O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway
Follow Georgia O’Keeffe from her Santa Fe museum to the red cliffs of Abiquiu, then ride a narrow-gauge steam train over Cumbres Pass.
- Distance
- 250 km (155 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 47 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- NM, CO
- Updated
- July 8, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 250 km (155 mi) with 8 stops, from Santa Fe to Antonito. About 2 h 47 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New Mexico, Colorado · More road trips from Santa Fe
Route description
Begin at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, a few blocks west of the Plaza, where timed tickets help on busy days. Then drive north on US-84/285 to Española and stay on US-84 as it follows the Chama River northwest. The valley narrows past orchards and adobe churches, and after about 80 km you reach Abiquiu, the village where O’Keeffe lived from 1949.
The museum runs guided tours of O’Keeffe’s Abiquiu home and studio from spring to autumn; book well ahead, as groups are small. A few kilometers on, NM-96 leads to Abiquiu Lake, with Army Corps campgrounds and a view of Pedernal Peak, the flat-topped mountain O’Keeffe painted many times. Ghost Ranch, where she also had a house, lies just beyond on US-84 and offers guided tours and hiking trails for a fee.
Continue north on US-84 to Echo Amphitheater, a sandstone alcove with a short paved trail and a small campground. The highway then climbs through piñon and ponderosa forest to Tierra Amarilla and Chama, a railroad town at 2,400 m with fuel, groceries and RV parks. In summer the evening air is cool, and the Rio Chama valley is green.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs from late May to October between Chama and Antonito in Colorado, crossing Cumbres Pass at 3,053 m. Most riders take the train one way and return by coach, so you can leave your vehicle in Chama. To drive, take NM-17 over Cumbres and La Manga passes, about 80 km of mountain road that is steep but paved, and follows the railway at several points before dropping into the San Luis Valley at Antonito.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Santa Fe
NM - 20 km
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
HistorySanta Fe, NMThe largest single collection of O’Keeffe’s work, a few blocks from the Santa Fe Plaza. Timed tickets; parking downtown is tight for RVs, so park at the edge and walk.
- 381 km
Abiquiu
NM - 413 km
Abiquiu Lake
NatureAbiquiu, NMA reservoir on the Chama River framed by red mesas and flat-topped Pedernal Peak. Campgrounds and overlooks are run by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- 518 km
Echo Amphitheater
NatureAbiquiu, NMA curved sandstone alcove that throws back your voice, reached by a short paved trail from US-84. The Forest Service site has a small campground and a day fee.
- 674 km
Chama
NM - 70 km
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
HistoryChama, NMA narrow-gauge steam railway owned by New Mexico and Colorado, crossing Cumbres Pass between Chama and Antonito. Runs late May to October; book ahead, especially in autumn.
- 865 km
Antonito
CO
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Santa Fe → Abiquiu · 50 mi · 0 h 54 minOn the way: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.Overnight nearby, for example: Echo Campground (15 mi); Riana Campground (7 mi).
- Day 2: Abiquiu → Chama · 65 mi · 1 h 09 minOn the way: Abiquiu Lake, Echo Amphitheater.Overnight nearby, for example: Rio Chama RV Park (< 1 km); Little Creel RV Park (2 mi).
- Day 3: Chama → Antonito · 41 mi · 0 h 43 minOn the way: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.Overnight nearby, for example: Mogote Meadows RV Park (5 mi); Mogote Campground (13 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. Hot in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway?
3-day road trip of about 250 km (155 mi) with 8 stops, from Santa Fe to Antonito. About 2 h 47 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 47 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway start and end?
It starts in Santa Fe and ends in Antonito.
Which states does O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway pass through?
New Mexico and Colorado.
Where can you camp along O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway?
OpenStreetMap lists 61 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Santa Fe Skies RV Park, Echo Campground and Rio Chama RV Park.
When is the best time for O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
