New Mexico is the land of enchantment, and their flea markets can be enchanting as well.
There are a lot of different cultural influences, so you will find a lot of variety wherever you go.
There are a lot of native Americans, as well as Hispanic people, both new and old, and they all do things a little differently.
There are several flea markets, and New Mexico also has a version they call street markets, which are very similar.
Contents
- The 12 Best Flea Markets in New Mexico
- Gallup Flea Market
- Big Daddy’s Flea Market
- Expo New Mexico Flea Market
- The Indoor Flea Market of Albuquerque
- The Other Indoor Flea Market
- Tesuque Flea Market
- The Lotza Stuff Flea Market
- The Farmington Flea Market
- The Monterey Flea Market
- Flea Market in Grants
- The Moriarty Flea Market
- The Indian Trail Trading Post
- The 12 Best Flea Markets in New Mexico – Summary Table
- New Mexico Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
The 12 Best Flea Markets in New Mexico
Gallup Flea Market
Gallup Flea Market is on the western border next to Arizona and is one of the largest in the state.
Its collection of Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry is the largest such collection in the state.
There will be 500 or so vendors and most of them will be selling Native American art.
You may meet the artist who made the art at this market.
There will also be fry bread and Frito pies for sale.
Food trucks, with Mexican food most likely, will also be on hand.
People bring their unwanted items to sell from all over, making this one of the biggest and most unique markets in the state.
Big Daddy’s Flea Market
Big Daddy’s Flea Market is in Las Cruces and is one of the biggest in the lower half of the state.
It is not far from Mexico, and you will likely find a lot of items imported from there.
It is open on weekends, starting at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and dealers generally leave when they sell out.
Like any traditional flea market, there is no limit as to what you might find here.
There are some antiques and art, both Hispanic and Native American in nature.
There are collectibles, as well as home decor and things of general interest.
It is a great place to wander around, and you will probably find something of interest just because there is so much stuff.
Expo New Mexico Flea Market
Expo New Mexico Flea Market in Albuquerque is the largest outdoor market in the state.
New Mexico does not get too cold often, so it is open almost every weekend of the year.
There are a lot of new and old items, and prices are generally very low.
Clothing, shoes, electronics, furniture, and music, are a few of the things you can find here.
The flea market runs food concessions and there are several vendors selling homemade food items as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.
There is an admission charge for the general public.
https://www.exponm.com/p/fleamarket
The Indoor Flea Market of Albuquerque
The Indoor Flea Market of Albuquerque is a lot like the Expo flea market except that it is indoors.
There is more furniture at this one, both new and old at many levels of pricing.
There is a lot of home decor-type items, as well as things you could use to make your own art.
This one is open every day except Monday, and for just half a day on Sunday.
They have shopping carts for you to use, and they will help you load any furniture you buy.
It is more of an antique store in some ways, but it still has a solid collection of things you would normally find at a flea market.
This one is at East Central Business Park, at 11109 Central Ave. in Albuquerque.
The Other Indoor Flea Market
The Other Indoor Flea Market is not too far from the one previously mentioned, but its unusual name helps get it on our list.
We are not sure if it is related to the other one, but it is very similar as far as what is sold there.
There are many boots with items on consignment, and a lot of used items to look through.
There are a lot of electronics, books, odds, and ends, crammed into booths throughout the facility, and it may take a while to look through it all.
It has a nice collection of jewelry, collectibles, and memorabilia from the New Mexico area.
This one is at 6201 Central Ave, so not too far away from the previous one we mentioned.
Tesuque Flea Market
Tesuque Flea Market has moved.
For years it has been held in the small town of Tesuque, but has moved seven miles up the highway and is keeping the name.
It is on the edge of Sante Fe.
It is an outdoor facility and is more of an arts and crafts market than a traditional flea market.
Here you can find authentic Native American art and jewelry, and it may be the artist selling his or her work.
It has about 80 vendors, and they had to find a new place when it became clear this one would not be open again this spring.
There will be Native American as well as Mexican cuisine available at the market.
The Lotza Stuff Flea Market
The Lotza Stuff Flea Market at Ruidoso Downs, about halfway between Albuquerque and the Mexican border, is a refreshing sight in the southwest desert.
The area is remote but has one of the most famous quarter horse race tracks in the nation.
The flea market is traditional and outdoors, with many people coming to sell their wares each weekend.
There are two buildings, and a large outdoor area, filled with vendors.
There are old and new items, many antiques, collectibles, and typical flea market materials.
There are food trucks and an authentic tea room on site.
The Farmington Flea Market
The Farmington Flea Market has been around a long time, even longer than flea markets have been cool.
It has had the same owners for 43 years.
Stalls or booths are $10, and you can set up and start selling before you pay.
They will come to collect the rent later.
It is an old-fashioned flea market and, in that sense, very informal.
There are mostly old items being sold and some use it as a garage sale, getting rid of unwanted items.
Clothing, games, electronics, and music, are just a few of the things you can find here.
It is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all year long.
The Monterey Flea Market
The Monterey Flea Market is on the second street in Roswell, the site of the alleged spacecraft crash in 1947.
You may not find any aliens, but you will probably find some memorabilia related to this.
This is an indoor market, which is good because Roswell gets very hot in summer.
It is open every day of the week and has 100 or so vendors inside.
There is a lot of sports memorabilia, and there is a big collection of smoking pipes both old and new.
There are electronics, furniture, knives, jewelry, and many more things.
Flea Market in Grants
Flea Market in Grants has such a simple name, it must have something going for it on the inside.
It is a small indoor facility with about 50 vendors, and they change often, so you may always find something new here.
It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and they usually have a booth available if you want to sell something yourself.
There is furniture, antiques, memorabilia, art, electronics, and clothing.
Some new stuff, some antiques, and some junk, but as the buyer, you get to decide what it is.
If you are in the area, its worth taking the drive to Grants to check this place out.
The Moriarty Flea Market
The Moriarty Flea Market in Moriarity is in a small town about 40 miles east of Albuquerque.
It is close enough to the city, but far enough away to have a very rural feel.
It is held only one day per year, and that is in June.
It is an outdoor market where anyone can bring anything they want to sell.
It is at an RV dealership, and you will find a lot of things related to RVs at this sale.
You could also bring your RV and camp the night before to get an early start.
There will be a lot of old and new items, and there should be some great deals.
This will be more like a garage sale than the typical sale with professional dealers.
The Indian Trail Trading Post
The Indian Trail Trading Post is an indoor flea market in Grants on historic Route 66 and has a lot of interesting stuff.
As the name might imply, there is a lot of Native American-related art and memorabilia.
Add to that the Route 66 nostalgia, and you have the makings of a very cool place.
It is open every day except for Sunday.
It is fairly small with less than 100 vendors, but the owners are nice and welcoming.
Even though it is a small place, there is a lot of variety beyond Native American materials and Route 66 nostalgia.
New and used items are in many booths.
You could easily spend a couple of hours wandering around this business.
The 12 Best Flea Markets in New Mexico – Summary Table
Flea Market | Address |
---|---|
Gallup Flea Market | 340 N 9th St, Gallup, NM 87301 |
Big Daddy's Flea Market | 5580 Bataan Mem W, Las Cruces, NM 88011 |
Expo New Mexico Flea Market | 300 San Pedro Dr. NE. Albuquerque, NM 87108 |
The Indoor Flea Market of Albuquerque | 11109 Central Ave NE. Albuquerque, NM 87123 |
The Other Indoor Flea Market | 6201 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 |
Tesuque Flea Market | 15 Flea Market Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87506 |
The Lotza Stuff Flea Market | 26554 US-70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 |
The Farmington Flea Market | 7701 E Main St, Farmington, NM 87402 |
The Monterey Flea Market | 1400 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201 |
Flea Market in Grants | 401 1st St, Grants |
The Moriarty Flea Market | 707 U.S. Rte 66, Moriarty, NM 87035 |
The Indian Trail Trading Post | 1871 W Santa Fe Ave, Grants, NM 87020 |
New Mexico Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: New Mexico Safety Review
Safety Index:- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about New Mexico flea markets?
Native American art is one thing that sets flea markets apart in this state.
The state is known for this kind of art, so it would make sense that there is a lot of it for sale.
There are some markets where arts and crafts are the main items.
Turquoise jewelry, as well as rugs and other textiles, are what sets Native American art apart.
New Mexico has long been famous for Native American art.
So much so that there are pieces that are now valuable antiques, as well as newer art, which makes it all even more intriguing.
Another thing that sets flea markets apart in New Mexico is that many of them are indoors.
Perhaps because of the heat in summer, there are just not as many outdoor flea markets as there are indoor ones.
Where are the best flea markets in New Mexico?
Most of them are around Albuquerque, partly because that is where most people live in the state.
Half the population lives in that metropolitan area.
The best ones are found on the edges of Albuquerque.
Even so, do not pass up the ones in smaller towns.
They often have lower prices than the ones in big cities.
You may find more unique items in out-of-the-way places as well.
The big city flea markets do have a better selection, however, particularly if you are looking for new items.
When is the best time to go to a flea market?
No matter where you are, the time of day matters when it comes to flea markets.
A lot depends on what you are looking for.
The best stuff, the most valuable and unique items, tend to sell out fast in the morning.
If you are looking for something unique, it is probably best to go then.
On the other hand, if you want the best possible price, go late in the day.
You risk having a lot of stuff being gone, but people are more willing to lower prices later in the day.
They would rather sell it very cheaply than have to deal with it in many cases.
In the middle of the day, the biggest crowd is there, and that can be fun too.
If you just want to enjoy the human spectacle, the middle of the day would be best.
What are some things to watch out for?
Flea markets are a cash business, and all sales are final.
There are no warranties.
If something ends up broken or does not work, you are just out of luck.
Keep that in mind, and examine things closely.
If it is electronic, try to turn it on and make sure it works before you buy it.
You can get some great deals on many things, but at the same time, be aware that there are no guarantees.
In most cases, the things you buy are easy to examine and are as they appear, so there are not a lot of risks.
How can I sell stuff at a flea market in New Mexico?
For the indoor ones, you would have to rent a booth and most of those are rented monthly.
Some do have shorter-term deals available.
At more informal outside flea markets, you pay a small daily fee and you are all set to sell your items.
Generally, indoor markets are more like a formal businesses, while outdoor ones are informal.