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Blue Swallow Motel Night (15489854491)📷 Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0

Road trips in New Mexico

19 road trips and 39 hand-picked places in New Mexico, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping.

Trip guides
19
Places
39

Campsites in New Mexico 727

Trip guides

Road trips through New Mexico

High Road to Taos – a large adobe building with mountains in the backgroundPhoto by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash
76
Themed road trips

High Road to Taos

83 mi5 stops2 days
Gila Wilderness: cliff dwellings, a catwalk and the Very Large Array – Majestic waterfall cascades over rocks under a cloudy skyPhoto by Jerome Cha on Unsplash
180
Things to do in…

Gila Wilderness: cliff dwellings, a catwalk and the Very Large Array

217 mi7 stops5 days
The Turquoise Trail: Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Sandia Crest – ABQ Petroglyph 1© Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
14
Scenic byways

The Turquoise Trail: Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Sandia Crest

80 mi6 stops2 days
Jemez Mountain Trail: Bandelier, Valles Caldera and Jemez Springs – Bandelier National Monument (31665624044)© Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA · CC BY 2.0
4
Scenic byways

Jemez Mountain Trail: Bandelier, Valles Caldera and Jemez Springs

127 mi8 stops2 days
The Enchanted Circle: Taos, Red River and Eagle Nest – USA - New Mexico - Angel Fire - 52980011675© Alexander Hatley · CC BY 2.0
38
Scenic byways

The Enchanted Circle: Taos, Red River and Eagle Nest

70 mi8 stops2 days
Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro – 13 Acoma Pueblo street near mission church© Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
53
Things to do in…

Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro

187 mi6 stops2 days
Adobe churches, aspens and the Rio Grande Gorge: by camper along the High Road and the Enchanted Circle to Taos – A street with cars parked on the side of itPhoto by Wendy Shervington on Unsplash
76
In-depth road trip guides

Adobe churches, aspens and the Rio Grande Gorge: by camper along the High Road and the Enchanted Circle to Taos

224 mi12 stops6 days
Forest, cliff dwellings and ghost towns: by camper through the Gila Wilderness and along the Geronimo Trail – Glenwood - Catwalk - 1© This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl. Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of… · CC BY-SA 3.0
15
In-depth road trip guides

Forest, cliff dwellings and ghost towns: by camper through the Gila Wilderness and along the Geronimo Trail

231 mi9 stops6 days
White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains – Sand Dune Ripples (Unsplash)© Todd Vogel slipacre · CC0
70
In-depth road trip guides

White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains

329 mi9 stops6 days
On the Santa Fe Trail: Trinidad to Santa Fe – Crater Rim Trail 1© Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
25
Themed road trips

On the Santa Fe Trail: Trinidad to Santa Fe

254 mi8 stops5 days
O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway – 2016 Art+Feminism editathon presentation© Rpotance · CC BY-SA 4.0
84
Themed road trips

O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway

155 mi8 stops3 days
Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin – A walking trail leading to the Rio Grande River at Kuaua Ruins, Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo, NM (cf8b33df-c510-4380-8b9f-73cf5130ac8d)© National Trails Office (US National Park Service) · Public domain
550
Things to do in…

Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin

252 mi7 stops3 days
Chihuahuan Desert parks – Carlsbad Interior Formations© Eric Guinther, User:Marshman · CC BY-SA 3.0
62
National park loops

Chihuahuan Desert parks

427 mi5 stops3 days
West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend – Sand Dune Ripples (Unsplash)© Todd Vogel slipacre · CC0
90
National park loops

West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend

563 mi8 stops5 days
Red rocks, ancient villages and big skies: by camper through Four Corners and the Navajo Nation – Park Administrative Building, Spruce Tree Point, Mesa Verde National Park, Mancos, CO - 53938597550© w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
160
In-depth road trip guides

Red rocks, ancient villages and big skies: by camper through Four Corners and the Navajo Nation

534 mi11 stops8 days
Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific – assorted color plastic toy lotPhoto by Pretty Pink on Unsplash
66
Classic American drives

Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific

1,582 mi17 stops8 days
Canyons and cliff dwellings of the Four Corners – Hike to Step House, Wetherill Mesa, Mesa Verde National Park (4851649719)© Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
160
National park loops

Canyons and cliff dwellings of the Four Corners

576 mi9 stops6 days
Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley – Navajo Nation Council Chamber, January 2019© Steven Baltakatei Sandoval · CC BY-SA 4.0
191
Things to do in…

Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley

239 mi9 stops4 days
Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica – GeminiGiantMoved© David Quigley · CC BY 4.0
66
In-depth road trip guides

Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica

2,326 mi18 stops21 days
RouteSuggested daysDistanceDrivingStops
High Road to Taos283 mi1 h 29 min5
Gila Wilderness: cliff dwellings, a catwalk and the Very Large Array5217 mi3 h 52 min7
The Turquoise Trail: Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Sandia Crest280 mi1 h 25 min6
Jemez Mountain Trail: Bandelier, Valles Caldera and Jemez Springs2127 mi2 h 16 min8
The Enchanted Circle: Taos, Red River and Eagle Nest270 mi1 h 15 min8
Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro2187 mi3 h 20 min6
Adobe churches, aspens and the Rio Grande Gorge: by camper along the High Road and the Enchanted Circle to Taos6224 mi4 h 00 min12
Forest, cliff dwellings and ghost towns: by camper through the Gila Wilderness and along the Geronimo Trail6231 mi4 h 08 min9
White sand, bats and a rock reef: by camper from White Sands to Carlsbad and the Guadalupe Mountains6329 mi5 h 52 min9
On the Santa Fe Trail: Trinidad to Santa Fe5254 mi4 h 32 min8
O’Keeffe Country and the Cumbres & Toltec railway3155 mi2 h 47 min8
Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin3252 mi4 h 30 min7
Chihuahuan Desert parks3427 mi7 h 38 min5
West Texas and southern New Mexico: dunes, caves and Big Bend5563 mi10 h 03 min8
Red rocks, ancient villages and big skies: by camper through Four Corners and the Navajo Nation8534 mi9 h 32 min11
Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific81,582 mi28 h 15 min17
Canyons and cliff dwellings of the Four Corners6576 mi10 h 17 min9
Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley4239 mi4 h 16 min9
Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica212,326 mi41 h 33 min18
Editor's picks

Places worth the detour in New Mexico

Blue Swallow Motel Night (15489854491)© Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Stays

Blue Swallow Motel

Tucumcari, NM
White Sands National Park – Sand Dune Ripples (Unsplash)© Todd Vogel slipacre · CC0
Editor's pick
Nature

White Sands National Park

Alamogordo, NM
Carlsbad Caverns National Park – 1961 Carlsbad Caverns Post Card (51257778238)© Larry Syverson from Richmond, VA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad, NM
Everyday life in Taos Pueblo© ASITRAC · CC BY-SA 3.0
Editor's pick
History

Taos Pueblo

Taos, NM
Capulin Volcano National Monument – Crater Rim Trail 1© Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Capulin, NM
Views of Fort Union National Monument, New Mexico (6a9e72f9-b02e-4caa-bb1f-bbde80139c9e)© NPS staff · Public domain
Editor's pick
History

Fort Union National Monument

Watrous, NM
City of Rocks State Park – Trichostema arizonicum 221327804© Andrew Tree · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

City of Rocks State Park

Faywood, NM
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument – green trees on brown rocky mountain during daytimePhoto by Alec Krum on Unsplash
Editor's pick
History

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Silver City, NM
Very Large Array – New Mexico - North America - Radio Telescope - Radio (4892865585)© CGP Grey · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Oddities

Very Large Array

Datil, NM
Sandia Crest© Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Views

Sandia Crest

Cedar Crest, NM
Bandelier National Monument (31665624044)© Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
History

Bandelier National Monument

Los Alamos, NM
20240910 0948 Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, New Mexico© David Wilson · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
History

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Chama, NM
Acoma Sky City – 13 Acoma Pueblo street near mission church© Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
History

Acoma Sky City

Acoma Pueblo, NM
Chaco Culture National Historical Park - Pueblo Bonito, New Mexico, US - panoramio (1)© MARELBU · CC BY 3.0
Editor's pick
History

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Nageezi, NM
2016-07-22 070 Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument NM© Tom Cunningham · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Cochiti Pueblo, NM
Blue Hole (3659124218)© Deborah Lee Soltesz from Flagstaff, AZ · CC0
Nature

Blue Hole

Santa Rosa, NM
Exhibit, International UFO Museum-01© Myotus · CC BY 4.0
Oddities

International UFO Museum

Roswell, NM
Meow Wolf – House of Eternal Return – Laser harp at House of Eternal Return© Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Oddities

Meow Wolf – House of Eternal Return

Santa Fe, NM
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - panoramio - MARELBU (1)© MARELBU · CC BY 3.0
Views

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Taos, NM
Ruins of Pecos Pueblo Mission Church, Pecos National Historical Park - panoramio© olekinderhook · CC BY 3.0
History

Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos, NM
The Catwalk – Glenwood - Catwalk - 1© This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl. Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of… · CC BY-SA 3.0
Nature

The Catwalk

Glenwood, NM
Petroglyph National Monument – ABQ Petroglyph 1© Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Petroglyph National Monument

Albuquerque, NM
Cerrillos Hills State Park – Clear Light Opera House (43436639850)© psyberartist · CC BY 2.0
History

Cerrillos Hills State Park

Cerrillos, NM
Valles Caldera National Preserve – Penstemon rydbergii - Craig Martin 04© Craig Martin https://www.inaturalist.org/people/craigmartin · CC0
Nature

Valles Caldera National Preserve

Jemez Springs, NM

FAQs

What are the best road trips in New Mexico?

Popular routes include High Road to Taos, Gila Wilderness: cliff dwellings, a catwalk and the Very Large Array, The Turquoise Trail: Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Sandia Crest and Jemez Mountain Trail: Bandelier, Valles Caldera and Jemez Springs. CampingSpirit has 19 trip guides that pass through New Mexico, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map.

Which places in New Mexico are worth a detour?

Our editors recommend Blue Swallow Motel, White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Taos Pueblo, Capulin Volcano National Monument and Fort Union National Monument.

Nearby

Colorado 20Arizona 21Utah 20Kansas 3Texas 19Oklahoma 6Nebraska 5Nevada 16