Ruidoso, NM Road Trips
Plan drives from Ruidoso, NM with practical route pages for distance, drive time, fuel cost, road character, and places to stop along the way.
Photo: Hector Portillo
Trip Routes
2
Longest Drive
365.6 mi
Farmington, NM
Quickest Drive
3h 58m
Enchanted Hills, NM
Plan Around Ruidoso, NM
Continue From Ruidoso, NM
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Ruidoso, NM
Ruidoso, NM by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
7,701
Median Income
$50,259
Median Home Value
$229,100
Median Age
44.4
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Notable People from Ruidoso, NM
A sampling of people born in Ruidoso, NM.
Tristan Gale
1980
American skeleton racer
Yvette Herrell
1964
American politician and realtor (born 1964)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Ruidoso, NM.
Old Dowlin Mill
watermill and grinding mill in Ruidoso, New Mexico
City data from Wikidata (Q2380585), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Ruidoso, NM
Ruidoso is a town in southeastern New Mexico. Its attractions include pleasant mountain recreation and world-caliber horse racing. During the summer population triples as New Mexicans and Texans arrive to enjoy the horse races, gambling, and cool mountain air.
1 Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy the Kid Casino, ☏ +1 575 378-4431. In the adjacent village of Ruidoso Downs. Horse racing from Memorial Day to September, culminating in the major All American Futurity, a $2-million event on Labor Day that bills itself as the richest quarter-horse race in the United States. Hubbard Museum of the American West, 841 US 70 West (Ruidoso Downs), ☏ +1 575 378-4142. Open 7 days 9AM - 5PM. Temporarily closed as of 14 May 2022. Includes the Ruidoso Downs Racing Hall of Fame. Spencer Theater, 108 Spencer Dr, Alto, NM, ☏ +1 575 336-4800. Performing arts center featuring traveling musicians, plays, ballets, concerts and musicals. (updated Aug 2015)
Ruidoso Disc Golf (Directions: Off of Sudderth Dr. (the main street in Midtown Ruidoso, go (south) on Center St., then (right) on Wingfield St. then (left) on Grindstone Canyon Rd. then (right) on Resort Dr. Course is on the left Hole 1 is left of parking lot below Grindstone Dam.). 9 hole disc golf, a great and low cost way to enjoy the outdoors with your family. If you don't own any discs, see the above link to pick some up in town. FREE, if you bring your own discs.. Ruidoso Winter Park - Tubing (1/4 mile west of Hwy 48 on Ski Run Rd.), ☏ +1 575-336-7079. 0am to 5PM, sometimes 9PM.. Magic carpet lifts, be whisked to the top of the hill on a moving conveyor! An area for smaller kids available. (updated Apr 2019) Lincoln National Forest. The White Mountain Wilderness is right next to Ruidoso and contains opportunities for all outdoor activities. However, due to severe fire danger there are often restrictions or closures during the summer, the current restrictions should be checked before planning activities in the forest. Zip Line at Two World Class Options (Apache Wind Rider ZipTour and Apache Eagle ZipRider), Inn of the Mountain Gods and Ski Apache, ☏ +1 575-464-3633. In 2015, Ruidoso, NM became a destination for adventure seeking enthusiasts. Two zip lines are operated by the Mescalero Apache tribe. The Apache Wind Rider ZipTour is known as the fourth longest zipline in North America and tallest. The smaller Apache Eagle ZipRider is at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino. (updated Aug 2015) 1 Perk Canyon. Amazing hike in the city limits.
1 Cafe Rio Pizza, 2547 Sudderth Dr, ☏ +1 (575) 257-7746, [email protected]. Thursday – Monday 11:30am – 8:00pm. Spot for East Coast-style pizza, served in a laid-back place decorated with flags & license plates. $5- $20 USD. (updated May 2024)
1 Story Book Cabins, 410 Main Rd, toll-free: +1-888-257-2115. Upscale rustic knotty pine cabins nestled amid the tall trees of Ruidoso's Upper Canyon. Amenities include full kitchen, washer/dryer, fireplace, hot tub, and deck views of Sierra Blanca. $119 - $349. Forest Home Cabins, 436 Main Rd, ☏ +1 575-257-4504. Describes itself as "1-, 2- and 3-bedroom rental cabins offer comfortable lodging with rustic charm". Inn of the Mountain Gods, Carrizo Road, toll-free: +1-800-545-9011. A well-known casino/resort on the adjacent Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation just south of town. Condotel Corporation, 1103 Mechem Dr, toll-free: +1-800-545-9017. Offers vacation rental condos, cabins, and homes of all sizes throughout the region. Best Western Pine Springs Inn, 111 Pine Springs Dr, Ruidoso Downs, ☏ +1 575-378-8100, toll-free: +1-888-353-2793. 2 Ruidoso Lodge Cabins, 300 Main Rd, ☏ +1 575-257-2510. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Rental cabins nestled in the cool pines of Ruidoso's Upper Canyon. $99 - $209. Ruidoso River Resort & Inn, 206 Eagle Dr (Off Sudderth, in Midtown, torn at Eagle Drive, near the river), toll-free: +1-877-624-2254. Beautifully decorated one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with fireplace, flat panel TV, private bath, upscale kitchen, gas BBQ grills, courtyard with waterfall, fire pit and seating area. Starting from $100/day. Canyon Creek Lodge, 900 Carrizo Canyon Rd, toll-free: +1-855-I-LUV-CCL (4-588-225). Rental condos available by the night, one mile from the casino. $79-$169. 3 Canyon Cabins, 416 Main Rd, ☏ +1 575-257-2076.
Ruidoso is on US 70 between Alamogordo and Roswell; the latter has daily air service to Dallas/Fort Worth and four weekly flights to Los Angeles via American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines. The nearest airports with major commercial air service are in Albuquerque and El Paso, each about 150 miles away.
Travel tips adapted from Ruidoso on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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