2023-04-06 07:00:00
The best way to explore the Land of Enchantment is undoubtedly by car – that’s how you reach the most remote and rewarding places in the state. However, if you are on the hunt for the best road trips in New Mexico and are feeling a little overwhelmed, we have you covered. From tours of waterfalls to a journey through some of New Mexico’s most iconic natural wonders, here are 11 New Mexico road trip ideas that belong on your bucket list. Each one has its own New Mexico road trip map that you follow along.
For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.
1-Day Road Trip In New Mexico
- Route: Santa Rosa > Montezuma > Las Vegas, > Santa Fe >
- Distance: 185 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
We have an epic day trip all planned out for you starting at the beautiful Santa Rosa Lake. Get here early to watch the sun climb above the lake in a gorgeous burst of oranges and reds. There are some nice campgrounds at Santa Rosa Lake State Park if you want to camp out and get an early start on the day. After sunrise, grab some breakfast at the Sun & Sand Restaurant on Route 66. Then we head out to soak up the healing waters of the Montezuma Hot Springs. Continue your zen-filled day by stopping at the Dwan Light Sanctuary in Las Vegas, NM. If you love cool art galleries and cute shops, Canyon Road in Santa Fe is fantastic. A stop for dinner at La Choza is a lovely authentic New Mexican dining experience. Then, as evening turns into golden rays over the Sante Fe Ski Basin one of the best New Mexico road trips ends with incredible scenic views.
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In New Mexico
- Route: Albuquerque > Mountainair > Carrizozo > San Antonio > Albuquerque
- Distance: 370 miles
- Trip Time: 6.5 hours driving time
This Central New Mexico road trip starts off with a stop at the iconic Frontier Restaurant for some early morning breakfast burritos or tacos, then we set off on an adventure to see Pueblo ruins, interesting rock formations, old Native American missions, and maybe a ghost town or two. The Valley of Fires Recreation Area in Carrizozo is an incredible place for hiking along old lava flows. One of the best birding spots in the Southwest can be found in San Antonio at the Bosque Del Apache Visitor Center. Before you continue on your journey, make sure you stop to grab an iconic green chile cheeseburger at the Owl Bar or Buckthorn Tavern. And, as we loop back to Albuquerque hit up the Petroglyph National Monument and the stunning Boca Negra Canyon.
New Mexico Volcanoes Road Trip
- Route: Albuquerque > Grants > Quemado > Shiprock > Cabezon Peak > Jemez Springs > Capulin > Carrizozo > Las Cruces
- Distance: 1,377 miles
- Trip Time: 24 hours driving time
You may not have known, but New Mexico is called the Land of Volcanoes. These sacred mountains and landforms are all extinct or dormant, and yet they remain a beautiful reminder of the geological events that shaped this beautiful state. If you want to explore the New Mexican landscape in a way you may not have done before, this backcountry road trip is a unique adventure. Be sure to make lots of stops to explore the many hiking trails and scenic drives you’ll find on this epic New Mexico volcano road trip.
New Mexico Pie Shop Road Trip
- Route: Ruidoso > Cloudcroft > Las Cruces > Deming > Silver City
- Distance: 247 miles
- Trip Time: 4.5 hours driving time
If someone were to ask you if you would drive 247 miles for a slice of pie would your reaction be, heck yeah!? If so, this road trip is for you. Some of the best and most iconic bakeries in New Mexico await you on this epic sweet tooth road trip. We start out at the Cornerstone Bakery in Ruidoso, take a pit stop at the Burro Street Bakery, then swing down to the Indulgence Bakery just north of El Paso, Texas. With a name like Indulgence you know it’s good. Our trip takes us to southwestern New Mexico at Elisa’s House of Pies before ending up at Diane’s Bakery in Silver City.
Best New Mexico Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Soda Dam Springs > Jemez Falls > Bandelier National Monument > White Rock > Nambe Falls > Kachina Road > Williams Lake
- Distance: 164 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
A refreshing spring drive to see some of the most beautiful waterfalls in New Mexico is on the agenda for this trip. The hot springs at Soda Dam start us out. Then to the rushing 70-foot waterfall at Jemez Falls. And on to the Bandelier National Monument with cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and ruins. Be prepared for a little off-road hiking to see epic rock formations, plummeting waterfalls, and stunning views of the Rio Grande as we head north. Our New Mexico road trip itinerary takes us around Taos and Taos Pueblo, but you might just as easily drive through these charming towns to experience this unique Native American community.
Best Summer Road Trip In New Mexico
- Route: Elephant Butte Lake State Park > Caballo Lake State Park > Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park > Oliver Lee Memorial State Park > Brantley Lake State Park > Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park > Bottomless Lakes State Park > Sumner Lake State Park > Manzano Mountains State Park > Elephant Butte Lake State Park
- Distance: 854 miles
- Trip Time: 15 hours driving time
Odds are that you haven’t explored all of New Mexico’s 35 state parks. The summertime is your chance to check some of these places off your New Mexico bucket list. We’ve compiled nine of them into a one-of-a-kind tour of the southeastern portion of the state. These parks offer lakes, wildlife-watching opportunities, hiking trails, and mountain scenery. This is easily one of the best road trips in New Mexico.
Best New Mexico Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Santa Fe > Chimayo > Taos > Eagle Nest > Red River > Tres Piedras > Tierra Amarilla > Chama
- Distance: 353 miles
- Trip Time: 8 hours driving time
In the fall, New Mexico is a blaze of color. To make the most of what many consider the best season in the Land of Enchantment, we created a fall foliage road trip. The journey lasts a smidge under seven hours and spans almost 300 miles. During that time, you’ll have plenty of leaf-peeping opportunities as you travel across the gorgeous north-central region of the state. From the beautiful Red River Canyon to scenic railroads in Chama to the gorgeous Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway, this road trip is spectacular in the fall.
Best Winter Road Trip In New Mexico
- Route: Taos > Santa Fe > Madrid > Albuquerque > Belen
- Distance: 190 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
A winter road trip in New Mexico might typically include some skiing or sledding in Taos or Angel Fire, but this time we are going on a holiday lights tour. Start out your Christmas lights adventure at the beautiful Taos Plaza with thousands of twinkling lights and your first round of hot cocoas for the evening. Our next stop is the Santa Fe Botanical Garden for a magical light show. As we travel through Madrid and the small-town charm it offers we head to Old Town Plaza in Albuquerque. The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden is amazing as well. And Belen has a whimsical light show that is sure to delight.
Family Friendly New Mexico Road Trip
- Route: Santa Fe > Albuquerque > White Sands National Monument > Roswell
- Distance: 415 miles
- Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
A family road trip through New Mexico can be a fun way to build bonds and memories while exploring some of the state’s most interesting destinations. We’ll start off at the Meow Wolf immersive art exhibit filled with secret doors, investigative games, and wild local art. Why stop at any old art galleries when you have Meow Wolf? After working up an appetite, head to a classic 1950s diner themed around the iconic Route 66. White Sands National Park near Las Cruces is an amazing place for an outdoor adventure on the incredible white sand dunes. These gypsum dune fields are unique to New Mexico. And, a road trip through New Mexico wouldn’t be complete without visiting Roswell and the International UFO Museum & Research Center.
Road Trip to New Mexico Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Shiprock > Bisti / De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area > El Malpais National Monument > White Sands National Park > Carlsbad Caverns National Park > Sandia Crest > Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument > Valles Caldera > Rio Grande Gorge Bridge > Shiprock
- Distance: 1,429 miles
- Trip Time: 26 hours driving time
We’ve combined places of great natural beauty in the Land of Enchantment into an epic road trip through New Mexico. Hoard your vacation days because you’re going to want to use them to tour sites like Shiprock, Valles Caldera, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Since this journey takes 26 hours to drive, we’ve designed it so that you have the option to split the road trip into a northern and southern loop.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in New Mexico
- Route: Sandia Park > Madrid > Los Cerrillos > Chimayo > Peñasco > Mora > Pecos > Corrales > Placitas > Sandia Park
- Distance: 349 miles
- Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
Spend a weekend traveling to nine of the cutest small towns in New Mexico on this figure-eight drive, which takes just under seven hours to complete (without stops). Take a break from the usual hustle and bustle to visit places where the pace of life is set to “slow mosey.” Explore Old West mining towns, Puebloan villages, cliff dwellings, beautiful vineyards, and old adobe homes from the Spanish Colonial times.
Did our list of New Mexico road trip ideas inspire you to explore this beautiful state? Tell us all regarding your favorite New Mexico road trip you’ve taken with a comment. Whether you’d get excited regarding driving through the stunning Organ Mountains, hiking to the Riverbend Hot Springs, or spending the day at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, there is a road trip through New Mexico with your name on it.
Here are even more road trip ideas in New Mexico to put on your bucket list.
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Chris Muras | April 05, 2023
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