Las Vegas, New Mexico Travel Guide

Welcome to Las Vegas, New Mexico! Yes, you read that right! Founded nearly 70 years before the famous Las Vegas, Nevada, this north-central New Mexican town is home to around 13,000 residents. Las Vegas is known for many things, including the backdrop of many movies and TV shows, and has historic ties to Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War. Today, visitors can explore many historical areas and buildings, shops, and numerous parks for hiking and boating. Las Vegas has an excellent food scene with numerous restaurants serving New Mexican-style dishes, beloved by locals and visitors alike. Located near Santa Fe, NM (1hr 5min, 70 miles), Albuquerque, NM (1hr 45min, 125 miles), and Colorado Springs, CO (3hr 30 min, 260 miles), Las Vegas is a great weekend trip to escape the city and learn about local history. Come and see all this town has to offer, highlighted in our travel guide below!

First, let’s start with history. To learn about the local area, head to the City of Las Vegas Museum. Take a walk around Old Town Plaza to see historic, Spanish-designed homes. The Plaza Hotel is another popular historic site during a walking tour. Next, head to the Fort Union National Monument to see the historic fort and walk the paths along the Santa Fe Trail. Lastly, on the history tour, stop by Pecos National Historical Park to see the ruins of the 17th-century Spanish mission church.

Las Vegas is surrounded by numerous parks! Consider hiking in Gallinas Canyon or spotting birds at McAllister Lake Wildlife Area. Dish the stocked pond at Morphy Lake State Park, or enjoy the paddling and camping. Villanueva State Park is a great option for fishing, hiking, and camping along the Pecos River. For one more fishing spot, head to Storrie Lake State Park for fishing, boating, swimming, and camping!

Need some more ideas? Consider checking out New Mexico Highlands University, a small, public school home to around 3,000 students. Be sure to schedule a prospective student's tour if you are interested in attending. Go Cowboys! For some cool art, drive to Dwan Light Sanctuary to see the reflective light piece. For some shopping, stop in to Plaza Antiques and Roughrider Antiques for vintage finds to get a new look from New Moon Fashions. Finally, finish off the night with a film at Fort Union Drive-In Theatre!

Foodies, rejoice! Las Vegas has quite the food scene, with a specialty in New Mexican foods. New Mexican foods are similar to Mexican staples but tend to be a little more hardy. To learn the real differences, you’ll have to taste them for yourself. Head to Charlie’s Spic & Span Bakery & Cafe, a local favorite spot for New Mexican food and baked goods. This is a must-stop eatery during your visit. Be sure to try the fresh tortillas and Christmas-style enchiladas! There are plenty of other New Mexican restaurants in the area, and each has its own specialties. Try foods from El Rialto for tacos, Kocina de Rafael for New Mexican staples, Dick’s Pub & Restaurant for American/New Mexican meals, and El Encanto for a New Mexican breakfast.

There are a lot of great dining options outside of New Mexican food too! Be sure to grab your caffeine of choice from Olivia’s Cafe. Try BBQ from Buffalo Hall & Cowboy Cafe BBQ, and enjoy Vietnamese staples from Little Saigon Restaurant. Head to Hillcrest Restaurant and Trading Post for diner favorites with a Mexican twist. For the adventurous eater, be sure to stop at The Skillet for cultural fusion dishes, such as the Orange Chicken Burrito!

With so much to do in Las Vegas, you may need to spend the night! Consider booking a room at the historic Plaza Hotel or the Castaneda Hotel. Want a whole place to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Charming Adobe Home for 2, Log Cabin for 4, and Downtown Home for 6.

Want to visit Las Vegas but not sure when? Consider coming during one of their popular festivals! Ride in for the Rough Riders Motorcycle Rally, celebrate with the town during Heritage Week, or listen to local bands at Meadow City Music Festival.  Whatever you’re into, Las Vegas, New Mexico has something worth seeing.  We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Las Vegas that can inspire a future visit.

Happy Travels!

The Modern Travel Guide