The Essential Guide to New Mexico’s Space Trail

With high altitude, dark skies, and vast expanses populated by few people, it’s no wonder that New Mexico has a longstanding history as a hotspot for stargazing, rocket launches, and possible UFO sightings.

“New Mexico’s connection to space is woven into our landscape, our history, and our spirit of exploration,” says Lancing Adams, acting cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department.

One of the best ways to explore the Land of Enchantment’s out-of-this-world history is by embarking on the New Mexico Space Trail. The road trip consists of 52 historic sites related to space—from ancient rock art to modern laboratories—that give insight and unique perspectives on the state’s important role in the space industry.

“Dating back to the 1990s, the development and promotion of the Space Trail has been an ongoing initiative of multiple organizations, including the New Mexico Museum of Space History, which continues to play a key role in space education in the State,” says Sheli Hinds Armstrong, director of space tourism for the SpaceValley Foundation and owner and CEO of Destination Southwest, based in New Mexico. 

Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip on New Mexico’s Space Trail.

Places to Visit

See the night sky through a telescope.

There are about a dozen observatories scattered throughout New Mexico, so witnessing the stars, planets, and galaxies through a high-powered telescope is a must. The state’s low levels of light pollution and vast open spaces make it perfect for stargazing. 

Attend a free open house viewing session at The University of New Mexico Campus Observatory in Albuquerque or The Tombaugh Campus Observatory at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, to use a wide variety of telescopes. Or, head to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science‘s planetarium for a guided tour of the night sky in the 55-foot full-dome theater.

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory in Socorro hosts Enchanted Skies Star Parties that include a tour of the observatory and professional astronomers, who explain what attendees are seeing in the sky. Visit the Sunspot Solar Observatory to get an up-close look at the sun via the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope. Another point of interest is the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array, which has 27 82-foot-wide radio antennas. 

Tour a museum and learn about space science.

There are a variety of space museums in New Mexico that cover everything from planetary science to the Atomic Age. The free Bradbury Science Museum, at Los Alamos Laboratory, features interactive exhibits regarding the Manhattan Project that led to the creation of the first atomic bomb.

In Albuquerque, The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History provides information and education about nuclear weapons and features Heritage Park—a nine-acre outdoor exhibit with defunct rockets, missiles, and bombs. 

For a broader history of space, visit the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo. Here, you can see astronaut and rocket artifacts, hear the roar of a rocket engine, and see enormous rockets at the Air and Space Park.

Uncover UFO and rocket history in Roswell.

UFO enthusiasts will want to stop in Roswell, best known for two alleged crash sites that date back to 1947. Conspiracy theorists believe extraterrestrials were pulled from the wreckage, but the government maintains that it was simply a fallen weather balloon filled with anthropomorphic dummies. 

The most comprehensive information about UFO and alien sightings in the area can be found at the International UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell. It has historic photographs, audio recordings, videos, informational placards, and representations of aliens and spaceships.

See Space Race relics from the Cold War.

New Mexico is home to many sites focused on World War II and the Cold War era—a time period during which the Space Race and the nuclear arms race took place between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. 

Once a year, in October, visitors can attend an open house at the Trinity Site—where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945. It’s part of the White Sands Missile Range, an active United States Army facility, known as the “Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity.” Learn more about U.S. missile development and testing, and walk through the outdoor display of missiles and rockets, at the White Sands Missile Range Museum. But New Mexico’s role in aerospace isn’t just a thing of the past, as is evident at Spaceport America—the world’s first facility designed for commercial suborbital space travel. 

View ancient rock art depicting celestial events.

Records of astronomical events date back thousands of years, and you can see ancient renderings created by the ancestral Pueblo people at Chaco Culture National Historic Park. There are both pictographs and petroglyphs, including a well-known drawing of a supernova. The Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site features more than 21,000 petroglyphs, accessible via a hiking trail.

How to Plan a Trip

Since the Space Trail crisscrosses the state, pick the sites you would like to see the most (there are 52 after all), and map out your route. You’ll need to factor in things like the distance between points of interest, which sites require reservations, and how much time you’d like to spend at each. Some parts of the state do not have reliable cell service, so it’s a good idea to print out a map with directions before hitting the road. 

When to Go

New Mexico is largely a high-desert environment, which can mean triple-digit temperatures and monsoon rain in the summer months. Fall is the ideal time to take on a Space Trail road trip, with cooler weather, colorful fall foliage, fewer crowds, and the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—the largest in the world—held annually in October. 

Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink

Albuquerque

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and is also home to the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). The city is known for the historic Old Town, the annual hot air balloon festival, and the scenic Sandia Peak Tramway. For a chic stay, I recommend Hotel Andaluz, Hotel Chaco, or the new Arrive Albuquerque. Grab a bite to eat at a retro diner on Route 66, such as The Range Café or 66 Diner, or try authentic New Mexico cuisine at Church Street Cafe. Stop by Sawmill Market for a food hall experience or Itality, the only Indigenous, woman-owned, plant-based eatery in the city.

Santa Fe

Known for its world-class art galleries, historic Santa Fe Plaza, and Spanish-Pueblo Revival architecture, the capital city of Santa Fe offers luxury lodging at The Inn of Five The Graces and the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. The vibrant culinary scene includes restaurants such as Terra, The Pink Adobe, and Cafecito in the Railyard District

Taos

Toas is most notable for its Taos Pueblo community and its downtown Historic District. It is home to the newly opened Hotel Willa with the on-site Juliette restaurant serving seasonal New Mexico cuisine. Picks up snacks for the road at Cid’s Food Market and snag a reservation at The Love Apple.

Roswell

In the small alien-themed town of Roswell, you’ll mostly find small motel options, such as the Roswell Inn. For a truly immersive experience, just outside of town, spend the night in an underground bunker attached to a 180-feet-deep Atlas F nuclear ballistic missile silo. Make time to sample local wines and cuisine at Pecos Flavors Winery & Bistro.

Truth or Consequences

Soak in geothermal hot springs baths in Truth or Consequences, at hotels such as the Sierra Grande, Hoosier Hot Springs & Inn, or Mothership Yoga Lounge & Hot Springs. For the best pizza in town, head to Outer Edge Pizzeria and swing by Passion Pie Cafe for delicious pastries and freshly brewed coffee.