Las Cruces (pop 75,000) is the largest city in southwestern New Mexico and has been a popular resting stop along traditional trade routes for centuries. Named for the memorial cross markers that once stood where the city now stands, today Las Cruces is populated by an amalgamation of military personnel who work at White Sands Missile Range and university students who attend New Mexico State University, giving the town a unique personality. Las Cruces is located in the Mesilla Valley, close to the Rio Grande River and is framed dramatically by the Organ Mountains to its east, allowing for a variety of recreational adventures within a short drive of town.

Las Cruces is best accessed by car from north/south I-25. Accommodations in town range from budget to high end, with a good selection of mid-range options. Las Cruces prides itself in the number of dining establishments that exist within its borders, over 100, and visitors will have little trouble finding good Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. To learn more about Las Cruces, select a topic of interest from the left-hand navigation bar.