Portales is a small, fairly quiet college and agricultural town in Southeast New Mexico, United States. Home of Eastern New Mexico University. Nearest sizable town is Clovis; close to Cannon Air Force Base. Located almost adjacent to the Texas border. 90 miles from Roswell of UFO fame.
Get in
Portales is located on the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) in extreme eastern New Mexico, at the junction of US 70, NM 206 and NM 267. These roads are all good but rather remote, and can be troublesome during winter blizzards. The nearest air service is via commuter lines into the airport at Clovis, about 15 miles away.
Get around
Walk or drive your own car. No local bus or taxi service.
See
- Eastern New Mexico University has the usual small-college features, and maintains two museums: Blackwater Draw Museum off US 70, which preserves artifacts from a nearby archaeological site of some significance, and Roosevelt County Museum on campus, with the usual collection of items of local historical interest.
Do
- Blackwater Draw Site, 508 Route 467, 34.27678°, -103.32210°, +1 575 356-5235. Sa-Su 9AM-4PM. The archaeological site associated with ENMU's museum (see above), is available for visits during much of the year. Open 9-5 daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day; closed November-March; 9-5 Sa-Su other months. Fee $3, several discounts apply. There are a couple of short interpretive trails. This site (formally known as Blackwater Locality 1) is significant as the place where "Clovis man" was discovered (generations of children learned that Clovis Man was the oldest human ancestor in the Americas, though archaeologists now believe there may be older human settlements).
Buy
Eat
Drink
- Roosevelt Brewing Company, 201 S. Main Ave (Downtown, across from the County Courthouse), +1 575-226-2739. 11:30AM-9PM, closed Sun-Mon. Casual eatery and local craft brewery featuring pub grub and innovative pizzas. 2022-08-30
Sleep
- Sands Motel, 1130 W 1st St, 34.18142°, -103.34613°, +1 575 356-4424. This one is perfect if you're looking for that classic basic roadside motor inn type of feel. 2021-10-21
- Best Western Plus Portales Inn, 223 W 2nd St, 34.18413°, -103.33769°, +1 575 226-3996. Choice of pastries for breakfast. 2021-10-21
- Super 8, 1805 W Second St, 34.14199°, -103.1509°, +1 575 356 8518. Clean, comfortable mid-range lodging about 1/2 mile north of the ENMU campus. 2022-08-31
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