El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument located in western New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States.
A national monument, 3 mi south of Grants
May is the busiest month
May averages about 20,281 visitors, 2.8 times January. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°. When to go ↓
Grants is the nearest base
Grants is 3 miles north, with 18 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Albuquerque
Albuquerque is about 67 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best month: Sep
September is the mild month, with a high of 80°. When to go ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument located in western New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States. The name El Malpais is from the Spanish term Malpaís, meaning badlands, due to the extremely barren and dramatic volcanic field that covers much of the park's area.
It is on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, one of the designated New Mexico Scenic Byways. There are many geologic features, including lava tubes and ice caves. There is also abundant wildlife to be encountered year round. Native Americans have used the area for centuries, and it became a National Monument in 1987.
- Type
- National Monument
- Established
- 1987
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Wikipedia readers
- 9.5K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/elma
Before you go
Where to stay near El Malpais National Monument
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Grants (18), and Gallup has the most rooms in the area (52).
Grants
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
8,933 people
3 mi north of El Malpais Visitor Center · 2 mi to the park
North Acomita Village
282 people
15 mi east of El Malpais Visitor Center · 15 mi to the park
Gallup
The most places to stay in the area, and a base for a longer trip.
19,969 people
58 mi northwest of El Malpais Visitor Center · 50 mi to the park
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants | 3 mi north | 5 min | 18 10 hotels · 5 motels · 1 hostel · 2 RV parks | 8,933 | $137K | C |
| San Rafael | 5 mi southwest | 5 min | 1 1 campground | 1,039 | $120K | — |
| Milan | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 1 1 RV park | 2,468 | $76K | — |
| North Acomita Village | 15 mi east | 25 min | 1 1 RV park | 282 | $64K | — |
| Paraje | 21 mi east | 30 min | 1 1 RV park | 1,333 | — | — |
| Gallup | 58 mi northwest | 1.5 hr | 52 35 hotels · 14 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 19,969 | $165K | D− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Also near El Malpais
Other well-known places within 55 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
120 mi National MonumentEl Morro National Monument49K visitors a year
49 mi LandmarkFort Wingate
54 mi National forestCibola National Forest
53 mi Ancient siteHawikuh RuinsPhoto credits
El Morro National Monument: Joel Mills, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Wingate: Elias Olcott Beaman / James Fennemore / John Karl Hillers, Public domain · Cibola National Forest: US Forest Service, Public domain · Hawikuh Ruins: Smithsonian Institution from United States, No restrictions
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151,998 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2021).
Visiting El Malpais
What town is El Malpais National Monument near?
Grants, NM, about 3 miles north.
When is the best time to visit El Malpais National Monument?
September, with a high of 80°. May is the busiest month (about 20,281 visitors).
How many people visit El Malpais National Monument each year?
151,998 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 181,729, set in 2021.
How far is El Malpais National Monument from Albuquerque?
About 67 miles east of Albuquerque, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to El Malpais National Monument?
Gallup Municipal (GUP), about 61 miles away. The nearest big hub is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), about 69 miles.
Where should I stay near El Malpais National Monument?
Grants (3 mi, 18 places to stay) and Gallup (58 mi, 52 places to stay).
Tips from people in Grants
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Grants’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.