Pecos, New Mexico travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Pecos is a small town in North Central New Mexico, situated on the Pecos River in the southernmost reaches of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, east of Santa Fe.

2 sights · 2 places to eat · 1 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Pecos

Pecos National Historical Park

Glorietta Pass Battlefield

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Santa Fe)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
SAF Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe — 23 mi away. Directions
TSM Taos Regional Airport, Taos — 61 mi away. Directions
ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport, Albuquerque — 64 mi away (major hub). Directions

Pecos is located just off I-25 about 20 miles east of Santa Fe. Coming from Santa Fe, exit onto NM State Road 50 (exit 299) and proceed on NM 50 for a few miles until it terminates in Pecos. Coming west, from Northeast New Mexico, exit onto NM 63 (exit 307) and head towards the village; NM 63 passes by Pecos National Historic Park before reaching the village proper. North of town, NM 63 continues along the Pecos River into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Pecos Wilderness.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Pecos National Historical Park
Lunch Casa De Herrera Restaurant
Afternoon Glorietta Pass Battlefield
Dinner Frankie's at the Casanova

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

See

See Pecos National Historical Park

A unit of the national parks system that contains the ruins of Pecos Pueblo, an ancient Native American settlement that was abandoned in the 19th century, and an impressive stone church from the Spanish mission era. A short loop trail from the visitor center passes by the ruins of Pecos Pueblo and the mission church. The visitor center offers exhibits with artifacts from the site as well as a short film about the history of the area.

off NM 63, two miles south of town🕒 Daily, 8:30AM-4PM; longer hours in the summer💲 $7 per person, children 15 and younger free; park pass applicable☎ +1 505 757-7241⚠ Last checked Dec 2015 — confirm before you go

Maps Website

The New Mexico Campaign

When people think of key battles in the American Civil War, they tend to think of places like Gettysburg, Vicksburg, or Antietam, far to the east. But a deciding battle early in the war was fought here, in Glorietta Pass just west of the town of Pecos. In early 1862, a Confederate force marched up the Rio Grande from Texas with the intent of seizing Union strongholds in New Mexico before marching northward to capture gold fields in Colorado, securing substantial wealth and territory for the Confederacy while cutting California off from the Union. Initially the Texans were successful, overpowering Union forces in southern New Mexico and capturing Albuquerque and Santa Fe. However, Union reinforcements from Colorado were making their way south along the Santa Fe Trail, with the two forces meeting in Glorietta Pass. A fierce battle amidst the rocks and trees of the narrow pass followed, eventually resulting in the Union forces retreating. But during the battle, a small Union force had flanked the Confederates and destroyed the supply train at their rear. Without food or supplies and with no reinforcements on the way, the Confederates were forced to retreat back to Texas and abandon their plans for a Confederate-controlled West.

See Glorietta Pass Battlefield

In the Glorietta Pass west of town, this battlefield was the site of a significant battle of the American Civil War, and today is administered as part of the Pecos National Historical Park. A 2.3 mile interpretive trail leads visitors to the site, although it is located on private land behind fences. To get there, first stop by the visitor center at Pecos National Historic Park (above) and the park rangers there will provide you with directions to the trail and an access code to get through the gate. An annual commemoration takes place on the last weekend of every March and offers demonstrations by historians and a living history encampment.

⚠ Last checked Dec 2015 — confirm before you go

Maps

Do

The Pecos Wilderness, a wild, roadless realm of the Sangre de Cristos that's popular with hikers and backpackers, is located north of town. NM 63 heads deep into the mountains alongside the Pecos River, dead-ending at Cowles near the headwaters of the Pecos and passing by several campgrounds and trailheads with ready access into the wilderness. The Santa Fe National Forest administers the wilderness and the lands surrounding Pecos and has a ranger station right in the middle of town on NM 63 just south of NM 50 (+1 505 757-6121; open M-Tu and Th-F 8-noon and 12:30-4PM), where you can purchase maps and get information on conditions in the forest.
Decent fishing can be found along the Pecos River between Pecos and Cowles, but be careful of private property restrictions.