Las Cruces for Possible Retirement (Ruidoso, White Sands: closing, military, activity)

[PenguinMA]

Hi, folks, DH and I are planning our February visit from Massachusetts to scope out the LC scene for possible retirement. Our time share is in Ruidoso, but we'll be spending most of our time in LC, driving back and forth.We've heard there might be some issues with the mountain passes in winter and also some road closings at White Sands. Could someone familiar with this route describe it to us? Can't wait! Mapquest is saying it's a 3 hour drive, but we thought just an hour.... Help!

[jaxart]

Highway 70 is "sometimes" closed for periods of up to an hour - infrequently longer - when the military deems it necessary due to some sort of missile firing or other activity that might endanger motorists on the stretch between White Sands Nat. Monument and San Augustin pass. There are local phone numbers that give daily closing information. Vehicles can stack up three or four wide at the location where the military sets up their road blocks - depending on traffic conditions at that time of day. They then release the vehicles one row at a time (single file), meaning "first stopped, first to leave."

NORMALLY driving time at the allowed speed limit is about two hours between Ruidoso and Las Cruces. That could be stretched to 3 hours if the highway is closed for the missile range activity.

Other than that, the only other times that highway is closed would be in a very unusual dust storm event, or if a rare snowfall is heavy enough to make driving over San Augustine pass too risky. That same winter storm will make US-70 at Apache Summit (on the reservation) very tricky driving, but I have never heard of the highway being closed to traffic there.

[TKO]

Road closures for the range are not that often and are usually published well in advance. Shouldn't be a problem. The roads will be an issue occasionally but truth be told we haven't been getting much snow, though this year has been an exception they get after it with the snow plows pretty quickly. Neither are likely to be a big deal but Murphy is always about and if it is a problem, it would probably be at the worst time! It's more than two hours though I don't it's ever taken me three.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by TKO

Road closures for the range are not that often...

Yeah, they only occur when you're running late and in a hurry to get where you're going!

[lawmom]

You must be so excited about your trip! Hope it's awesome and stress-free!

[T-Race320]

Yeah, I wouldn't even worry about closure. It's really rare.

Hope you enjoy Ruidoso, tho. It's really nice up there.