University of New Mexico in 2 Days: An Albuquerque College Visit Fly-In Trip
A parent-first plan for visiting the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque: how the weekday info session and campus tour work and where to sign up, visitor parking in the Yale Structure by the Lobo Welcome Center, four hotels on UNM's own lists from mid-range to upscale, drive times from the Albuquerque Sunport, a Junior Lobo Scavenger Hunt for younger siblings, and Albuquerque weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.
Hodgin Hall, the University of New Mexico's alumni center, during homecoming season (September 2024). Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
School
University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
Days
2 days: fly in and check in near campus, then a UNM info session and walking tour the next weekday.
Fly into
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), about 10 minutes from the SpringHill Suites with no traffic.
Best base
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area, about a 4-minute drive or 22-minute walk from the Lobo Welcome Center.
Car or no car
A rental car is easiest. Home2 Suites offers a free shuttle to main campus on request, and Hotel Parq Central lists a free shuttle within 3 miles.
Registration
Pick a Campus Tour date on UNM's event calendar. Tours run Monday through Friday.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see the University of New Mexico, home of the Lobos in Albuquerque.
UNM's Student & Family Tour starts with an information session on admissions, financial aid and scholarships, followed by a walking tour of campus. The photo in this guide shows Hodgin Hall, UNM's alumni center.
Why this order
Day 1: fly into ABQ, about 10 to 13 minutes from any of these hotels with no traffic, and check in.
Day 2: go to the Lobo Welcome Center at 720 Yale Blvd NE for the info session and walking tour. UNM says to plan on 2.5 hours.
With extra time, younger siblings can do UNM's Junior Lobo Scavenger Hunt, which covers the Duck Pond, the Center of the Universe and Popejoy Hall.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
Campus tours run Monday through Friday. Pick a date and time on UNM's Campus Tour event calendar.
UNM also runs Fall Preview, a half-day program for high school students. The next date listed is Saturday, November 14, 2026, and a Spring Preview and Senior Day are listed on the Visit Us page.
Several colleges offer their own tours: the School of Engineering has a tour inquiry form, UNM Housing books housing tours, and the College of Fine Arts sets up tours through fineartsdean@unm.edu.
If a scheduled tour doesn't fit, UNM offers a self-guided Lobo Tour on its interactive campus map. Questions go to (505) 277-8503 or unmlobos@unm.edu.
Tour availability varies by season.
Summer is hot: June and July average about 90–91°F highs at the Albuquerque airport, and July is the wettest month at about 1.6 inches of rain.
Winter is cool and mostly dry: January averages about 48°F highs and 26°F lows, and December averages about 2.8 inches of snow.
Spring and fall are mild: April averages about 70°F/43°F and October about 71°F/46°F.
Check the Lobos athletics calendar for home events on your dates, since UNM says visitor parking can be affected by campus events.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Lobo Welcome Center at 720 Yale Blvd NE, where campus tours start.
Day 1: fly into Albuquerque and check in near campus
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) → SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area
Driving (no traffic)
~10 min, 4.6 mi
Driving
Rental car
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) → Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque/Downtown-University
Driving (no traffic)
~13 min, 6.5 mi
Driving
Rental car
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) → Hotel Parq Central
Driving (no traffic)
~10 min, 4.7 mi
Driving
Rental car or hotel airport shuttle
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) → Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 5.2 mi
Driving
Rental car
UNM's Global Education Office says Hotel Parq Central includes shuttle service to and from the airport. Confirm hours with the hotel before you land.
Day 2: University of New Mexico campus visit
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area → UNM Lobo Welcome Center (720 Yale Blvd NE)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.0 mi (about a 22-minute walk)
Driving
Drive or walk
Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque/Downtown-University → UNM Lobo Welcome Center (720 Yale Blvd NE)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.3 mi (about a 28-minute walk)
Driving
Drive or hotel shuttle on request
Hotel Parq Central → UNM Lobo Welcome Center (720 Yale Blvd NE)
Driving (no traffic)
~5 min, 1.8 mi (about a 29-minute walk)
Driving
Drive or hotel shuttle
Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque → UNM Lobo Welcome Center (720 Yale Blvd NE)
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.2 mi
Driving
Drive
UNM Lobo Welcome Center → Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Driving (no traffic)
~13 min, 5.6 mi
Driving
Drive
The Yale Parking Structure at Lomas and Yale Boulevard is just east of the Lobo Welcome Center, so it's the natural place to park for a tour.
The tour is a walking tour after the info session, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water and sun protection.
3. Campus by campus
Hodgin Hall, the University of New Mexico's alumni center, during homecoming season (September 2024). Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Campus tours start at the Lobo Welcome Center, 720 Yale Blvd NE.
Weekday tours, Monday through Friday, open with an information session led by a university representative on what makes UNM unique, admissions, financial aid and scholarships, followed by a walking tour of campus. Plan to spend 2.5 hours.
Visitor parking
Visitors can pay for hourly parking in the Yale Structure (Lomas and Yale Boulevard, east of the Lobo Welcome Center) and the Cornell Structure (Redondo Drive, east of Popejoy Hall), using the pay stations or ParkMobile.
Surface lots across campus have pay stations where you enter your license plate. UNM says visitor parking depends on availability and can be affected by campus events and construction, and structures and pay-station spaces are enforced 24/7.
Getting there
Campus is about 13 minutes by car from ABQ with no traffic.
What to know
UNM's Self-Guided Lobo Tour on the interactive campus map covers many key buildings on main campus, so you can keep exploring after the guided tour.
Can't make it in person? UNM offers a virtual tour, virtual information sessions and one-on-one virtual appointments with admissions staff.
Contact
UNM Office of Admissions: unmlobos@unm.edu, 505.277.8900. Student Support and Service Center, 1155 University Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: near campus or downtown Albuquerque, a few minutes from UNM
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area
1101 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Why here
It's on UNM's Global Education Office list of hotels reachable by walking or free shuttle, about 0.8 miles from UNM with a bus stop in front, and about a 4-minute drive or 22-minute walk from the Lobo Welcome Center.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists covered self-parking for a fee, a free continental breakfast, a 24-hour gym and a minimum check-in age of 18. Pets aren't allowed (service animals are welcome). Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque/Downtown-University
1660 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Why here
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's on UNM's Global Education Office nearby-hotel list, which says a free shuttle to UNM main campus is available on request. By car it's about 4 minutes from the Lobo Welcome Center.
Good to know
Expedia lists free self-parking, EV charging, a free breakfast, an indoor pool, a gym, a game room, in-room kitchens and pets for a fee. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's on UNM's Global Education Office nearby-hotel list: a historic boutique hotel built in 1926, about a mile from UNM, with shuttle service to and from the airport and within three miles of the property.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free area shuttle, an airport shuttle, a bar, a hot tub, a 24-hour gym, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Ask the hotel about parking when you book. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque, Curio Collection by Hilton
125 2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Why here
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's on UNM Purchasing's local hotel list, in downtown Albuquerque about 6 minutes by car from the Lobo Welcome Center with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a restaurant, two bars, a gym, guest access to an indoor pool, cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Stay near campus: the SpringHill Suites, Home2 Suites and Hotel Parq Central are all on UNM's own list of hotels you can reach by walking or free shuttle, and all four hotels here are within about 6 minutes of the Lobo Welcome Center by car with no traffic.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotels
The SpringHill Suites and Home2 Suites include breakfast on Expedia, UNM's GEO list says Hotel Parq Central includes a continental breakfast, and Hotel Andaluz offers breakfast for a fee.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Junior Lobo Scavenger Hunt (self-guided)
University of New Mexico main campus, Albuquerque, NM
UNM's self-guided scavenger hunt for kids in grades K–8 covers the spots younger visitors like most, including the Duck Pond, the Center of the Universe and Popejoy Hall in the Center for the Arts.
Park in the Yale Structure at Lomas and Yale Boulevard, just east of the Lobo Welcome Center, and pay at the pay station or with ParkMobile.
From the SpringHill Suites, campus is close enough to walk, about 22 minutes.
Flying in and out
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is about 13 minutes from campus with no traffic, and UNM's GEO list says Hotel Parq Central runs an airport shuttle.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Albuquerque International Airport station)
Spring: April averages about 70°F highs and 43°F lows, with about 0.5 inches of rain; May warms to about 80°F/52°F.
Summer: July averages about 91°F/67°F, with about 1.6 inches of rain, the most of any month.
Fall: October averages about 71°F/46°F, with about 0.9 inches of rain; November averages about 57°F/34°F.
Winter: January averages about 48°F/26°F, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation and 1.4 inches of snow.
Parent checklist
Book a weekday Campus Tour on UNM's event calendar and plan on 2.5 hours.
If your student has a major in mind, request an engineering, housing or fine arts tour too.
Book flights into ABQ and plan a rental car or a hotel shuttle.
Book a hotel from UNM's nearby-hotel list.
Save the Yale Parking Structure at Lomas and Yale Boulevard in your map app.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
1 Division I
Athletics
University of New Mexico
NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (University of New Mexico): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albuquerque University Area (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Albuquerque-Hotels-Springhill-Suites-By-Marriott-Albuquerque-University-Area.h50560821.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque/Downtown-University (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Albuquerque-Hotels-Home2-Suites-By-Hilton-Albuquerque-Downtown-University.h2310424.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hotel Parq Central (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Albuquerque-Hotels-Hotel-Parq-Central.h3968406.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque, Curio Collection by Hilton (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Albuquerque-Hotels-Hotel-Andaluz-Albuquerque.h16442.Hotel-Information)
