New Mexico, also called the “Land of Enchantment”, is an underrated state for journey. The state has a lot to supply, together with beautiful pure sights, wealthy Pueblo heritage, a vibrant arts scene, unbelievable meals, and journey.
The highest highlights of the state — White Sands, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque — are a bit far aside, however the journey and the fascinating stops alongside the way in which are price making it a highway journey.
This itinerary is about ten hours of driving time complete and the areas are divided into stints not more than two hours aside.
I made all of those stops in six days, however I like to recommend that you just benefit from the state at a slower tempo if you happen to can!
Since I used to be restricted on time, I moved by means of the journey rapidly and spent a whole lot of time within the automobile driving from place to put. I additionally advocate flying into El Paso and out of Albuquerque to avoid wasting your self the trouble and time of needing to double again.
You’ll must take your personal journey preferences into consideration when deciding the place to spend an in a single day. At minimal, I like to recommend an in a single day keep in Almorgado after visiting White Sands Nationwide Park and two nights in Santa Fe.
P.S. Don’t count on visitors on this highway journey! A lot of the journey occurs on quieter roads. So pack up your highway journey necessities, get snug, and let’s go on a New Mexico highway journey!
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Essential Reminder: Because it goes in all the locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and bear in mind to Depart No Hint. This implies packing out your entire rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.
New Mexico Highway Journey Map
Right here is an summary of the route for this New Mexico Highway Journey.
Day-by-Day New Mexico Highway Journey Itinerary
Beneath you’ll discover a 6-day itinerary for a New Mexico highway journey with the proper mixture of distinctive cities, outside actvities and delightful landscapes. On the finish I share some extra stops if you happen to’d like to increase your journey.
Day 1: El Paso, Texas – Las Cruces – White Sands Nationwide Park
- Distance: 105 miles
- Drive time: 2 hours
This New Mexico highway journey itinerary begins in Texas, truly. El Paso Worldwide Airport is the closest airport to southern New Mexico, which suggests it’s the closest main airport to White Sands Nationwide Park. Lease a automobile from the airport terminal, and head north to begin your journey!
Earlier than embarking on my journey, I ended briefly to expertise the El Paso Scenic Drive and Overlook. This overlook offered magnificent sights from atop the town. You possibly can even see the United States-Mexico border. Should you’re quick on time, you may skip this cease.
Relying on the time of day you arrive, you might resolve to spend your first evening in El Paso or Las Cruces, about an hour from the airport. Since I arrived within the morning, I left El Paso and continued my journey after Las Cruces.
Tip: Earlier than you depart in your New Mexico highway journey, replenish your fuel tank (and replenish usually!). You’ll usually be driving alongside lengthy stretches of roads with no providers.
Las Cruces
- Journey distance: 1 hour (52 miles) from El Paso
La Cruces might be your first cease on this New Mexico highway journey itinerary, and is a superb place to stretch your legs, seize a chunk, and recharge earlier than your second leg of the drive.
In Las Cruces, there’s tons of restaurant choices. Andele’s is a full of life, Mexican cantina that serves Mexican Sizzling Canine. For a vegan-friendly spot, hit up Habaneros Recent Mex.
Should you’re trying to sneak a fast hike in proper off the bat, drive 25 minutes east of La Cruces to the Organ Mountains. Right here you’ll discover a wide range of trails anyplace from two to seven miles lengthy.
I like to recommend the Dripping Springs Path (3 miles) for a style of the world. This gravel path is rated as reasonable, beginning on the Guests Middle and resulting in a small seasonal waterfall.
Should you do resolve to hike within the Organ Mountains, it may be price discovering a lodge in La Cruces for the evening so that you aren’t rushed if you get to White Sands Nationwide Monument. Alternatively, in case you are quick on time, I’d counsel passing by means of Las Cruces rapidly so you may spend extra time at White Sands.
White Sands Nationwide Park
- Journey distance: 1 hour (53 miles) from Las Cruces
When you’re achieved in La Cruces, proceed onto White Sands Nationwide Monument, which can undoubtedly be a spotlight of your New Mexico highway journey. As of August 2023, entry is $25 per non-public automobile.
Buying an America the Lovely Annual Go($80) will avoid wasting cash if you happen to go to 3 or extra federal websites within the upcoming 12 months. Bandelier Monument, talked about later on this itinerary, can also be a part of the go program.
White Sands is very beautiful at dawn and sundown. Cease by the Customer’s Middle for an orientation movie, displays, and a restroom break. Then, proceed on to see extra of the park. Relying on the time of 12 months, mid-day on this space could be extremely popular, so you should definitely have loads of water and solar safety.
I opted to stroll the Interdune Boardwalk, a simple .4 mile, 20-minute stroll. This boardwalk is absolutely accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and provides a shaded space about mid-way by means of.
White Sands provides many extra trails for exploration that permit you to expertise the sand stretching so far as the attention can see. The Alkali Flat or the White Sands Backcountry Path are good choices for getting off the overwhelmed path.
White Sands is a tremendous place to look at the sundown. To benefit from your time, I extremely advocate mountain climbing as much as the highest of a towering dune in time for golden hour. On a transparent day, you may count on vibrant, colourful sunsets that gentle up the sky within the prettiest of pastels. Deliver a headlamp and keep for the blue hour after the solar goes down for the total vary of colours.
The place to Keep Close to White Sands Nationwide Park
As soon as the solar units, proceed into the city of Alamogordo, solely fifteen minutes away. Should you’re at White Sands for sundown, put together to drive in full darkness (aside from the opposite vehicles additionally headed to city).
In Alamogordo, you’ll discover lower-budget lodging from high chains, in addition to bed-and-breakfast-style lodges, motels, and Airbnbs.
I stayed on the Basic Desert Aire Resort, a three-star lodging providing probably the most scrumptious selfmade breakfast that was included within the room price.
Day 2: Roswell – Route 66
- Distance: 253 miles
- Drive time: 4 hours
Roswell
- Journey distance: 2 hours (119 miles) from Alamogordo
Within the morning, proceed your drive towards Roswell, a kitschy city identified for all issues aliens, after a rumored UFO crash in 1947. The complete city is decked out in all-green alien figures on banners, indicators, and merchandise. Even the McDonald’s is formed like a UFO.
The Worldwide UFO Museum and Analysis Middle is an interesting cease on this New Mexico highway journey itinerary. The museum was based to tell the general public about what has change into referred to as the “Roswell Incident.” It showcases a set of written content material across the alleged alien sightings, in addition to replicas of aliens. With admission at solely $7, don’t miss it.
Earlier than you depart Roswell, you should definitely replenish on fuel for the subsequent stretch of freeway.
Route 66 (Santa Rosa)
- Journey distance: 2 hours (134 miles) from Roswell
After your stint in Roswell, drive north to satisfy the well-known Route 66. The Route 66 Auto Museum and the Blue Gap are the primary sights in Santa Rosa.
The auto museum showcases over 30 classic automobiles, plus Route 66 memorabilia, like information and Coca-Cola indicators. The museum additionally has a memento store the place you should purchase some neat objects for household again house. It’s price a cease for any traveler, automobile fanatic or not. Admission is $5.
If vehicles aren’t your factor, cease by the Blue Gap, an 80-foot deep crystal-blue pure swimming gap that’s excellent for a dip. You possibly can even SCUBA dive right here for a one-of-a-kind expertise.
Days 3-4: Santa Fe
- Journey distance: 1.5 hours (108 miles) from Santa Rosa
Head north once more and arrive in Santa Fe, the cultural middle of New Mexico. This charming metropolis is named a hotbed for artistic arts, with a mixture of high-end and lower-priced artwork galleries, textile outlets, pottery outlets, and way more positioned on each block. For that motive, it’s price spending a few days in Santa Fe. Most guests keep within the Outdated City, the center of the town.
Santa Fe was based as a Spanish colony in 1610 and nonetheless options genuine Pueblo-style structure. The Palace of the Governors, now the New Mexico Historical past Museum, sits on the coronary heart of the downtown space. This space could be very walkable and homes many lodges, shops, galleries, eateries, and absolutely anything else you might want.
Should you’re into artwork or need a distinctive Santa Fe expertise, try the immersive artwork museum, Meow Wolf. The Georgia O’Keefe Museum can also be an ideal place to go to for artwork lovers.
Santa Fe additionally has an unbelievable meals scene. Native favorites embody chili, burritos, and posole, a conventional Mexican consolation stew, normally consisting of simmered pork shoulder (try La Choza for a vegan model). Should you go to on a Saturday, the Farmers Market (which takes place 12 months spherical) shouldn’t be missed. It’s an ideal place to choose up some peppers to take house with you.
Santa Fe additionally has nice summer time and shoulder season mountain climbing. The Santa Fe Nationwide Forest provides dozens of trails within the Southern Rockies which might be lower than an hour from Sante Fe. The mountains on this area are surprisingly large, with some peaks reaching 13,000 toes in elevation.
Whereas I didn’t have time to discover these mountains, the Nambe Lake is one which’s on my listing. It’s a 6.3 mile hike that leaves from the bottom of the Santa Fe Ski Space ending at a beaufitul alpine lake, paying homage to one thing you’d see in Colorado.
If in case you have further time, Sante Fe is an effective leaping off level to Jemez Sizzling Springs, the place you’ll find plentiful New Mexico sizzling springs to soak in. Alternatively, it’s a simple day journey as much as hike to Taos or Bandelier Nationwide Monument (which I’ll speak about under).
The place to Keep in Santa Fe
With its vibrant arts scene, Santa Fe attracts two million guests every year. There isn’t a scarcity of luxurious, spa-like locations to remain. Take a look at Eldorado, a centrally-located four-star lodge with a stunning rooftop infinity pool. E book a balcony room with a fire to take pleasure in each the sunny days and the chilly evenings.
Day 5: Bandelier Nationwide Monument
- Journey distance: 50 minutes (41 miles) from Santa Fe
For a stunning day journey outdoors of Santa Fe, drive about 50 minutes northwest to Bandelier Nationwide Monument. This federal recreation land protects 33,000 acres of canyons and mesas and is the ancestral lands of 23 totally different Native American tribes. Guests can see petroglyphs, caves, and carvings on the rock cliffs, and standing masonry partitions from human civilization courting again over 11,000 years.
Most guests will discover the Principal (Pueblo) Loop Path, a 1.4 mile loop path that begins on the Guests Middle and continues by means of excavated archeological websites on the ground of Frijoles Canyon. You possibly can discover the path by yourself or as a part of a Ranger Guided stroll, provided most days in the summertime.
The three-mile roundtrip Falls Path, which results in the breathtaking Higher Falls, is one other standard path. The positioning additionally provides 70 miles complete of varied pathways.
Entrance for a personal automobile prices $25, or is roofed by the America the Lovely annual park go.
Day 6: Albuquerque
- Journey distance: 1 hour (65 miles) from Santa Fe
Your ultimate vacation spot on this highway journey is Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest metropolis. Albuquerque is most identified for the Worldwide Balloon Fiesta, which happens yearly in October.
Stroll down the Biopark the place you may take pleasure in huge greenspace (observe the Biopark just isn’t dog-friendly). The Biopark’s Botanical Gardens options 32 acres of displays, that includes native crops and flora from around the globe.
The biopark additionally has a zoo, house to over 900 animals. Get a combo ticket to take pleasure in the whole park. It’s $22 for non-residents ($16 New Mexico resident). Seniors and youth get discounted pricing.
Very like Santa Fe, there’s a wealthy handcrafted arts scene, with many outlets promoting Native American items. The Outdated City space could be very walkable to lodges, eating places, museums, shops, and public parks.
Outdated City Albuquerque dates again to 1706 when the town was a Spanish colony. Guests can discover many historic buildings, like San Felipe de Neri Church, quite a few museums, and impressed lodges.
For reasonable, delicious eats, take a break at Sawmill Market. This contemporary meals corridor provides 25+ eateries, and consists of one thing for everybody. Diners can take pleasure in burgers, burritos, pasta, waffles, pizza, sushi, vegan choices and extra. A number of bars (21+) anchor the corridor, making this a well-liked after-work spot for locals. Take a look at Cashos for scrumptious empanadas.
The place to Keep in Albuquerque
Should you’re flying out of the Albuquerque Worldwide Airport, keep on the Airport Marriott Courtyard or one other lodge in that fast space.
Should you choose to return to El Paso in your ultimate day, it’s a further 250 miles of driving (~4 hours).
If in case you have extra time…
If 6-days isn’t sufficient and you’ve got further time to discover, listed here are a few add-ons to this New Mexico itinerary:
- Cease in Taos earlier than going to Sante Fe: a city bordering the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that’s wealthy in indigenous historical past with mountain climbing, snowboarding, and different outside actions
- After leaving Sante Fe, spend a day in Jemez Springs soaking a New Mexico’s pure sizzling springs
Finest Time to Go to New Mexico
Summer time is the preferred time to go to New Mexico. Temperatures in Sante Fe usually attain the mid-80s, because of it being 7,000 toes above sea degree. Nonetheless, White Sands Nationwide Monument which is decrease round 4,000 toes is far hotter with the highs within the mid-90s and no shade.
For the very best all-around climate at all the locations on this New Mexico itinerary, I’d counsel visiting in spring or fall. You’ll have gentle temperatures each in Sante Fe and White Sands, together with fewer crowds. Simply be sure that to pack layers for mountain climbing and be ready for noticeable temperature swings between day and evening.
Hope this put up will get you excited to go to New Mexico! Depart your questions and New Mexico highway journey ideas down within the feedback.
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