New Mexico weather is usually sunny and warm. The largest city of Albuquerque, for example, gets approximately 310 days of sunshine on an annual basis, and it's not too different throughout much of the state. The higher mountains get more clouds and precipitation, and in the winter, even snow.

Summer: Many people consider summer to be the best time to travel to New Mexico. It's definitely the state's peak travel season, and this has a lot to do with summer events such as the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Taos Pueblo Powwow. The weather is very hot throughout much of New Mexico in the summer months, but low humidity makes the heat more tolerable, and you can seek out cooler weather in the higher elevations. Midsummer highs at middle elevation destinations such as Santa Fe and Taos average in the low 90s. Summer temps in the lower deserts and plains get above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on a regular basis.

Fall: Fall is also a great time to visit New Mexico. It's still warm out during the day, but the excessive summer heat is gone. Clear skies and light winds are common in the fall, and it is an ideal time to go ballooning in New Mexico. In fact, the month of October is when the renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place. Albuquerque sits at an elevation of about 5,300 feet, and during the month of October, average daytime highs are 71 degrees. As is true at any time of year, the nights are considerably cooler in New Mexico. Nighttime lows tend to average around 45 degrees in Albuquerque. As the fall season wears on in New Mexico, the leaves on the Aspen trees that can be found in the higher elevations change from green to golden-yellow. The result is some very tantalizing sightseeing and photography opportunities.

New Mexico Map

Winter: If you like to ski or snowboard, then winter might just be the best time to travel to New Mexico. At mountain resorts such as the Angel Fire Ski Resort, some 300 inches of snow can fall during the winter season, and thanks to New Mexico's low humidity, it's often of the soft and fluffy. Winter temps in the New Mexico mountains can fall below zero, with the average highs being in the 30s. Heading down from the mountains to Santa Fe, Taos, or Albuquerque can see temps in the 50s on a winter day, and if you continue on to lower elevation destinations such as Las Cruces, the daytime temps in the winter are likely to be in the upper 50s.

Spring: When spring rolls around in New Mexico, the winds pick up across the state. As such, it's not widely considered to be the best time to visit. However, the temperatures are pleasant, the hotel rates lower, and the activity options plentiful. You can ski and snowshoe into the early spring in New Mexico, and as the snows melt, activities such as hiking and biking start to replace skiing and snowshoeing. Golfing and fishing are just two more options for things to do in the spring, and thanks to the melting snow, this is peak white water rafting season.