What Is the Best Time to Travel to New Mexico?
Summer is the most popular time to visit New Mexico, but the best deals are during winter and spring.
Written by Katherine Duffy
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Whether you’re craving an escape to the rugged desert wilderness at Ghost Ranch, dying to wander Albequerque’s unique Old Town Plaza, or have an itch for Santa Fe’s magnificent architecture, the best time to visit
New Mexico
depends on your heat tolerance, budget, and interests.New Mexico’s most popular cities are quintessential American travel destinations, but navigating pricey hotel fees, seasonal weather forecasts, and peak-season crowds can overwhelm even the most experienced travelers. Outrageously expensive fares or less-than-ideal weather conditions can put a damper on your vacation, so it’s important to plan your visit with care.
Car insurance
super app Jerry
knows how hard it is to plan the perfect road trip—that’s why we’ve done the research to help you find the ideal time to travel to New Mexico for that not-too-hot, not-too-expensive, not-too-crowded getaway. Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
The best times of year to travel to New Mexico
Deciding when to travel to New Mexico depends on what cities national parks, or festivals you want to see. Peak tourist season in major cities like
Santa Fe
or Albequerque
is during the height of summer and early fall. But if you’d like to avoid the crowds and get a better deal on lodging rates, fall to early winter and even early spring are great times to take in all that New Mexico has to offer.
Peak Season: June to September
The good: Variety of festivals, ideal weather
The bad: Crowded, expensive
The weather: High 70’s to low 90’s
New Mexico’s peak season is during June, July, August, and September when the weather is pleasantly dry and hot. There are numerous festivals around the state to enjoy and many national parks which are best showcased during New Mexico’s warmest months.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in New Mexico is
Carlsbad Caverns National Park,
which experiences ideal weather conditions during peak tourist season. It’s one of the most unique national parks in the US and a must-see in New Mexico! The famous
Santa Fe Opera
season runs just two months a year: July and August. Be sure to head to the Crosby Theatre and enjoy a performance in its open-air architectural design. The
Santa Fe Indian Market
in August celebrates Indigenous culture and features over 600 artisan booths, multiple gallery events, art shows, and even fashion shows!The
Fiestas de Santa Fe
has run every year since 1712, usually in the second week of September. The streets of Santa Fe flood with cultural parades, food and artisan booths, and traditional Mexican music.Pro Tip If you’re planning on visiting New Mexico during peak season, be sure to book your event tickets and accommodations well in advance. This saves you time and money while guaranteeing you a spot at New Mexico’s most popular attractions.
Off-season: December to March
The good: Lowest rates, fewer crowds,
The bad: Colder temperatures, especially in the north
The weather: low 50s to low 30s, depending on elevation
New Mexico experiences cold winter temperatures during its off-season months of December, January, and February, especially in its mountainous regions.
If you’d like to take advantage of New Mexico’s winter while exploring one of the state’s most historic towns, head to Taos and hit the slopes!
This 400-year-old town becomes a charming ski village surrounded by snowy mountaintops during the winter months. Head to
Taos Ski Valley
to enjoy the outdoors on skis or a snowboard. When you come down from the mountain, be sure to visit Taos Pueblos
—an ancient Indigenous community and UNESCO World Heritage site. The off-season is also a great time to enjoy New Mexico’s most popular tourist cities—Santa Fe and Albuquerque—with fewer crowds. Chilly weather is the perfect time to visit famous museums like the
Georgia O’Keefe museum
in Santa Fe or the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
in Albuquerque. Shoulder seasons: April to May, October to November
The good: comfortable weather, lower rates than peak season
The bad: Pricier than off-season
The weather: Mid 30’s to high 70’s, depending on month and altitude
New Mexico experiences two “shoulder seasons” between peak and off-season in the spring and later fall months. For many people, locals included, New Mexico’s shoulder season is the best time to visit.
One of New Mexico’s most famous festivals—
the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
—happens during the fall shoulder season in October, and is the largest of its kind. You can experience a number of hot air balloon events and even take a ride into the blue desert sky! If you’d like to fully immerse yourself in New Mexican culture, participating in or observing the
pilgrimage to Chimayo
is a great way to do it. This is an Old World Catholic tradition that takes place the week before Easter, where thousands of locals and visitors make the trek to El
Santuario El Chimayo
, one of the most beautiful examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the country. If pilgrimages aren’t your style, you can
go tequila tasting at Sazón
while reservations are easier to book, take in the beautiful fall colors on the scenic Cumbres & Toltec steam engine train tour
, or browse the artisan shops and restaurants of Old Town regions of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The cheapest time to travel to New Mexico
The absolute cheapest time to visit New Mexico is after the Christmas holidays in January or February. Any Christmas crowds will be gone, and most people won’t consider visiting New Mexico again until springtime.
However, if you’re set on experiencing New Mexico’s dry heat under blue skies, you can still get great deals in October and May. New Mexico experiences hot weather in its southern regions during these months, but you’ll still escape the crowds and price hikes of peak season in New Mexico.
Find the best month for your visit to New Mexico
Ready to narrow down the right month to travel to New Mexico? Check out the table below to find the ideal time for your New Mexico adventure based on the activities you’re planning.
Activity | Best month to visit | Why? |
|---|---|---|
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | October | Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta usually happens in the first week of October, so check this year’s date to schedule your trip. |
Pilgrimage to Chimayo | March or April | If you’re wanting to join in or observe the famous pilgrimage to Chimayo, plan to come to New Mexico during Holy Week before Easter. |
Seeing the Opera | July-August | The Santa Fe Opera (https://www.santafeopera.org/) only runs in July and August. Reserve your tickets early, as the Opera is a popular peak season event. |
Santa Fe Indian Market | August | This famously large market hits Santa Fe in the third week of August. |
Carlsbad Caverns National Park | April through November | The best time to visit this essential national park is in the dry heat of peak season, but shoulder season months are great options for avoiding crowds. |
Historic Old Town tours | November or April-May | Stick to the shoulder season for Old Town tours of Santa Fe and Albuquerque: you’ll avoid both crowding and heat, and enjoy the cities’ beauty in peace. |
Taos | November through May | Taos is beautiful any time of year, but you can take advantage of its ski resort and avoid crowds around Taos Pueblo in the off and shoulder seasons. |
Cumbres & Toltec steam engine tour | October-November | The most beautiful time to take the tour is in the fall when the leaves are changing |
Pro Tip You’ll find good food, many traditional festivals, and beautiful architecture year-round in New Mexico, so time your trip based on savings and weather if you’re not interested in special events.
How to find savings on car and rental insurance
Whether you’re driving to New Mexico or
renting a car
at the airport, it’s important to make sure you’ve got a solid car insurance policy in place before you set out. Jerry
can help with that—as the No. 1 rated insurance app, Jerry is a genius at finding affordable policies in no time at all. Not convinced? Download the app and see for yourself: all you need to do is enter your information, and Jerry will browse policies from 50+ top insurance companies to find you the best rates available. And Jerry won’t just find the deal for you—you’ll get end-to-end support from a team of experts who will even help you cancel your old policy!
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
“AfterJerryfound me car rental insurance, I’ve recommended them to all my colleagues, friends, and family. The service got me just what I needed.” —Luis C.
6 Ways to Cope with Income Loss due to Coronavirus
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to income losses for many, but there are 6 ways that help you cope
7 A.I. Companies That Can Save You $7,000 a Year for Free
Emerging A.I. technology is powering a revolution that allows people to save like never before.
Geico Policyholders Use This App to Save $853
Can a crusading app based on artificial intelligence stop insurance companies from Rickrolling? The answer: Yes.
FAQs
What’s the worst time to travel to New Mexico?
There’s no wrong time to visit New Mexico—it all depends on what your budget is, what part of New Mexico you’d like to visit, and what kind of activities you want to do while you’re there!
If you’re planning a ski trip, you’ll have to visit during the off-season near the mountains. If you’re all about festivals and music, peak season might be for you. If you’re an adventure junkie who’s into hiking, biking, or camping, visit the national parks during shoulder season while the weather is comfortable!
Do most people speak Spanish in New Mexico?
While many people speak Spanish in New Mexico, English is still the most popular spoken language. Don’t worry if your Spanish isn’t up to snuff—English translations are always available where Spanish is being used.
4.7
