Las Cruces is a car-dependent city. The distances between downtown, Old Mesilla, the university, and the Organ Mountains trailheads make walking impractical for most visitors. Car rental at El Paso airport or within the city is the sensible option.
The RoadRUNNER Transit system operates buses within the city, with routes connecting downtown, the university, and the main shopping areas. For visitors with a car, parking is easy and free throughout most of the city, including at the Old Mesilla plaza. The roads to the Organ Mountains trailheads are paved to the main trailhead parking areas, though high clearance may help for some of the less-used access tracks.