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