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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe visited \u201cT or C\u201d (what the locals call it!) on <\/span>our week-long New Mexico road trip<\/b><\/a>. I desperately wanted to spend a day visiting <\/span>White Sands National Park<\/b><\/a> (have you seen the photos?!), and Truth or Consequences ended up being a perfect half-way point between Albuquerque and the park! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was great for a night, plus we got to soak away all our stresses for a few hours (ya know, life is hard when you\u2019re on vacation\u2026, ha!). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t really know what to expect, as I couldn\u2019t find much info online, but we found a town in a revitalization stage of sorts, with plenty of colorful buildings and art galleries lining the downtown streets. Apparently artists are *loving* the temperate climate and low cost of living, and many are actually moving there! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The town isn\u2019t as sleepy and abandoned as it once was (due to a past struggling economy), and there\u2019s new restaurants and renovated bathhouses popping up all the time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"things](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-088-750x1000.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be completely honest, one of the main reasons I wanted to visit T or C was because of its super quirky name, haha. Sure, it might sound silly to visit a town simply for its name, but I mean, c\u2019mon! It\u2019s called Truth or Consequences \u2013 I can\u2019t be the only one who finds this utterly fascinating, ha!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before visiting, I had a tough time finding information about things to do in Truth or Consequences, so I decided to write this guide for you all! Hope it helps with planning!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get ready for a night in New Mexico\u2019s funky desert town of T or C!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs about Truth or Consequences, NM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where is Truth or Consequences and How to Get There<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Truth or Consequences is located in southwest New Mexico, in Sierra County right on the Rio Grande River (the fourth longest river system in the United States!) in the Chihuahuan Desert (not far from Elephant Butte Reservoir). It sits at an elevation of about 4,250 feet above sea level.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll find it between Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico’s two largest cities, meaning, it\u2019s a great place to stop on a longer New Mexico road trip!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"things](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-058-750x563.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying to Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no commercial airport in T or C, only a smaller municipal airport (so unless you fly yourself, don\u2019t expect to fly to Truth or Consequences, haha). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closest major airport is El Paso International Airport (ELP) at around 125 miles away (2 hours), and of course Albuquerque International Sunport at around 150 miles away (just over a 2 hour drive).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Las Cruces Airport (LRU) is about 60 miles away from Truth or Consequences, with some shuttle services from Albuquerque with Advanced Air. But honestly, I\u2019d just drive if you\u2019re coming from Albuquerque \u2013 it\u2019s less than 2 \u00bd hours away from ABQ. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Driving to Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people visit Truth or Consequences as part of a longer New Mexico road trip, which is exactly what we did! We drove to T or C straight from Albuquerque, and had no problems at all making the almost 3 hour drive. The tiny town is right off I-25, so perfect for a quick stop en route to Las Cruces for White Sands National Park if you don\u2019t have much time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you wanna break up the driving, you can stop at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, which we sadly didn\u2019t have time for. It\u2019s a great place to view sandhill cranes (sometimes thousands!), snow geese, and other waterfowl \u2013 bring binoculars for close-up looks!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-018-750x563.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s some distances from popular destinations nearby:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- From Las Cruces:<\/b> 1 \u00bd hours, 75 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From White Sands National Park:<\/b> 2 hours, ~120 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From El Paso, Texas<\/b>: 2 hours, ~120 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From Albuquerque<\/b>: 2 \u00bd hours, ~150 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From Santa Fe<\/b>: 3 hours, ~215 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From Bandelier National Monument<\/b>: 4 hours, ~250 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From Taos<\/b>: 4 \u00bd hours, ~280 miles<\/span><\/li>
- From Phoenix, Arizona<\/b>: 6 \u00bd hours, ~400 miles<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How to Get Around Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walking is by far the best way to get around. This town is exceptionally tiny, and the downtown area only has about 2 major streets, haha. Meaning, nothing is more than a 10 minute walk, even most of the hot springs, including the popular one, Riverbend!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We parked our car in town once, wandered around for a bit, then drove about 2 minutes to keep our car at Riverbend Hot Springs for our soaking sessions. Doesn\u2019t get easier than that!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weather in Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Truth or Consequences experiences a cool desert climate, with hot summers and mild winters. And get this \u2013 the sun shines more than 80% of the day and normal humidity is only 10-15% (which is perfect for this gal with super thick hair)!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gets hot pretty early on in the year, and then once monsoon season is over (more about that soon\u2026), temps get chilly rather fast. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"things](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-028-750x1000.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s technically really only 3 main seasons here:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Summer Season (April to June)<\/b>: Oof \u2013 summer is rough in these parts, as it\u2019s very, very dry and generally exceptionally hot. Summer days average in the mid 80s\u00b0F, and more times than not creep up into the 90s. Not great weather to be sitting around in a hot spring, haha.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Monsoon Season (June to mid-September):<\/b> And then we get to monsoon season, which still remains very hot, but with tons of thunderstorms and rainfall and harsh humidity, centered roughly on the Rio Grande Valley \u2013 exactly where T or C is, haha (not to be confused with the region in Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley). So, suffice it to say it\u2019s not the absolute best time to plan a trip during this time. If you are visiting now, plan to do all your activities in the early morning as storms are worst in the late afternoon and early evening.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Winter Season (October to March):<\/b> Don\u2019t let the winter season deter you from visiting \u2013 it\u2019s actually pretty pleasant, with mild temps (40-50s \u00b0F), gloriously sunny days, and very little rainfall! Nights do get exceptionally chilly (although it hardly ever snows due to the lack of precipitation), but most activities (like hot springs soaking!) take place during the daylight anyways. We curled up in our hotel room after dinner \u2014 I\u2019m a sucker for crisp hotel sheets!<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For reference, we visited the hot springs in Truth or Consequences towards the end of November, and had gloriously sunny weather. It was a tad chilly at times, but nothing a light sweater couldn\u2019t fix. Also, we found it to be the perfect temps for chilling and hanging out in the hot springs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you wanna relax in the hot springs and take total advantage, I\u2019d recommend visiting when it ain\u2019t so hot out! This means April to October is outta the question. Plan a visit from November to March for optimal hot springs weather!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere to Stay in Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You really have two options for location \u2013 either directly in the town of T or C itself, or along I-25 exit 79, which is where we stayed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be completely honest, since we only stayed one night en route to White Sands National Park, we kinda just chose what I call a \u201cwhatever hotel\u201d \u2013 your clean, typical, boring budget name-brand hotel in a convenient and safe location. Gets the job done but isn\u2019t memorable by any means. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We stayed right off the highway at <\/span>Holiday Inn Express & Suites Truth or Consequences<\/span><\/a>, and it was perfect for a simple, one-night stay.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In town, there\u2019s some charmingly-restored spas\/hotels, including Blackstone Hotsprings, <\/span>Pelican Spa<\/span><\/a>, and of course <\/span>Riverbend Hot Springs<\/span><\/a>. We would have loved to stay at Riverbend, but there was a strict 2-night minimum when we were visiting, and simply didn\u2019t have enough time during our week in New Mexico. There\u2019s also some fun campsites and RV parks, like Hot Springs Glamp Camp with a luxury yurt and remodeled vintage RVs!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right off the highway (near Walmart) you\u2019ll find <\/span>Holiday Inn Express & Suites Truth or Consequences<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Comfort Inn & Suites<\/span><\/a>, and a few others (like a Motel 6 and a Travelodge \u2013 which aren\u2019t really my cup of tea, haha). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brief History of T or C<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Of course Truth or Consequences has an interesting history \u2013 I mean, with a name like that, of course it does! T or C, originally known as Hot Springs, has a history rooted in geothermal springs and its indigenous communities. Native American groups, like the Apache and the Sierra Blanca Apache loved and appreciated the magic of these mineral-rich hot springs. <\/span>If you look closely, you’ll see references to them around town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-076-750x1000.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPeople from around the states started visiting the town to soak and relax in the hot springs. It was actually known as the “Health Capital of the Southwest” at one point in time!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then in 1950, the town gained even greater national attention when it changed its name to Truth or Consequences, after winning a radio contest!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a truly fascinating corner of New Mexico, blending its natural hot springs, historical roots, and the unexpected twist of a crazy name change. Truth or Consequences really does feel like a time capsule of sorts \u2013 sure, the towns been modernized and rejuvenated a bit, but you can still experience the hot springs that the Native Americans once soaked in! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Important Info about Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s up with its quirky name?! <\/b>Right?! Ain\u2019t it kinda wild? The town actually got its name thanks to a radio show contest. Yup, a radio contest! It\u2019s had a few names over the years \u2013 originally being called Ojo Caliente de Las Paloma by The Spanish, then the cowboys renamed it to Palomas Hot Springs (then got lazy and simply called it Hot Springs). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
And THEN in 1950 it got changed once AGAIN as part of a publicity scheme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a hugely successful game show on NBC radio \u2013 and yes, that game show was called Truth or Consequences! The TV program was canceled decades ago, but it lives on due to the town name.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIs it worth visiting Truth or Consequences?<\/b> To be completely honest, unless you\u2019re planning to venture south to <\/span>White Sands National Park<\/span><\/a>, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d make the trek down to T or C. There really isn\u2019t tons and tons to do here, and there\u2019s actually other cute spas\/hot springs closer to Santa Fe. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that being said, if you\u2019re headed to the stunning white gypsum sand dunes, Truth or Consequences is a great spot to spend the night as it breaks up the drive from Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Just don\u2019t plan on doing too much besides soaking in town!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long to spend in T or C?<\/b> I really only think you need an afternoon here: an hour or less to walk the town (really, it\u2019s teeny tiny), an hour to grab a bite to eat in a nearby cafe\/grab a beer at the local brewery, and a few hours at a hot spring. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d recommend no more than one night if you\u2019re not taking advantage of the hiking in Elephant Butte Lake State Park or kayaking the Rio Grande (seasonal) nearby. We arrived around noon, wandered a bit and hung out until our soak at 3, and left early the next morning.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where to Eat in Truth or Consequences:<\/b> The town is pretty tiny, and therefore there\u2019s not too many restaurants to choose from. But definitely enough for a 1-night stay for sure. Don\u2019t expect any michelin-style meals, haha \u2013 food is simple but good! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s El Faro (Mexican food), Outer Edge Pizzeria, The Giddy Up Cafe (American breakfast), Pacific Grill, A & B Drive In (hamburgers), Further Bistro (salads and wraps), and a few others. There\u2019s also plenty of fast-food options right off I-25 which we gladly indulged in.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/truth-or-consequences-nm-070-750x1000.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s so special about the hot springs here?<\/b> Unlike many other hot springs, there\u2019s no sulfur smell! Thank goodness \u2013 if you\u2019ve smelled sulfur before you know it smells like rotten eggs and is super unpleasant. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, the hot springs in Truth or Consequences have trace elements of THIRTY EIGHT different minerals, including magnesium, lithium, and silica (which are heavenly for the skin). Making them some of the most heavily mineralized waters in the United States!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things to do in Truth or Consequences<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s not too many things to do in Truth or Consequences, making it the perfect pit stop on a longer <\/span>New Mexico road trip<\/b><\/a>. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not worth a quick visit! We were visiting the day after Thanksgiving, meaning a lot of the town was closed and pretty sleepy \u2013 I reckon it\u2019d be much livelier on a typical weekend!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Winter Season (October to March):<\/b> Don\u2019t let the winter season deter you from visiting \u2013 it\u2019s actually pretty pleasant, with mild temps (40-50s \u00b0F), gloriously sunny days, and very little rainfall! Nights do get exceptionally chilly (although it hardly ever snows due to the lack of precipitation), but most activities (like hot springs soaking!) take place during the daylight anyways. We curled up in our hotel room after dinner \u2014 I\u2019m a sucker for crisp hotel sheets!<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Monsoon Season (June to mid-September):<\/b> And then we get to monsoon season, which still remains very hot, but with tons of thunderstorms and rainfall and harsh humidity, centered roughly on the Rio Grande Valley \u2013 exactly where T or C is, haha (not to be confused with the region in Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley). So, suffice it to say it\u2019s not the absolute best time to plan a trip during this time. If you are visiting now, plan to do all your activities in the early morning as storms are worst in the late afternoon and early evening.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- From White Sands National Park:<\/b> 2 hours, ~120 miles<\/span><\/li>