Fort Union National Monument

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 8:00–16:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-25 to 2026-12-19; community-mapped.

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

This park's official page lists: Visitor center.

At the park

• Visitor center exhibit
• Wildlife & bird watching scenic feature

Events

• Silent Sentinels
• An International Dark Sky Park
• Lantern Lit Legacies
• Of Smoke & Powder 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• A Ghost Story 05:30 PM–07:00 PM
• Ruins Walk 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
• Santa Fe Trail Stroll 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
• Of Laundresses & Soldiers 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Crackling Embers 10:00 AM–10:45 AM
• Farolitos and Falling Mercury 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Second Fort Tour 10:00 AM–10:45 AM
• Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Fort Fashions 10:00 AM–10:45 AM
• Domestic Animals and the Santa Fe Trail 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
• Frontier Pastimes 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Firearms of a Frontier Army 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Fort Union Days 08:30 AM–03:30 PM
• First Fort & Arsenal Tours 09:30 AM–11:30 AM
• Your Junior Ranger Days 10:00 AM–11:00 AM

Before you go

Limits

Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go

Park alert: New Mexico Road Advisories

The New Mexico Department of Transportation updates its map of road advisories regularly. Visitors are encouraged to look for any possible road advisories along their route of travel beforehand.

Park alert: The Park is Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day each year.

Fort Union National Monument is CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day each year. The closure includes all park grounds and facilities.

Getting there

Fort Union National Monument is located in the Northeastern portion of the state of New Mexico. 8 miles off of Interstate I-25 on State Highway NM 161. New Mexico: From Albuquerque (156 miles), Santa Fe (94 miles) or Las Vegas, NM (28 miles) take I-25 North, exit 366 at Watrous, 8 miles on NM 161. Colorado: From Denver (313 miles), Colorado Springs (243 miles) or Raton (95 miles) take I-25 South, exit 366 at Watrous, 8 miles on NM 161.

Weather & when to go

Fort Union is situated at 6,760 feet above sea level. Daytime temperatures between June and September may exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures often drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures may vary within 50 degrees in a 24-hour period. During the winter, it is not uncommon for the temperatures to drop below 0°F (-18°C.) During the summer, expect high temperatures, intense sunlight and extremely low humidity.

Visitor center

Fort Union National Monument Visitor Center — The Visitor Center and monument grounds are open: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CLOSED - Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day — Fort Union National Monument is located in the Northeastern portion of the state of New Mexico. 8 miles off of Interstate I-25 on State Highway NM 161. New Mexico: From Albuquerque (156 miles), Santa Fe (94 miles) or Las Vegas, NM (28 miles) take I-25 north, exit 366 at Watrous, 8 miles on NM 161. Colorado: From Denver (313 miles), Colorado Springs (243 miles) or Raton (95 miles) take I-25 south…

Visitor center

Fort Union National Monument Visitor Center

Facilities on the park map

1 bench, 1 changing table, 2 picnic area, 2 restroom, 2 visitor information.

History

Opened

1956

Heritage status

Listed heritage / protected status

• Park opened