Artesia is in the heart of Southeast New Mexico (SENM) at the crossroads of U.S. 82 and U.S. 285, making it a great place to stay while you visit our quiet and enchanting corner of New Mexico.
Under 4 Hours
Albuquerque, NM
Home of the International Balloon Fiesta, University of New Mexico, and just over 500,000 people. You will find shopping, fine dining, and lots of indoor and outdoor entertainment. A few spots to check out are the Albuquerque Zoo, ABQ Bio Park (Botanic Gardens), many museums, or take a 10,378-foot ride up the Zia Peak Tramway for breathtaking views.
Amarillo, TX
Home to the famous Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo College, and the Big Texan Steakhouse (where you can attempt to conquer the 72oz steak). With just over 200,000 people, you can enjoy 4 city pools, 58 parks and 32 miles of jogging trails.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park, NM
New Mexico’s largest lake offering 43 miles of trails, sandy beaches, and magnificent views. People can enjoy boating, camping, fishing, water sports, summer camps, guided hikes, and so much more!
Las Cruces, NM
New Mexico’s second largest city is on the “green chile
trail,” has a population of just under 100,000, and is home to New Mexico State
University. Make sure to wander around Old Mesilla area that is said to be
haunted by miners and historical figures.
Santa Fe, NM
The oldest state capital in the U.S. sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills at 7,200 feet with a population of just over 80,000. Founded as a Spanish colony in 1607, you will find many adobe homes, amazing handmade jewelry at the Indian Market, and even the famous Loretto Chapel with its miraculous spiral staircase. Make some time to check out all of the art galleries and museums including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.
Under 3 Hours
Clovis, NM
Home of Cannon Air Force Base and the Clovis Music Festival, this city has a population of just over 38,000. The BNSF railroad still operates after starting over 100 years ago. Clovis is also home of The Southwest Cheese Company which is the largest cheddar cheese producer in North America. Make time to visit the Norman Petty Recording Studio and Rock and Roll Museum that once recorded records for Buddy Holly.
Fort Stockton, TX
Home of the larger-than-life statue of the roadrunner Paisano Pete, Fort Stockton’s history is immense. Begin with a self-guided tour through the historic district, then have a wine tasting inside a saloon, and make sure to tour the Annie Riggs Museum.
Lubbock, TX
With a population of just over 250,000, Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University and was the birthplace of rock-n-roll hall of famer Buddy Holly. Many Texas Country stars make west Texas a stop on their tour at the up-and-coming Cook’s Garage.
White Sands National Park, NM
New Mexico’s second National Park, White Sands boasts great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand engulfing 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Go for the day or bring a tent and spend the weekend sliding down the dunes and hiking around. Make sure and take a lot of photos because bringing sand home is illegal!
Under 2 Hours
Ruidoso, NM
This village sits at an elevation of 6,900 feet and has a population of almost 8,000, but the summer months bring in many tourists who enjoy hiking, camping, ziplining, shopping, and betting on the horse races in the cool mountain air. The winter brings in skiers and snowboarders to tackle Ski Apache. Two Indian Casinos offer up a chance to try your luck at tables, games and slot machines that rival those in Nevada.
Fort Sumner Lake State Park, NM
The Park features a large 4,500-acre reservoir on the Pecos
River, created in 1939 by the Sumner Dam of the United States Bureau of
Reclamation. The lake offers camping, boating, fishing, water sports, and
hiking. Take time in the town of Fort Sumner and find the grave of Billy the
Kid, the famous rustler of New Mexico.
Cloudcroft, NM
This mountain village has a population of just fewer than 700 people but is home to some of the best BBQ in the state. It also offers skiing, tubing, and ice skating in the winter, and shopping, camping, hiking, picnicking, scenic drives, and even wine tasting in the summer. It is always 20 degrees cooler at their elevation of 8,600; so many people escape the heat for the day to enjoy Cloudcroft Brewing for pizza, patio, and local artisan brews.
Hobbs, NM
Founded in 1907, Hobbs has a predominantly oil and gas population of nearly 40,000. It is home to New Mexico Junior College and University of the Southwest. Make sure to catch the horse racing and/or a concert at Zia Park Casino Hotel and Racetrack, and visit the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum.
Sitting Bull Falls, NM
Located inside the Lincoln National Forest and about 90 minutes from Artesia, this place is a surprisingly rare gem in the hot desert. This oasis offers cool pools of water and the amazing waterfall itself. There are pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, and water for day use only. Access to many hiking trails can be found through Lincoln Nation Forest.
Under 1 Hour
Carlsbad, NM
South of Artesia, it’s known for the famous Carlsbad Caverns, but you can also enjoy the Pecos River complete with trails, picnic benches, playground equipment, swimming, and a state-of-the-art water park. In the winter, climb aboard lighted boats and take a Christmas on the Pecos tour. With a population of just over 30,000, Carlsbad offers shopping, dining, and even a Living Desert Zoo & Gardens.
Roswell, NM
45 miles north and just about 50,000 people, you will find a city famous for its UFO history. Make sure to check out the UFO Museum, alien gift shops, alien head light poles that line Main Street, and even the McDonald’s UFO play place. Roswell has much to do outside with multiple golf courses, Spring River Park and Zoo, and Bitter Lakes State Park. Inside features include a planetarium and art museums.
Brantley Lake State Park, NM
20 miles south of Artesia you will find plenty of outdoor adventure. The Brantley Dam was built in 1989 across the Pecos River and offers camping, boating, picnicking, hiking, ATV trails, fishing, and water sports.
Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM
Established in 1933, this was the first state park in New Mexico. A short 30-minute drive gets you into the park that features nine deep, saltwater lakes along the Pecos River. Lea Lake offers camping, picnicking, swimming, and kayaking. Legend has it that things that sink to the bottom of Lea Lake are later seen washed up at Carlsbad Caverns and the Gulf of Mexico.
Burnt Well Guest Ranch, NM
An all-inclusive ranch place lets you and your family experience ranch life to the fullest or just relax and reconnect. Enjoy unlimited horseback riding, cattle drives, roping instruction, campfires, hiking, bird watching, sightseeing, star gazing, and billiards.
Runyan Ranches, NM
Just 45 minutes west of Artesia, you will find a great stop on the way to Cloudcroft. This locally owned ranch offers visitors feed bags for their goats, fish, pigs, and even their camel. All animals are friendly and can be petted if you desire. Pack lunch and enjoy the cooler weather as you hike around the ranch and explore this section of the Land of Enchantment. Bring a fishing pole and catch some rainbow trout and browse through their gift shop of locally made products.
Lake Van, NM
This lake is just north of Artesia and is 40 acres in size. When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and Rainbow Trout. Make sure to have breakfast or lunch at Becky’s Lakeside Café overlooking the lake while you are there.lt can be found through Lincoln National Forest.
Although Southeast New Mexico is tucked away, it is not difficult to reach. American Eagle flies into Roswell (ROW) from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) daily, making access direct and easy. United Airlines flies into Hobbs (HOB) from Houston (IAH) and Denver (DEN) daily as well. Other major airports are in Albuquerque, Midland, El Paso and Lubbock which are all approximately a three-hour drive from Artesia.
Artesia is worth a visit; it is worth considering home. The quiet, safe, small-town atmosphere is ideal for raising a family. Access to neighboring towns and neighboring cities means getaways are simple to plan. Make Artesia your temporary home while you tour all that Southeast New Mexico has to offer. We look forward to seeing you here!
