Ruidoso has no commercial air service. The nearest airports are in Alamogordo (Alamogordo-White Sands Regional, tiny and limited), El Paso (about 120 miles south, with full connections), and Albuquerque (about 200 miles north). Most visitors drive.
By road, the standard approaches are: - From the west: NM-70 through the Tularosa Valley from Alamogordo — about an hour, with the descent from the mountains offering dramatic views of White Sands below. - From the east: US-380 or NM-70 from Roswell — about 75 miles. - From the north: US-54 south to Carrizozo, then US-380 east and NM-37 south through the Capitan Mountains.
There is no reliable bus service to Ruidoso.