Las Cruces is the second largest city in New Mexico and the largest city in the southern part of the state. With a population of about 100,000, it is “just right” when it comes to size! You can find plenty of restaurants and things to do without heavy traffic or paid parking downtown. Las Cruces is part of the Chihuahuan Desert and sits at an elevation of about 4,000 feet. The eastern skyline is dominated by the dramatic Organ Mountains, while to the west you see Picacho Peak, a volcanic mountain. The Robledo and Doña Ana Mountains also help bring drama to the horizon.
Las Cruces is located about 45 minutes from El Paso, Texas, and neighboring Juarez, Mexico, making it part of an international border area. El Paso International Airport is the air transportation hub, while Las Cruces does offer an airport for small planes.
Las Cruces weather is what you might expect for a high desert area, with hot summer days punctuated by refreshing monsoon rains — which bring blessed cool air filled with the welcome scent of creosote, moderate winters, and springtime winds. Fall is almost universally agreed to be the best time of year here, with pleasant days and cool evenings just perfect for outdoor adventures.
Speaking of the outdoors, there is much to be enjoyed here, including hiking and birding in the Organ Mountains, visiting the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, rafting down the Rio Grande, and exploring the unique environment of nearby White Sands National Park.
The city offers four museums, three operated by the City of Las Cruces and one state museum, that between them cover art, science, history, railroading, and agriculture. In addition, there are excellent museums at New Mexico State University you should visit.
Las Cruces is, as you might have just guessed, a college town. Crimson and white are proudly displayed on game days when the Aggies take the field. As a land grant college, New Mexico State University delves deeply into agriculture and paved the way into finding the most effective strains of our favorite product: chile! We are, however, also very fond of local pecans, wines, and beer.
Explore the pages of LasCruces.com and you’ll find more about the City of Crosses, from our earliest neighborhoods to our connection to space. Enjoy!