Even if your wallet contains more old receipts than banknotes, you can still have a good time in the Land of Enchantment. There are a surprising number of free things to do in New Mexico that the whole family can enjoy. Here are 20 ideas to get you started.

1. Cross the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
Flickr/Jim Rosebery
The view from this bridge, located outside Taos, is priceless but it doesn't cost a dime to see it.
2. Visit one of New Mexico's many churches.
Flickr/Jasperdo
Churches often have impressive architecture and contain artwork, or stained glass. Many of the prettiest churches in the state are free, such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, Basilica of San Albino in Mesilla, San Francisco De Asis Mission Church in Taos, and many more.
3. Stop by a kitschy attraction.
Yelp/Nick D.
Gawp at the massive roadrunner statue in Las Cruces or the collection of vintage cars at Russell’s Truck and Travel Center in Glenrio. Both sites, and many others like them, are free. You could even find several examples of roadside kitsch and turn your excursion into a tour. Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Gallup, Roswell, Santa Fe, and Tucumcari all have multiple quirky yet free roadside attractions.
4. Picnic in a city park.
Flickr/La Citta Vita
City parks are a great place to have a picnic or even an impromptu game of kickball. Most towns have at least one, like the Railyard Park in Santa Fe (pictured).
5. Get away from it all in one of New Mexico's wilderness areas.
Flickr/dedhed1950
Whether you choose to explore the Gila Wilderness or the Bisti Badlands, your experiences cost nothing, but will create memories worth treasuring.
6. Go hiking.
Flickr/Samat Jain
You'd be surprised at the wonders hidden along some of New Mexico's hiking trails. One of the paths in Soledad Canyon, near Las Cruces, steers hikers to a waterfall.
7. Take a dip.
Yelp/Lu S.
Nothing feels as good as plunging into cool water on a warm day. Admission to the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa is free. (There is a small fee to park in the lot.)
8. Soak in an undeveloped hot spring.
Yelp/Sumira P.
Several of New Mexico's hot springs are primitive (translation: free). You usually have to hike to reach them but the payoff is worth it. Try San Antonio Springs in the Jemez Mountains, Montezuma hot springs near Las Vegas, or Middle Fork hot springs, which is close to Gila Hot Springs.
9. Wander around a historical house.
Flickr/Marissa Bracke
Flickr/Lane B
The Mabel Dodge Luhan house, in Taos, is free to visit. Dodge Luhan was a colorful character, who hosted salons and entertained the likes of Ansel Adams, Georgia O'Keeffe, Aldous Huxley, Willa Cather, and D.H. Lawrence at her home in Taos. Learn more about the Mabel Dodge Luhan house here.

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10. Stroll the Plaza.
Flickr/Kent Kanouse
New Mexican towns and cities such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Mesilla, Las Vegas (pictured), and Taos all have Plazas. Browse the surrounding shops or just spend a little time people watching in these social hubs.
11. Go to an art gallery or take a studio tour.
Flickr/Winifred
Whether you're somewhere with a huge art scene like Santa Fe or a more low-key location like Madrid, it's free to admire the art in local galleries. In New Mexico, studio tours run throughout the year. During these events, artists open up their private studios to the public.
12. Explore a funky neighborhood.
Flickr/disownedlight
Window-shopping is always entertaining in vibrant neighborhoods like Albuquerque's Nob Hill.
13. Do some wine tasting.
Yelp/Denise H.
Increasingly, wineries and tasting rooms charge for pours. But there are still places where you can imbibe for free. The Pistachio Tree Ranch & Arena Blanca Winery in Alamogordo still offers complimentary tastings. You can pose next to the World's Largest Pistachio while you're there!
14. Take a scenic drive.
Yelp/Allen F.
Brief scenic drives pack in impressive views over a short distance, keeping the cost of gas down. Good options include: the drive up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin, the Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway, and the Corrales Road Scenic Byway.
15. Head to college.
Flickr/darius norvilas
Some of the UNM buildings contain small museums that don't charge admission. These include the Meteorite Museum, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, and the UNM Art Museum. You can learn more about these UNM museums here.
16. Visit a museum.
Flickr/Forsaken Fotos
Even museums that typically charge, often offer days when admission is waived. The Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum is free the first Friday of every month, while the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History offers the same promotion on the first Wednesday of each month.
17. Show your driver's license or ID card and save big.
Flickr/Sharon Sperry Bloom
If you can prove that you live in New Mexico, you'll gain free admission to many of the state's museums on Sundays. This deal also applies to a number of historic sites, such as Fort Seldon, the Coronado Historic Site, Lincoln Historic Site, and more.
18. Attend a festival.
Facebook/The Amazing Roswell UFO Festival
Many annual festivals and parades in New Mexico are free, like the Roswell UFO Festival.
19. Take advantage of summer programs.
Flickr/Artotem
During the summer, lots of places offer free outdoor entertainment. Las Cruces has free movies and music in the park, while Santa Fe has music on the hill.
20. Check for short-term promotions.
Flickr/Rennett Stowe
Sometimes local tourism bureaus run great promotions. Check out Santa Fe's Spring Break Promotion for Kids. Adults still have to pay, but kids can score deals like free admission to the Museum of International Folk Art, a free painting class through Bubbly heArt Studio, or a free mini drinking chocolate from Kakawa.

 

What’s your favorite free thing to do in New Mexico? The Land of Enchantment is full of so many great and fun places to visit. Here are some of the most underrated spots in NM that you should consider checking out.

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More to Explore

Free Things To Do In New Mexico

Leah | December 18, 2020

What are the best little known attractions in New Mexico?

The list of New Mexico attractions is nearly endless. With so much to do in terms of museums, nature, culture, food, and the like, it's easy to overlook some places. For a lesser-known nature park, visit the Cimarron Canyon State Park. The forested area is stunning to hike through and the fact that it's not so popular means you'll have peace and quiet. If you enjoy animals, take a visit to the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in the tiny, remote town of Candy Kitchen, New Mexico. Not only will you be helping support the sanctuary, but you'll also be able to see the wolves and wolf-dogs up close and personal.

What are the best day trips in New Mexico?

With so many things to do outdoors in New Mexico, you can easily spend the whole day and then some exploring the wilderness of the state. Speaking of wilderness, a great day trip destination is the Gila Wilderness. Designated as the first wilderness area in the world, it's full of things to see and do, including historic sites like the Gila Cliff Dwellings. For a more relaxing natural experience, try a day trip to some of New Mexico's hot springs. A drive out to places like Jemez Springs is worth it for the relaxing soak you'll have at one of the many springs there.

What can I do with kids in New Mexico?

There are many places to visit in New Mexico that are perfect for a day with the kids. If they enjoy space, take a drive out to Roswell, New Mexico for some out-of-this-world fun that kids love. There are a variety of zoos within the state that animal-loving kids will enjoy, such as Alameda Park Zoo or ABQ Biopark Zoo. If your child is in a dinosaur-loving phase, take them to Clayton Lake State Park. There, they can see real dinosaur footprints left by dinosaurs when crossing the area millions of years ago. How cool and memorable would that be for them? It's not every day that you can see real dinosaur tracks up close and in person.

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Featured Addresses
New Mexico, USA
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico 87529, USA
Blue Hole, Santa Rosa, NM 88435, USA
Mabel Dodge Luhan House, 240 Morada Ln, Taos, NM 87571, USA
Nob Hill, Albuquerque, NM, USA
37 US-82, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA
Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA
2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA
Museum of International Folk Art, On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA
703 Camino de la Familia #3102, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Kakawa Chocolate House, 1050 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA