park (fee) with interpretive exhibit. Trails lead from here into the mountains. Some campground space is available (additional fee). The Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument was established May 21, 2014.

$3 .

( updated Feb 2020 )

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Prehistoric Trackways National Monument .

Free .

( updated Apr 202

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D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro ,

1720 Avenida De Mesilla ,

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+1 575 524-2408 .

Warm atmosphere, live music, great food and wine selection. French country menu includes interesting appetizers like European cheese plates that pair wonderfully with flights of wine. Entres include dinner salads, fish, steak, pastas, and more.

University Avenue , on the north side of NMSU, has the usual assortment of student-oriented eateries, with the usual properties for such places: lots of food, reasonable prices, less than haute cuisine. Some, by no means all, of the restaurants along University are:

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Lorenzo's ,

1753 E. University ,

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+1 575 521-3505 .

Italian; lunch and dinner. Also has a location in Mesilla and a new location in the shopping center on Lohman & Roadrunner.

Old Mesilla .

A fine place for a drink or nightlife is in Old Mesilla, to the southwest of Las Cruces:

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El Patio, Old Mesilla Plaza .

The main bar in town. Live music. Unique smell.

Other

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Mezcla ,

705 South Telshor Blvd

( inside Hotel Encanto ).

An upscale cosmopolitan restaurant serving creative cocktails, wine, delicious appetizers, and dinner entrees.

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The Lundeen Inn of the Arts ,

618 S. Alameda Blvd. .

Beautiful bed and breakfast housed in an art gallery.

From $80 .

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Best Western Mission Inn ,

1765 S. Main St ,

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+1 575 524-8591 .

Adequate if unexceptional lodging in a commercial area; not adjacent to NMSU, but still reasonably convenient for visitors to the university.

Rooms from $55 .

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Comfort Suites ,

2101 S. Triviz Dr ,

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+1 5

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The best place to buy Native American art or other characteristic types of durable mementos is in the nearby town of Mesilla. If you want something to remember your visit by, one idea is food, specifically chile peppers, which are grown in abundance in the Mesilla Valley. The long strings of red chiles that you see hanging from porches, gables, etc., are called ristras and are available for purchase at many locations. These are largely for ornamental purposes, but edible chiles are also widely available, with spiciness levels ranging from mild to downright inedible (New Mexico State Univers

Neighbouring towns and the Petén departmental capital are reachable by bus or microbus. The region offers opportunities for further exploration of Guatemala's diverse landscape. Check local transport schedules for onward connections to other departments and major cities.