border in Antelope Wells north to NM 9 in Hachita, passing through desert and semi-arid farmland.

NM 81 begins at the Mexico – U.S. border crossing in Antelope Wells, Hidalgo County; a local road links the crossing with Mexico Federal Highway 2 to the south.

[2] North of Antelope Wells, the road passes through desert terrain, with a mountain range to the west.

[2][3] Continuing north, the road enters a semi-arid farming region and passes another mountain range in the east.

The road makes a turn to the north-northeast and crosses into Grant County before terminating at NM 9 in Hachita.