Southeast New Mexico
United States · Americas
About Southeast New Mexico
Southeastern New Mexico is a region of the state of New Mexico in the United States of America. It is less well endowed with significant travel destinations than most other regions of New Mexico, but does include the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a vast and scenic sea of sand at White Sands National Park, mountain scenery in the Sacramento and Guadalupe Mountains, and the town of Roswell, which enjoys a weird notoriety among UFO aficionados.
Southeast New Mexico travel guide
Understand
The boundary between this region and Southwest New Mexico is indistinct and open to debate, but for purposes of this article, is taken to be the western slopes of the Sacramento Mountains including (just barely) White Sands National Park. Otherwise, it is bounded on the east and south by the Texas state line, and on the north by Interstate highway 40, which follows the route of historic Route 66 in New Mexico. Thus defined, this is mainly a low, flat region with a number of affinities to the Texas Panhandle; indeed, the area bounded by Clovis, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs is commonly called "Little Texas" not only for its social leanings but also because of its extensive oil fields. However, in addition to the Sacramentos, it does contain the rugged Guadalupe Mountains that rise west of Artesia, Carlsbad and Roswell and continue across the Texas state line to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. Most of the region's scenic points of interest are in or near the Sacramentos or Guadalupes, with Carlsbad Caverns in the latter's foothills and White Sands just west of the former. This geology affects the traveler in one non-obvious way. The "Little Texas" part of the state is basically a vast plain with an extensive layer of gypsum rock beneath it. While this permeable rock is valuable in preserving the limited precipitation (nearly the entire region qualifies as "desert"), it also means that water drawn from wells in the region has a taste that can charitably be described as "vile." It's perfectly safe to drink, but such is its taste that this is a good region in which to make use of bottled water.
Getting there
Carlsbad (CNM IATA), Clovis (CVN IATA), Roswell (ROW IATA) and Hobbs (HOB IATA) have limited commuter air service. Otherwise, those arriving by air may find it more convenient to fly into Lubbock, Midland, El Paso, or Amarillo. There is limited bus service. The main roads entering this region (US 62, 180, 285, 380) are generally in good shape year-round, as the lower elevation of this region, compared to the rest of the state, tends to soften the blow of winter storms, etc.
Getting around
Drive; there really isn't a viable alternative. The presence of the petroleum industry in this corner of the state has the advantage for the driver of providing a somewhat higher density of towns with gas stations, etc., than in some other parts of New Mexico. The northwestern reaches of the region, however, are still very thinly populated, and if you're driving in this area (e.g. between I-40 and Roswell), keep an eye on the gas gauge. US and state highways in the region are generally in good shape. However, if you're heading into the mountains, particularly the Guadalupes, for outdoor adventure, check locally on the condition of Forest Service roads, which can be very rough; some will challenge even the experienced 4-wheel driver.
Go next
The rugged, flat country of the Texas Panhandle lies to the east, while the more varied terrain of the Big Bend Country of Texas lies to the south, with its mountains, canyons, and grasslands. To the west is Southwest New Mexico, home to a few curious attractions and plenty of local color.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.