International UFO Museum
Exhibits on the 1947 incident.
Roswell
Where something crashed on a ranch in 1947. Alien-shaped streetlights, a UFO museum and a playful love of the unexplained.
The Army first said a 'flying disc' had been recovered, and then changed its story. Today the town embraces its legend, especially during its summer UFO Festival.
- Best Time
- April to October
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 3 hours from Albuquerque, and 2 from Carlsbad.
What to See
1 of 3 are freeMain Street
Green alien souvenirs and streetlights.
Bottomless Lakes
A state park of deep blue sinkholes.
Know Before You Go
- The UFO Festival is in early July.
- It's a small town: an afternoon is enough.
Where to Stay
Stay in Roswell or Carlsbad.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Go Next
Worth a DetourCarlsbad Caverns National Park
New Mexico
A vast limestone Big Room, one of the largest in North America, reached by trail or elevator, and hundreds of thousands of bats at dusk.
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Worth a DetourWhite Sands National Park
New Mexico
The world's largest gypsum dunefield, 275 square miles of dazzling white waves in New Mexico's desert, great for sledding.
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If You're NearbyAlbuquerque
New Mexico
Home of the Balloon Fiesta, with an old Spanish plaza, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and a long tram up Sandia Peak.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southwest list.