Find Us

The Astronomy Building on the NMSU campus is on the Frenger pedestrian mall at the intersection of Frenger and Williams St., near the Branson Hall Library. An interactive map of NMSU's campus can be found here. 

map of location of nmsu astronomy

Parking at NMSU

To park on campus, you will need a temporary parking permit. You can pick one up from the main office of the Astronomy buidling. You can also get a permit in advance online here. You need to leave this permit in your car, placing it on your dashboard. This will allow you to park in any valid parking spot on the university campus, other than spots marked blue (handicapped), green (service vehicles), or lavender (on-campus residents). To stop into the department quickly, there are meters across the street, as shown on the map above.

 

Getting to Las Cruces

NMSU is located in Las Cruces, NM. If you are flying in, you should probably fly to El Paso, Texas and drive (about 55 minutes) up to Las Cruces.

Arriving from El Paso (or, in general, the south)

To get from the El Paso airport to NMSU, you can follow the following instructions/maps.
 
  • Once out of the airport, take a right onto Airway Blvd.
  • At the first light, take a right onto Airport Rd., which will curve to the left and become Fred Wilson Rd.
  • Take a right onto Hwy 54 when you reach it.
  • Take 54 several miles to Transmountain Rd, and take a left.
  • Take Transmountain Rd over the Franklin mountains until you hit I-10.
  • Take I-10 north about 30 miles into Las Cruces.
(Alternatively to all of the above, follow signs from El Paso airport to I-10, then take this north about 50 miles to Las Cruces. The above route is about the same distance, but is more scenic.)
 
  • From I-10, take the Main St. exit. Turn right onto University Ave.
  • At the third(?) light, turn right on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At the third stop sign, take a left onto Stewart St.
  • At the second stop sign, take a left onto Williams.
  • The Astronomy building is the second building on the left.

Arriving from Tucson (or, in general, the west)

  • From I-10, take the Main St. exit.
  • Turn right on Main St., then turn right onto University Ave.
  • At the third(?) light, turn right on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At the third stop sign, take a left onto Stewart St.
  • At the second stop sign, take a left onto Williams.
  • The Astronomy building is the second building on the left.

Arriving from Albuquerque (or, in general, the north)

  • Take I-25 into Las Cruces, and exit at University Ave.
  • At the fourth(?) light, turn left on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At the second light, turn right on Espina into the NMSU campus
  • At the third stop sign, take a left onto Stewart St.
  • At the second stop sign, take a left onto Williams.
  • The Astronomy building is the second building on the left.

Lodging in Las Cruces

We normally put visitors up at the Courtyard by Marriott at NMSU on 456 E. University Avenue (575.526.1722). This has the advantage of being within walking distance of the campus, and it is easy to find. The Courtyard is located at the corner of University Avenue and East College Avenue, essentially next to the Las Cruces Convention Center. You can get there by taking the University Ave. exit from I-25 (N or S) and heading west on University until you pass El Paseo. If arriving via I-10 from the west, take the Main St. exit to University Ave. as described above.

Social Media

Find us on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram –> @nmsuastro