DIRECTIONS FROM DENVER, CO. TO APACHE POINT OBSERVATORY

Denver maps are available from any car rental agency at the airport. Plan an approximate 10.5 hour drive time from Denver to Apache Point.

Turn south on Interstate 25 to Colorado Springs/New Mexico. Travel south on I-25 into New Mexico to south of Las Vegas, NM--approx. 5 hours. Turn south (left) on Hwy. 84. When crossing I-40--approx. 40 miles--the road automatically turns into Hwy 219. Continue on 219 to Pastura--approx. 40 miles. Turn south (right) on Hwy. 54 to Vaughn/Tularosa/Alamogordo--approx. 3 hrs.

Turn east (left) on Highway 82 to Cloudcroft--approx.16 miles. Turn south (right) on State Highway 130 to Sunspot/Weed. After 1.8 miles, turn west (right) on State Highway 6563 to Sunspot. After 14.2 miles turn west (right) to follow Hwy 6563 to Sunspot. Turn south (left) at APO's entrance; there are signs at the entrance. The drive is 1 mile to the observatory. Parking is available at the lower visitor parking lot or the Don Baldwin Operations building.

NOTES:

You must provide your own food. Supermarkets are available in surrounding areas.

There are no restaurants located between Cloudcroft and APO. NSO/Sac Peak has a small cafe which serves lunch weekdays only. You can shop in Carrizozo, Tularosa, or Alamogordo. A gas station and tourist shops are available in Cloudcroft. In Alamogordo, a shopping mall is located at the north edge of town adjacent to Highway 70/82; the downtown shopping area (groceries) is East 10th Street.

Between October and April, front-wheel drive vehicles are recommended--chains may be needed. Call APO for local weather and road conditions.

Revised November 29, 2011