Visitor Resources
About UNM
The University of New Mexico is a place where knowledge, world-class research, innovation, and student life come together. Founded in 1889, New Mexico’s flagship university spans 600 acres and sits on the traditional homelands of the Pueblo of Sandia. With over 425 student organizations— whether the focus is cultural, academic, political, or service-driven— there’s a place for every passion. Blending rich history, striking diversity, and stunning natural surroundings through its signature Pueblo Revival architecture, UNM creates a learning atmosphere that is as distinctive as it is inspiring.
Amenities
Student Union Building (SUB): Hosts a food court, movie theater, convenience store, and plenty of common areas.
Johnson Field and Fitness Center: Features weight/cardio rooms, an Olympic pool, therapy pool, racquetball and basketball courts, fitness classes (yoga, Pilates, etc.), and guest access with purchase of day pass.
Central Campus Bookstore: Offers a wide selection of UNM apparel, books, technology, and various supplies, as well as an authorized U.S. Government Passport Acceptance Facility.
Museums: Includes the UNM Art Museum housing the largest fine art collection in the state, and the world-renowned Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.
Wi-Fi: Free upon login under the name LoboGuest.
Smoking Areas: As designated on campus that is otherwise smoke, tobacco, and recreational cannabis free.
Health & Safety
UNM is committed to offering services, information, resources and tools to offer a safe campus to all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Police and medical resources are available at all times in case of emergency.
UNM Campus Police: Available 24 hours a day, the office offers an escort service, lost & found, finger printing, and other assistance. Police can be accessed immediately from personal devices or the blue emergncy phones located around campus.
UNM Hospital: The only academic medical center in New Mexico, UNMH is located across the street from the Main Campus and offers the region’s highest quality patient care around the clock.
Dining
UNM Food has a variety of convenient locations across campus that allow you to dine in, take out, and refuel with your favorite food and beverages.
La Posada, our award-winning dining hall, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cash, credit cards, dining dollars, and Lobo Cash are accepted as a form of payment.
Other on-campus dining options include:
- National chains (e.g., Chick-fil-A, Subway, Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels).
- Local Albuquerque favorites (e.g., Blake’s Lotaburger, Dion’s Pizza).
- Quick-service and specialty dining (e.g., Mandalay Express, Freshens, Draft & Table).
- Meal exchange locations (e.g., Mercado Meal Exchange, La Ventana Meals).
- Campus markets and cafés located in residence halls, the Bookstore, and academic buildings.
Transportation & Parking
Shuttle System: Designed for rapid and convenient campus travel, PATS’ transportation system is a comprehensive transit network, offered free of charge to UNM students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Multiple bus routes on campus serve every area of the university including UNM commuter parking lots. These routes connect and transport students to UNM Residence halls, parking lots and different campuses.
Parking Services: There are no free parking areas on UNM campus. UNM PATS will ticket cars that do not properly display a valid parking permit. A full list of parking rates can be found on the Parking and Transportation Services Visitor Parking page. Cars with a properly displayed and valid state-issued ADA placard do not require a parking permit or short-term parking fees in areas designated for Accessible Parking.
Campus Map
Visitor’s Guide
About Albuquerque
Named after the Spanish Duke of Alburquerque, New Mexico’s largest city sits in the high desert nestled between the Rio Grande River and the Sandia Mountains. With a population of nearly one million people, it ranks as the 32nd largest city in the United States and dates to the city’s 1706 founding as a Spanish colony. Albuquerque is home to leading high-tech research facilities such as Sandia National Laboratory, Intel and the University of New Mexico, and it is cultivating a vibrant evolution in economic development and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. With more than 310 days of sunshine a year, year-round recreational opportunities abound on more than 28,000 acres of open space and miles of bike and walking trails. In Albuquerque, you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon, ride to the top of a mountain in the world’s longest aerial tramway or soar the skies in a hot airballoon. You can traverse from one side of the city to the other in less than 30 minutes, allowing plenty of time to visit the art galleries of Old Town; historic Native American sites; the zoo, gardens and aquarium at Albuquerque BioPark; the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History and other museums. Albuquerque has a robust culinary scene that features local red and green chile peppers and nationally recognized wineries and breweries.
Attractions by Interest
While you’re here, discover some of the things that make our city unique. Click the links below to explore pre-planned, printable itineraries for a variety of interests.
- Cultural Explorer
- Culinary Connoisseur
- Entertainment Enthusiast
- Family Fun-Seeker
- Outdoor Adventurer
- Eclectic Shopper
See Visit Albuquerque for more detailed tourist information.
Regional Attractions
Additional Information
Weather: Albuquerque lies at an elevation of over 5,000 feet and enjoys a high desert climate, with 310 days of sunshine, a mild, dry climate and four distinctly beautiful seasons. Days are generally sunny and warm but as the sun sets, the temperature falls. Be aware that low humidity and lots of sunshine means visitors need to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and using sunblock for protection.
- Average high temperature: 92°F / 33°C
- Average Low Temperature: 61°F / 16°C
Electricity: Electric power is standardized in all states across the USA. It is set at 110 Volts and 60 cycles. Standard electric plugs have two flat blades. The plugs on some newer appliances have a third, round grounding pin.
Currency Exchange: Albuquerque does not offer currency exchange at the Albuquerque International Airport or in local banks. The best way to obtain US Dollars is through a direct withdrawal from an ATM.
Smoking: Under current legislation, smoking has been banned in all public areas and workplaces, including enclosed restaurants, pubs, and bars. There are substantial penalties in place for those found to be in breach of these regulations.
Drinking: New Mexico has rather strict alcohol laws so plan on being asked for your identification (driver’s license or passport) no matter how old you are, including at restaurants and other local establishments. Please note that alcohol is not permitted in any of the dorms on UNM’s campus.
Time: New Mexico is on Mountain Standard Time.
About New Mexico
We invite you to the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, USA. The fifth largest state in the nation by area, New Mexico sits at the heart of the American southwest between Texas and Arizona and shares a border with Mexico. Formerly a Spanish colony after conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, then a Mexican colony, and then American territory, New Mexico became a state in 1912. Its population of about 2 million people makes it one of the least densely populated states in the country. New Mexico has a large native Spanish-speaking population as well as many Native American communities, offering a unique culture that clearly stands apart from that of other states. It boasts a rich history and culture and offers visitors majestic vistas, authentic cultural experiences, exciting outdoor adventures and a distinctive regional cuisine.
Statewide Attractions
New Mexico’s capital, Santa Fe, is the oldest capital city in the United States and home to hundreds of galleries and artist studios.
New Mexico is the home to three UNESCO world heritage sites, more than any other US state, which all offer breathtaking experiences: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Taos Pueblo and Chaco Culture National Historical Park. There is a fourth New Mexico site is under consideration for inclusion: White Sands National Park, a dramatic landscape of rare white gypsum sand dunes. The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument sits about halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe featuring a mesmerizing landscape of cone-shaped rock formations.
Enjoy looking at the stars? New Mexico also hosts the only International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the US. We also have some of the world’s best skiing and acclaimed museums affiliated with the Smithsonian and the National Institute of Flamenco.
Additional Resources
Travel
Thousands of visitors arrive in Albuquerque daily at the Albuquerque International Airport located just three miles from The University of New Mexico. Albuquerque is also a major stop on Amtrak Railway lines from Chicago and Los Angeles, and visitors may easily travel by bus or car as well.
Getting to Albuquerque
By Air: Albuquerque International Sunport (airport code: ABQ) is served by major commercial carriers and offers nonstop service to more than 20 US cities. ABQ is only 4 miles from UNM and is one of the country’s most culturally unique airports because of the architecture and 113-piece permanent art collection. If you fly into Santa Fe(about an hour away) you will need to rent a car as shuttles and/or train access to Albuquerque is very limited.
By Train: Amtrak®services Albuquerque via the Southwest Chief® route, traveling through eight states between Chicago and Los Angeles past wheat fields and ranches, missions and pueblos, mountains and desert.
By Bus: Albuquerque’s Greyhound station is the city’s hub, receiving 40 buses a day from all US major cities.
By Car: All major rental car companies serve Albuquerque. Traveling by car, visitors will find easy access to Albuquerque from two major interstate highways, Interstate 25 and Interstate 40, which intersect at the City's center (locally known as the “Big I”). The University is bordered on the West by University Blvd, the North by Lomas Blvd, the South by Central Blvd, and the East by Girard Blvd. Please note that parking is limited on campus.
Getting Around Albuquerque
Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART): Serving the Central Avenue corridor, ART buses can take visitors quickly from UNM to the historic Old Town and nearby museums, to the trendy shops and restaurants of Nob Hill, and to Uptown with three major shopping malls. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at the ART stations. There are two stations on Central Avenue, right next to the UNM campus. The "UNM-Popejoy" station is the closest ART stop for Main Campus.
ABQ Ride (Bus System): The ABQ Ride bus system serves the entire city of Albuquerque, with many convenient lines connecting the University of New Mexico to popular surrounding areas. For more information on bus routes and schedules, visit the ABQ Ride website or call 505-243-RIDE (7433).
New Mexico Rail Runner (Train): The NM Rail Runner commuter train makes day trips to Santa Fe and surrounding communities easy. The scenery on the 80-mile trip between Santa Fe and Albuquerque hasn’tchanged much since Santa Fe’s founding more than 400 years ago. The one-half hour train ride grants access to historic churches, regional cuisine, and the interactive experiences of Meow Wolf. Wi-Fi is available on board.
App-Based Ride Share Providers: Albuquerque is served by both Lyft and Uber. We also have zTrip, a hybrid service that you can use on an app, by phone or hail on the street.
Biking: Albuquerque has more than 400 miles of bike paths and trails, garnering national attention from Bicycling Magazine as the ‘third-best bicycling city’. However, the locals would tell you our best bike paths are in more remote locations for exercise and adventure versus commuting. Visit the Bike to Campus section of our website for more information.
Accommodations
From historic to modern properties, Albuquerque has a variety of accommodations conveniently located throughout the city. This list of Local Hotel Partnerships includes properties that have negotiated agreements with UNM (rates are based on availability and hotel occupancies). If there is a link associated with the hotel on the list, you may click on the link to go directly to the negotiated pricing page and reserve your room. The Global Education Office is able to assist with hotel reservations upon request. The following three hotels are accessible to UNM's main campus by walking or free shuttle.
Nearby Hotels
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area | Hotel Parq Central | Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque/Downtown-University |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
1101 Central Avenue Northeast Phone: (505) 242-110 Distance from UNM: .8 miles (1.29 km) Closest bus stop: In front of hotel This all-suite hotel offers free breakfast, Wi‐Fi, rooftop seating with a firepit, a 24/7 fitness center, and complimentary parking. | 806 Central Avenue Southeast Phone: (505) 242-0040 Distance from UNM: 1 mile (1.61 km) Closest bus stop: 3 minute walk (EDo Station) Originally built in 1926 and recipient of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating for Hotels, this historic boutique hotel features 74 rooms. As part of the all‐inclusive rate, guests enjoy complimentary perks that include WiFi, a gourmet continental breakfast made fresh daily, and shuttle service to and from the airport and within three miles of the property. | 1660 University Boulevard Northeast Phone: (505) 242‐0002 Distance from UNM: 1.3 miles (2.09 km) Closest bus stop: 9 minute walk (University & Indian School) Rooms include free hot breakfast, free parking, WiFi, indoor pool, and fitness center. A free shuttle to UNM main campus is available upon request. |
