Planning a Trip to New Mexico? Use This Detailed Guide

We’ve driven through New Mexico a few times now, and I’m always amazed at all of the little wonders you discover when you’re paying attention. This is one of the quirkiest states in the country, too, as evidenced by Roswell and Albuquerque.

If you’re not sure where to start, steal this guide to planning a trip to New Mexico. I include all of the spots that have made an impression on us over the years on top of more practical advice for making the most of your stay.

How to Plan a Trip to New Mexico

Planning a trip to New Mexico is easy enough, but there are some things you should know to help you along:

• The cheapest months to visit New Mexico are September through February, with the expectation of the balloon fiesta in October. Otherwise, there really isn’t a “bad” time to visit the state.
• That said, New Mexico’s climate can vary dramatically between day and night, especially in the desert or mountains. Pack layers for flexibility, always wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.
• If you’re planning on visiting New Mexico’s national parks, consider buying an America the Beautiful pass. It pays for itself after just three parks and is good for the year.
• Many parts of New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Taos, are at high elevations at or above 7,000 feet. You may feel effects like fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath, especially if you’re not acclimated.
• You may be able to get by without a car if you’re visiting one of the state’s major cities, but renting a car is essential for exploring rural areas and national parks. You won’t regret the epic New Mexico road trip itinerary that ensues.

How Many Days You Need to See New Mexico

You should spend at least two to three days in New Mexico if you’re spending a weekend in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, the state’s most impressive cities. A longer road trip could give you time to see some of the national parks here.

I’m not one to tell you not to go somewhere because you can’t embrace slow travel, though. Use your time wisely, but use the time you’ve got.

If you only have a day in Sante Fe, for example, you’ll still be able to do quite a bit while you’re there, including a visit to the whimsical and immersive Meow Wolf.

Best Time to Visit New Mexico

The best month to visit New Mexico is October. The weather is awesome and you could treat yourself to the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Predictably, this is also an expensive time to visit the state if you’re focused on Albuquerque.

Much of New Mexico is mild enough that even a summer visit can make for a pleasant time for visiting places in New Mexico. For all-around ideal weather, the fall months are generally excellent.

Read on for more detailed information about New Mexico’s seasonal changes:

• Summer: We’ve visited New Mexico twice in the summer months with excellent results. Santa Fe is mild but crowded in the summer, so book well ahead of your trip for your best chance at the accommodations you want.
• Fall: Temperatures remain mild, and the summer crowds have begun to disperse. The outlier is Albuquerque in October. October’s Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is one of New Mexico’s most popular events.
• Winter: Avoid the mountains in the winte,r and you’ll find mild temperatures in the winter months. Peak ski conditions vary if Taos is what you’re after, but it’s safe to say that you’ll likely be able to hit the powder from late fall into early spring.
• Spring: Spring is a shoulder season in New Mexico, with opportunities for warm, sunny days outside of peak summer travel times. Be warned that spring also means windy conditions across the state.

How to Get to New Mexico

If you’re flying into New Mexico, Albuquerque International Sunport is the major airport that serves the state. It will likely offer the best deals from wherever you’re coming from, too.

You can connect from there to a number of regional airports, including Santa Fe Regional Airport, the Roswell International Air Center, and Taos Regional Airport.

Deals to the major hubs, especially Albuquerque, are easier to find if you’re flexible on timing. Expect higher prices in the winter months if your final destination is Taos Ski Valley.

How to Get Around New Mexico

New Mexico is a great state for road trips, and it’s seen most efficiently by car. It’s about 375 miles across New Mexico from east to west. That would take you about five hours and 20 minutes from start to finish, but you’ll want to linger along the way.

If you’re looking for additional options for long-distance travel, Amtrak has several routes that cut through the state. For whatever reason, Santa Fe isn’t on the list.

For true historical train travel, train enthusiasts may be interested to learn more about the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The train takes riders across 64 miles, traversing Colorado and into New Mexico on a moving historical landmark.

Greyhound is really your only long-distance bus option.

If your travel is limited to Santa Fe, you may be able to get around using the city’s network of buses and shuttles. Renting a car will still allow you the most flexibility to explore the city — and just beyond the city — on your own timetable.

Top Places to Visit in New Mexico

It can be hard to nail down the highlights, but there are a few spots that you shouldn’t miss on your New Mexico bucket list.

Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s second city, should get its due beyond being the home of Walter White. Their balloon fiesta, the largest in the world, is worth a visit all on its own.

Note: New Mexico tourism explodes around balloon festival time every year. If you’re visiting in October, make plans for flights and accommodations well ahead of your New Mexico visit.

Take a deeper dive into what many consider to be Santa Fe’s more urban sister and you’ll find impressive museums, delicious eateries, and day trips into the wilderness. Albuquerque is one of the best places to see in New Mexico.

The city is easy enough to explore on your own, but there are a few unique experiences you can have if you’re seeking to tour New Mexico in style.

READ MORE: Love the sound of that? Check out my guide to a self-guided Breaking Bad tour while you’re in Albuquerque.

Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns National Park isn’t the largest of the cave systems in the United States, but it’s certainly one of the most impressive.

The layout of the caves tells a story of exploration and limits on what’s possible, making it one of the must-sees for visitors to New Mexico.

With extra time, the caverns are a great jumping-off point for desert hikes on the surface. Wildlife spotting abounds on trails that cut into canyons and take you to panoramas of the landscapes beyond. This is a great spot to find desert bighorn sheep.

Note: Carlsbad Caverns National Park features over 100 caves and thousands of bats if you time your visit right, too.

READ MORE: Let’s say caves are your thing. Check out Cave Point County Park in Wisconsin.

Meow Wolf

It’s hard to explain the immersive experience that is Meow Wolf without ruining it, so I’ll just say that it’s become a quintessential Santa Fe stop.

It’s like the quirkiest museum you’ve ever visited that also requires a bit of faith on your part to just embrace the weird and go with the story.

The experience has popped up in other cities, like Las Vegas, but the original was in Santa Fe. See where it all began, at times on your hands and knees.

Santa Fe

Come for Meow Wolf, but stay for the rest of it. New Mexico’s best city and the highest capital city in the United States just begs for more time.

Art enthusiasts will love the wealth of boutique art shops and galleries to choose from, and even the snobbiest foodies won’t be able to resist Santa Fe’s signature chili sauce.

Santa Fe is also home to the Palace of the Governors, the oldest state capital building in the country, and is one of the most walkable towns around. Tie up those laces and hit the pavement for your adventure, starting with Santa Fe Old Town.

Fun fact: Just 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe sits Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The Bureau of Land Management has been working diligently to not only improve visitor experiences there, but protect this natural resource for what it is: incredible volcanic formations you’d have to see to believe.

For a detailed guide to planning a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, check out my post on this vibrant city.

You’ll have an excellent time exploring Santa Fe on foot, but if you want a guided experience, check out these highly-rated options:

White Sands National Park

Despite the name, White Sands National Park is made up of gypsum crystals, not sand. Perhaps that’s what gives the park its signature glisten when you’re falling face-first into the dunes while sandboarding.

This place is otherworldly, but despite that, it’s one of the easiest parks in the national park system to see in one day.

That doesn’t mean you can’t spend more time here. You could spend hours finding your favorite dunes to practice those boarding skills on. It’s just compact and packs quite the punch in a smaller package.

Fun fact: Keep your eyes peeled while you’re there for wildlife. You’ll see interpretive signage throughout suggesting there are all kinds of critters lurking within the dunes.

Interested in a visit? Check out my detailed guide to White Sands.

More Places to Visit in New Mexico

More adventures await for those with more time in New Mexico. Here are a few additional ideas if you want as many options as possible:

• Bandelier National Monument: This archaeological site features cliff dwellings and ancient ruins of the Ancestral Puebloans, an ancient Native American culture. Start with the views from the Frey Trail and the history at Tyuonyi Village.
• Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness: This wilderness area is high on our list. Explore otherworldly rock formations, badlands, and hoodoos in what resembles an alien-like landscape. This option is more remote than the others, so plan accordingly.
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park: Chaco Canyon was a major cultural hub of the Ancestral Puebloans. Explore stone buildings like Pueblo Bonito and ceremonial kivas that date back to 850 A.D.
• Los Alamos: Los Alamos is known as the birthplace of the atomic bomb. Visit the Bradbury Science Museum to learn about the Manhattan Project. The nearby mesas and canyons also provide great hiking opportunities.
• Valley of Fires Recreation Area: Visit a lava field created by volcanic activity around 5,000 years ago. A boardwalk trail lets you walk through the rugged landscape of twisted black rock and desert flora.

New Mexico Travel Itineraries

If you have a full week in New Mexico, I have a few ideas for you.

Option 1: Classic New Mexico

• Day 1: Arrive in Albuquerque.
• Day 2: Explore Albuquerque.
• Day 3: Drive to Santa Fe.
• Day 4: Explore Santa Fe.
• Day 5: Drive to Taos.
• Day 6: Explore Taos Pueblo.
• Day 7: Depart from Albuquerque.

Option 2: New Mexico National Parks

• Day 1: Arrive in Albuquerque.
• Day 2: Drive to Carlsbad.
• Day 3: Explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
• Day 4: Drive to White Sands National Park.
• Day 5: Explore Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
• Day 6: Return to Albuquerque for Petroglyph National Monument.
• Day 7: Depart from Albuquerque.

Option 3: New Mexico City Break

• Day 1: Arrive in Albuquerque.
• Day 2: Explore Albuquerque.
• Day 3: Take a day trip to Acoma Pueblo.
• Day 4: Drive to Santa Fe.
• Day 5: Explore Santa Fe.
• Day 6: Take a day trip to Bandelier National Monument.
• Day 7: Depart from Albuquerque.

Interesting Facts About New Mexico

You already know New Mexico is quite enchanting. Part of that is its history and reputation as a place with quite a bit of quirk. Here are a few of my favorite fun facts about New Mexico:

• New Mexico has wine! There are over 50 wineries doing their thing across the state, fed by the Rio Grande. Many are close to the main city breaks like Santa Fe and Albuquerque for your convenience.
• Taos is known for its ski vacations, but it’s also a base for exploring Taos Pueblo, adobe dwellings that have been inhabited continuously for the last 1,000 years. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.
• If pueblos are your thing, you’ll want to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The site features one of the most impressive concentrations of pueblos this side of Mexico.
• The state’s largest forest is the Gila National Forest, the first wilderness area designated as such. Don’t miss Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, a site dedicated to preserving buildings inhabited by the Mogollon people.
• New Mexico boasts 35 state parks for you to explore. The newest is Cerrillos Hills State Park, and the name checks out. The hills in the park range in elevation from 6,000 to 6,900 feet, giving visitors ample hiking opportunities.

What to Pack to New Mexico

What to pack for New Mexico will depend a bit on when you’re going, but here are a few items that will cover the most popular New Mexico trip itineraries:

• Fashion Scarf: Pack a fun fashion scarf or two to tie around your neck to both protect against breezes and dress up casual tops. I find that they often pull together whatever I have going on in the moment.
• Flannels: Flannels are a great layering option if you’re not sure of the temps you’ll be dealing with on your trip. If you’re hitting up slightly hipster Albuquerque outside of the summer months, you’ll fit right in wearing your comfy flannel.
• Hiking Backpack: New Mexico is full of opportunities for outdoor pursuits. Hike prepared with a hiking backpack for all the essentials. We like Osprey packs these days. They’re lightweight with all kinds of pockets for everything you’ll need.
• Hiking Shoes: You’ve got the pack, so don’t forget the shoes. My favorite are the Altra brand for the extra toe room. They’re also weather-proof in case you run into any inclement weather.
• Sun Hat: Look all cute and protect your face on visits to New Mexico during the summer months with a fashionable sun hat. You want to be eating all of those chiles, not looking like one.

Famous Foods in New Mexico

New Mexico has always been a delicious stop for us on road trips in the region. It’s all quite indulgent, but when in New Mexico, do as the locals do with these delights:

• Biscochito
• Blue corn
• Breakfast burritos
• Carne adovada
• Chile relleno
• Christmas-style burritos
• Frito pie
• Green chile
• Posole
• Red chile

New Mexico Festivals & Special Events

If your New Mexico trip is happening during a specific time of year, consider whether there are any festivals or holidays occurring. You may want to attend special events or avoid them, as holidays often mean business closures.

Here are a few notable events:

• Roswell UFO Festival: Roswell is known for the “Roswell Incident,” a supposed UFO landing in 1947 and ensuing cover-up. Celebrate Roswell’s appreciation for all things alien at the Roswell UFO Festival, an event held over the 4th of July holiday.
• Fiestas de Santa Fe: Fiesta de Santa Fe is a cultural festival that’s been happening in Santa Fe for hundreds of years. Enjoy parades, revelry, and the burning of Zozobra, a 50-foot-tall marionette that represents people’s gloom and hardships.
• New Mexico State Fair: New Mexico’s annual state fair is all that you’d expect a great state fair to be. It has Western dressage, animal races, and aggressive eating of all the fried foods. It’s also one of the largest fairs in the country.
• Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: See hot air balloons dot the blue Albuquerque sky at this annual festival, the largest of its kind. It’s also an education into things like balloon rodeos.
• Festival of the Cranes: The annual Festival of the Cranes is a big deal for bird folks, as it marks the return of the elegant waterfowl back to their winter home. Go on a wildlife refuge tour or try out your best photography skills.

Where to Stay in New Mexico

Deciding where to stay on trips to New Mexico depends on your itinerary. We typically book based on a blend of efficiency and cost. Just make sure you’re booking well ahead of travel if you’re planning on visiting Albuquerque during the balloon festival.

Browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for your options based on your itinerary. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative if you want something with more amenities.

New Mexico is an impressive place.

New Mexico is known for its impressive landscapes, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and historical sites that tell the story of the Pueblo people. If you’re here for the eats, New Mexico’s food scene is just as diverse as its tourist attractions.

New Mexico cuisine is known for its heat. You’ll find red and green chiles competing for space at many eateries throughout the state.

We’ve only touched the surface of this one, but it’s at the top of our favorite states in the region for a reason.