Overview
Roswell is a city in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico, United States of America. It has attained a quirky sort of fame/notoriety as the result of an alleged UFO crash (!) in 1947.
5 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Roswell
International UFO Museum and Research Center
Devoted to the local cult activity; you can decide for yourself whether it's serious or not.
Roswell Museum and Art Center
This one is definitely serious, incorporating a surprisingly good art collection for a small town, with works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Peter Hurd, among others. There is a wing devoted to space flight and rocket science (…
Bottomless Lakes State Park
A state park with swimming, fishing, and hiking. The lakes are very deep with nearly vertical cliffs surrounding them.
Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
UFO Festival
Every year in early July, there is a UFO Festival to commemorate the 1947 Roswell incident.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 34°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Jul. (climate data from nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park)
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.
- ROW Roswell Air Center Airport, Roswell — 6 mi away. Directions
- CNM Cavern City Air Terminal, Carlsbad — 74 mi away. Directions
- ELP El Paso International Airport, El Paso — 153 mi away (major hub). Directions
Roswell is served by American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix. If you fly in, you may be amazed to see some big planes (including widebodies) at the airport or flying near town at low altitude, but they aren't there for passenger service: the Roswell air park is a former US Air Force base that has been used from time to time by major airlines as a training site for aircrews and to check out new aircraft.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell Museum and Art Center, Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
- Lunch Martin's Capitol Cafe
- Afternoon Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, UFO Festival
- Evening Black Cock Brewing
Day 2
- Morning Bottomless Lakes State Park
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
By plane
Roswell is served by American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix. If you fly in, you may be amazed to see some big planes (including widebodies) at the airport or flying near town at low altitude, but they aren't there for passenger service: the Roswell air park is a former US Air Force base that has been used from time to time by major airlines as a training site for aircrews and to check out new aircraft.
By car
Road access is via US 285 from north or south and US 70 or 380 from east or west. You go through a lot of emptiness getting there, particularly from the north; don't set out for the city from I-40 with a near-empty fuel tank. Limited bus service is available.
Get around
There is a bus that travels the length Main Street from the Walmart in North Roswell to the airport in the South several times during the day. Information about the transportation system can be found at its website.
There are also local taxi services.
See
See Roswell Museum and Art Center
This one is definitely serious, incorporating a surprisingly good art collection for a small town, with works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Peter Hurd, among others. There is a wing devoted to space flight and rocket science (but not UFOs!) that includes the Robert H. Goddard Planetarium, named in honor of the rocketry pioneer who did much of his research in Roswell.
Do
Buy
Inflatable space aliens, flying saucer Frisbees, glow in the dark T-shirts....the campy souvenirs are everywhere!
Eat
Eat Martin's Capitol Cafe
Delicious and inexpensive.
Drink
Roswell New Mexico doesn't sell alcohol in stores on Sundays, however restaurants serve from noon 10PM on Sunday.
Drink Black Cock Brewing
Makes their own hard cider, hard lemonade and boozy slushies. Also has craft beer and hard liquor from New Mexico, a food truck with burgers and green chili cheese fries, and live music.
Sleep
Go next
If you're not abducted and taken into Space, you next port of call could be:
- Bottomless Lakes State Park, +1 575 624-6058. Follow US 380 east out of Roswell, south on SR 409, follow signs. Camping (tent and RV), swimming, boating, etc. Camping is $10/night, day use $4---beautiful location, friendly host and rangers.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park is about 90 miles to the south.
Nearby
My experience
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