You know you deserve some time off to get out there and live a little, and that means planning a getaway. Few places beckon the wanderer quite like a New Mexico road trip. From the desert to the mountains, the ever-changing landscape is mesmerizing to watch as you work your way across the state in the Southwest U.S.
Following one (or all!) of these itineraries for different regions of the state will also lead you to fantastic food. “We cannot forget about the mouthwatering New Mexican cuisine and the variety of microbreweries and wineries,” Brianna Gallegos, a New Mexico Tourism Board representative, said. While you’ll find delicious restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and more along the way, you could even stock your car with local snacks, like Bisco Bites, the state’s official cookie. Think shortbread cookies laced with spices like cinnamon, sugar, and anise. Once you have your car stocked, get ready to hit the highway for an amazing trip from corner to corner.
Head to the Northeast
Day one
Morning: Begin your journey in Santa Fe, where in the fall you’ll find some breathtaking fall foliage, but there are tons of things to see and do around this time as well.
When you’re ready to jump in the car, set out in the morning for Pecos National Historic Park through the Pecos Canyon. The national park is a playground for history buffs thanks to its impressive ruins of a former Spanish mission, an Indian village, and a Civil War battlefield.
Another interesting attraction is English actress Greer Garson’s ranch. From there, drive to Pecos Canyon State Park, which is the state’s newest park. There you’ll spend hours mountain biking miles and miles of trails.
Plan ahead and coordinate with a local operator for that part. Chow down at Frankies at the Casanova (which offers curbside pickup) when you’re done. Set in a historic building, the locally owned restaurant offers up northern New Mexican fare alongside American staples.
Midday: In the afternoon, set off for Las Vegas — yes, New Mexico has its own, too — and take a pit stop at Traveler’s Café on Plaza Street for a caffeine-infused pick-me-up. The charming historic district has more than 900 buildings on its historic register making it a perfect setting for a stroll to stretch your legs.
If you’re feeling a little sore from the mountain biking, hop back in the car and drive 5 miles east to Montezuma Hot Springs, where you can take a dip and relax.
Overnight: Take dinner at El Rialto and stay overnight in the Historic Plaza Hotel, which will give you all kinds of Spanish mission, wild west vibes.
Day two
Morning: Hit the ground early with a drive to Raton, a city just six and a half miles short of the Colorado border. Wander out to the Sugarite Canyon State Park, where there are two lakes for fishing or plenty of hiking spots to choose from. Not to mention, there’s a historic coal camp to explore.
Keep lunch simple with pizza at Bruno’s before stopping in the Raton Museum to peruse their artifacts collection. After that break from driving, hop back in the car and head 32 miles outside of town to Capulin Volcano National Monument, a dormant volcano with trails around the base and inside the crater.
Midday: Visit Mock’s Crossroads Coffee Mill for an afternoon jolt and head off for the Herzstein Memorial Museum. You’ll see tons of Old West memorabilia, artifacts, and art. Not to mention, it holds what might be the most beautiful poker table with intricate inlay you’ll ever see.
Overnight: Spend the night at the Historic Hotel Eklund with its impressive saloon-style restaurant and bar.
Day three
Morning: Put on a road trip podcast and set out 111 miles to Tucumcari. Along the way, plan for a stop at Ute Lake State Park to stretch your legs with a hike, go for a boat jaunt, or pull out your fishing pole. You’ll also pass Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum. If you haven’t explored the vast dino world that the West actually is, it’s a great way to learn about the storied past.
Plan to make it to Kix on 66 for lunch. Either before or after you stop to eat, make your way to the Route 66 Museum, which obviously celebrates the legendary highway. When you finally reach Tucumcari, end the day by strolling around town to take in the artful murals.
Go down to the Southwest
Day one
Morning: Kick things off from Albuquerque and make your way to a city with one of the best names around, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Plan ahead to make a stop at Elephant Butte, the state’s largest park. Once there, team up with Zia Kayaking to get out on the water and take in the view from another vantage point. Take lunch at Bigfoot Restaurant before reaching downtown Truth or Consequences.
Midday: Once you’re in town, visit the Geronimo Springs Museum, which holds Apache artifacts, an old log cabin, arrowheads, and even fossils. It’s an amazing way to drink in the local history right along the Rio Grande. Later, go for a soak at the Riverbend Hot Springs.
Overnight: After a relaxing afternoon, drive toward Hillsboro. Check into Black Range Lodge, a quaint stay just inside the lush Gila National Forest.
Day two
Morning: Climb back into the car and drive 57 miles to Silver City. Along the way, take a pit stop to stretch your legs at the Catwalk National Recreation Trail, which has a series of bridges through Whitewater Canyon. It’s a beautiful stop and quite the way to see the river canyon.
Continue on to Silver City and enjoy lunch at Revel, which serves scrumptious bites ranging from sandwiches to pizza to pasta. Curbside pickup is also available to keep rolling if you need to.
Midday: In the afternoon, meet up with Gila Hike and Bike to take a guided tour along the Continental Divide Trail, one of the best long-distance trails in the United States. Unwind by strolling around the arts district of downtown Silver City.
Overnight: Turn in at Bear Mountain Lodge or Cosmic Campground. Bear Mountain Lodge and art gallery is just outside of town giving it a more rural feel. Cosmic Campground, on the other hand, is extremely rural. An International Dark Sky Sanctuary, the campground is a great time to get sleep outside and drink in the twinkling galaxy.
Day three
Morning: The final day in the southwest corner of the state ventures toward Las Cruces, a classic stop on any New Mexico itinerary. Stop off at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, where you’ll hike to see the ancient cave dwellings. As you continue on your way, the next stop is in Hatch, where you’ll take a tour of Sparky’s, a chili farm.
Midday: Once you reach Las Cruces, make your way to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, a beautiful mountain range with canyons and woodlands. Make sure you plan ahead to go horseback riding here. There’s also the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum if you prefer to get some hands-on learning about working the land. Shop around the Mesilla Plaza and have dinner at La Posta de Mesilla.
Overnight: After a long day turn in to your hotel in Las Cruces to round out the trip.
Go Southeast
Day one
Morning: This two-day itinerary begins with White Sands National Park on your way to Alamogordo. Stop by the visitors’ center or jump straight into exploring the otherworldly white sand dunes.
Midday: Once you reach Alamogordo, have lunch at no-frills Brown Bag Deli for some serious sandwich action. You’ll see tons of cacti on another hike in Desert Foothills Park if you need an extra walkabout before exploring the downtown and turning in for the night. Another way to pass the afternoon or evening is to go on a distillery or winery crawl around Alamogordo.
Overnight: Check into the Fairfield Inn to sleep it off, but drink responsibly if you know you’ll be driving the next day.
Day two
Morning: Rise early to drive to Ruidoso to hike, mountain bike, hang glide, zipline, or go off-roading with a local tour guide from Backcountry Attitudes. It’s the adrenaline rush you might need after hours in the car over just a couple of days. Grab lunch at Rio Grande Grill and Tap Room before you set off for Roswell.
Midday: Pass the afternoon by exploring the downtown historic district or wandering the International UFO Museum. Pick up a coffee at Steller Coffee Co. and then go for a swim at Bottomless Lake State Park. Enjoy dinner at Pecos Flavors Winery and Bistro, along with a wide selection of bottles and brews. You’ll also find amazing bites ranging from charcuterie boards and sandwiches to entrees like seared salmon or roasted garlic and rosemary chicken.
Overnight: Check into your hotel and get ready to make your way back toward Albuquerque the next day.
The must-see towns in New Mexico
However you choose to visit New Mexico in your road trip, these are the must-see spots. In your planning, make sure to add a stop at these scenic cities in New Mexico.
Don’t miss these places
- Albuquerque
- Las Cruces
- Roswell
- Santa Fe
- Silver City
- Taos
- Truth or Consequences
For an easy way to hit a few places back to back, try these routes
- Los Alamos to Taos
- Taos to Albuquerque
- Albuquerque to Santa Fe
- Santa Fe to Los Alamos
- Bandelier & Valles Caldera
You don’t have to do these in a specific order, but it makes things a bit easier.
You know how to plan, but this is when to go
- If you go for the hiking, skip the summer
- Go during the shoulder seasons — the spring and the fall
- October would be a good but busy month
If you want snow, visit in the fall, and if you love that hot, dry heat, the summer is the time for you to visit. The northern part of the state has more severe winters, leaving the southern part to see milder ones.
If you want to hike at all, the summer is not the time to go. The temperatures get so hot, and you don’t want to spend the rest of your vacation recovering from heat stroke.
The best times to visit are in the shoulder months. Those times in between the crazy seasons are when every family is trying to take a vacation when the kids are out of school. The spring and the fall are the prime times, when temperatures will be just right, and the crowds will be thinned out.
We recommend October to see the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but know the crowds will be a bit larger for that.
You’re going to find so much more than an amazing backdrop as you roll down the road on your New Mexico road trip. “As you journey through New Mexico, you will find adventure steeped in culture in every corner of the state. Each corner of the state has its own unique offerings, like hiking and skiing where the Rockies begin to sled down glistening white sand dunes of White Sands National Park to mountain biking along the Continental Divide Trail,” Gallegos told us.
General road trip tips
Hitting the open road for a trip through New Mexico is an exciting adventure. Here are some general tips for planning the trip and while on the road.
Before you go
- Get your car serviced: Make sure your vehicle is in top condition by getting an oil change, checking tire pressure and tread, and topping up fluids.
- Pack smart: Pack light and for versatility, considering different weather conditions and activities you might do. Don’t forget essentials like a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and a flashlight.
- Entertainment: Prepare a playlist of your favorite tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks to keep you company on the road. Download movies or shows for offline viewing if you’ll be in areas with limited internet access.
- Snacks and drinks: Pack plenty of nonperishable snacks and drinks to keep you fueled on the go. Opt for healthy options like nuts, fruits, and granola bars.
On the road
- Take breaks: Get out of the car and stretch your legs every 2 hours or 100 miles. Explore roadside attractions, take a hike, or grab a bite to eat.
- Share the driving: If you’re traveling with others, take turns driving to avoid fatigue.
- Stay alert: Avoid driving when you’re tired or drowsy. Pull over and take a nap if needed.
- Be mindful of the weather: Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for changing conditions.
- Embrace the detours: Sometimes, the best experiences on a road trip are the unplanned ones. Be open to taking detours and exploring new places.
Every stop along the way through New Mexico offers amazing opportunities for outdoor adventure, and we can’t wait for you to take advantage of every one of them.
