Elephant Butte Reservoir
Elephant Butte Reservoir or Elephant Butte Lake is the largest reservoir in the U.S. state of New Mexico, 130 miles (289 km) from El Paso, Texas, and 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Truth or Consequences. You will find it 3 mi southeast of Elephant Butte. The first to add nearby is Geronimo Springs Museum, at 3.9 mi.
A lake, 3 mi southeast of Elephant Butte
Summers are hot
June and July highs run 96–96°, and about 96 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Elephant Butte is the nearest base
Elephant Butte is 3 miles northwest, with 10 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr and Oct
April and October are the mild months, with a high of 78°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Choosing a month
Plan a visit to Elephant Butte Reservoir around the weather below.
Elephant Butte Reservoir
Elephant Butte Reservoir or Elephant Butte Lake is the largest reservoir in the U.S. state of New Mexico, 130 miles (289 km) from El Paso, Texas, and 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Truth or Consequences.
The reservoir began filling in 1915, and at full capacity became the largest man-made lake in the world. Built as part of the Rio Grande Project, it was intended to revive the fertility of farmland soil in the Rincon and Mesilla Valleys. Today, the reservoir's storage remains crucial to the Rio Grande, as it provides power and irrigation water to New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.
- Type
- Lake
- Wikipedia readers
- 22K a year
A base for Elephant Butte Reservoir
Hotels, motels or campgrounds are closest in Truth or Consequences (17) and Elephant Butte (10).
Truth or Consequences
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
5,949 people
8 mi northwest of Elephant Butte Reservoir
Elephant Butte
1,456 people · 30% vacation homes
3 mi northwest of Elephant Butte Reservoir
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From Elephant Butte Reservoir | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truth or Consequences | 8 mi northwest | 10 min | 17 5 hotels · 4 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 4 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 5,949 | $125K | C− |
| Elephant Butte 30% vacation homes | 3 mi northwest | 5 min | 10 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 6 RV parks | 1,456 | $177K | — |
| Williamsburg | 7 mi southwest | 10 min | 1 1 motel | 458 | $44K | — |
| Oasis 36% vacation homes | 17 mi southwest | 25 min | 3 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 75 | — | — |
| Arrey | 23 mi south | 35 min | 2 2 RV parks | 491 | — | — |
| Hillsboro 28% vacation homes | 28 mi southwest | 40 min | 1 1 RV park | 150 | $197K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
While you are near Elephant Butte Reservoir
More places people know lie within 65 miles.
65 mi National ParkWhite Sands National Park660K visitors a year
63 mi National MonumentGila Cliff Dwellings National Monument34K visitors a year
62 mi Park & preserveGila Wilderness
53 mi Park & preserveBosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
14 mi MuseumGeronimo Springs MuseumPhoto credits
White Sands National Park: uncredited NPS employee, Public domain · Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument: not specified, Public domain · Gila Wilderness: Gila National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Geronimo Springs Museum: SteveStrummer, CC0
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Elephant Butte Reservoir: common questions
What town is Elephant Butte Reservoir near?
Elephant Butte, NM, about 3 miles northwest.
When is the best time to visit Elephant Butte Reservoir?
April and October, with a high of 78°.
What is the closest airport to Elephant Butte Reservoir?
Las Cruces (LRU), about 62 miles away. The nearest big hub is El Paso (ELP), about 104 miles.
Where should I stay near Elephant Butte Reservoir?
Truth or Consequences (8 mi, 17 places to stay), Elephant Butte (3 mi, 10 places to stay) and Oasis (17 mi, 3 places to stay).
Tips for visiting, from Elephant Butte
Share what you know in Elephant Butte’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.