Skip to content
The Green Adventures
Find my parkMapGreat Smoky MountainsZionYellowstoneSee all: ParksCaliforniaAlaskaUtahSee all: By stateNational monumentsSeashores and lakeshoresAll 412 Park Service sitesSee all: All sitesWhich park should I visit?Pass calculatorCampground finderSee all: Trip toolsAnnual pass 2026International visitorsFree days 2026See all: Fees and passes

National Monument · New Mexico

Fort Union National Monument

National Monument in New Mexico. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Monument
StateNew Mexico
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkGreat Sand Dunes (129 mi)
Closest airportTSM (53 mi)

Fort Union National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in New Mexico.

In the park service’s words

Exposed to the wind, within a sweeping valley of short grass prairie, and along the eroded Santa Fe Trail, lie the adobe walled ruins of the largest 19th century military fort in the region. From 1851 to 1891, Fort Union functioned as an agent of change, desired or not, in the New Mexico Territory and throughout the Southwest.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 8:00AM - 4:00PM. The monument grounds and visitor center are generally open 7 days a week, from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The monument is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day.

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.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Taos Regional Airport (TSM) Taos, NM No road route 53 Regional
Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF) Santa Fe, NM No road route 63 Regional
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) Albuquerque, NM No road route 108 Large hub

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

Weather

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Great Sand Dunes, about 129 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Fort Union National Monument?

No entrance fee.

Where is Fort Union National Monument?

In New Mexico. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Taos Regional Airport, about 53 miles away.

More sites nearby

African Burial Ground Memorial National monumentsAfrican Burial Ground National Monument National Monument in New York. No entrance fee. The visitor center sits in the middle of mixed grass prairie. National monumentsAgate Fossil Beds National Monument National Monument in Nebraska. No entrance fee. 2 hikes listed. Turtle Petroglyph at Antelope Creek Village Site National monumentsAlibates Flint Quarries National Monument National Monument in Texas. No entrance fee. A lone raft floats the Aniakchak Wild River as it flows through the "Gates" National monumentsAniakchak National Monument & Preserve National Monument & Preserve in Alaska. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed. Reconstructed stone kiva amidst stone ruins National monumentsAztec Ruins National Monument National Monument in New Mexico. No entrance fee. the village of Tyuonyi National monumentsBandelier National Monument National Monument in New Mexico. $25 per vehicle. 14 hikes listed.