DIRECTIONS FROM EL PASO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT VIA LAS CRUCES TO APACHE POINT OBSERVATORY
El Paso maps are available from any car
rental agency at the airport. Plan an approximate 3.5 hour drive time
from El Paso to Apache Point.
From the El Paso Airport, travel west on
I-10 to Las Cruces--approx. 40 miles. Turn north on I-25 towards
Albuquerque. NMSU is Exit #1--University Ave.
To continue to Apache Point, turn east (right) at
Exit #6A--Hwy. 70.
White Sands National Monument is approximate 46 miles, Alamogordo is
60 miles.
To reach the observatory, us the Tularosa Relief Route
around
Alamogordo to Hwy. 82--approx. 5 miles. The Relief Route ends at Hwy 82. Continue
east 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:
There are occasional roadblocks between
White Sands Missle Range and Alamogordo that last approximately 1
hour. Radio station KRWG-FM, 90.7FM broadcasts daily
schedules.
The INS operates an immigration patrol check
station at White Sands National Monument. If you are a non-resident
of the United States, you must carry your passport and visa for
identification.
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