How to get to NMSU

NMSU is located in Las Cruces NM. If you are flying in, you should probably fly to El Paso, Texas and drive (about 55 minutes) up to Las Cruces; Las Cruces has a small airport but it is only serviced by Mesa Airlines and it is generally a lot more expensive to fly into Las Cruces than to go to El Paso.

Parking at NMSU

To park at NMSU, you will need to get a temporary parking permit. You can get one at the main office in the Astronomy Department. You will need to bring this back to your car. This will allow you to park in any valid parking spot on the University; you cannot park in spots marked blue (handicapped) or green (service vehicles).

Arriving from El Paso (or, in general, the south)

To get from the El Paso airport to NMSU, you can follow the following instructions/maps.

Arriving from Tucson (or, in general, the west)

  • MAP: Getting to the Astronomy Building on the NMSU campus
  • From I-10, take the Main St. exit.
  • Turn right on Main St., then right onto University Ave.
  • At third light, take a right on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At second stop, take a left onto Stewart St.
  • At second stop, take a left onto Williams
  • Astronomy building is second building on the left

Arriving from Albuquerque (or, in general, the north)

  • MAP: Getting to the Astronomy Building on the NMSU campus
  • Take I-25 into Las Cruces, and exit at University Ave. exit
  • At 3rd (??) light, turn left on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At second stop, take a left onto Stewart St.
  • At second stop, take a left onto Williams
  • Astronomy building is second building on the left

Lodging in Las Cruces

Recently, we have been putting people up at the Comfort Suites (505-522-1300), or the Sleep Inn, which is next door to Comfort Suites. This has the advantage of being within walking distance of campus, and it is easy to find. Comfort Suites/Sleep Inn is located on Triviz Dr., off of University Ave., essentially where University Ave intersects with I-25. You can get there by taking the University Ave. exit from I-25 (N or S) and heading west on University until the first light at Triviz. If arriving via I-10 from the west, take the Main St. exit to University Ave. as decribed above, but just stay on University up the hill until you hit Triviz just before coming to I-25. Another location we occasionally put people up is the Meson de Mesilla, a nice small bed and breakfast. To get to Meson de Mesilla from I-10, take the Mesilla exit (Hwy 28), and head south for about 1/2 mile; the Meson de Mesilla will be on your left before you arrive at the small town of Mesilla.

Walking to the Astronomy Dept. from Comfort Suites/Sleep Inn

To walk from the Comfort Suites/Sleep Inn to the Astronomy Department, walk down University Ave. Cross at Locust or Jordan and walk into campus until you hit a large pedestrian walkway. Take a right on this, and walk down past the Student Union (Corbett). After passing this, take the walk which goes diagonally to the left through the parking lot, which will take you to the Frenger pedestrian mall. Walk past the Food Court and Williams St., and the Astronomy Dept. will be on your left, across from the Science Library (Branson).