New Mexico's roads deliver everything from Instagram-worthy desert vistas to white-knuckle mountain passes that'll have you gripping the steering wheel like your life depends on it (because sometimes it does). After driving most of these routes myself and collecting stories from fellow road trippers, I've assembled this guide to help you plan adventures ranging from easy Sunday drives to journeys that'll test your nerves and your car's transmission.
Start with these crowd-pleasers
Let's begin with drives that won't require therapy afterward. These routes offer maximum scenery with minimal stress, perfect for first-time visitors or anyone who prefers their adventures with guardrails.
The Turquoise Trail: Where mining ghosts meet artist spirits
The Turquoise Trail connecting Albuquerque and Santa Fe proves that sometimes the best route between two points isn't the interstate. This 52-65 mile journey through old mining territory serves up enough quirky attractions to fill an entire day.
Madrid (locals insist you pronounce it MAD-rid, not like the Spanish city) has transformed from coal mining company town to artist haven. The old company buildings now house galleries where you can buy everything from serious sculpture to yard art that makes you question humanity's creative impulses. Stop at the Mine Shaft Tavern for green chile cheeseburgers and live music on weekends.
Cerrillos keeps its Wild West vibe authentic, complete with dirt roads and the Casa Grande Trading Post where turquoise has been sold for over 100 years. The recently opened Cerrillos Hills State Park offers five miles of trails through 1,100 years of mining history, though calling them "trails" might be generous… they're more like suggestions of where previous hikers have wandered.
For a proper mountain fix, turn onto NM 536 near Cedar Crest. This spur road climbs 13.6 miles to Sandia Crest at 10,678 feet. Yes, there are about 20 switchbacks. No, your passengers won't enjoy them. The summit parking costs $5 (cash only, because apparently it's still 1987 up there), but the 360-degree views stretch 65 miles on clear days. Pro tip: bring a jacket even in summer. I learned this lesson while shivering in shorts one July afternoon.
White Sands: Nature's biggest sandbox
White Sands National Park delivers an otherworldly experience just 16 miles off US 70. The Dunes Drive starts with five civilized miles of pavement before transitioning to hard-packed gypsum sand that even your uncle's massive RV can handle.
Here's what they don't tell you in the brochures: sledding down these dunes is ridiculously fun for all ages. The visitor center sells plastic sleds for $24.99, and yes, you need the wax ($2.99) unless you enjoy walking back up after every two-foot slide. The Interdune Boardwalk provides a 650-yard accessible trail for those who prefer admiring the dunes to tumbling down them.
Sunset transforms the white gypsum into shades of pink and gold that'll max out your phone's storage. But here's the catch… the park occasionally closes for missile testing at the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. Nothing ruins a sunset photo shoot quite like finding the gates locked. Check the schedule before driving out there.
Pack water. Lots of water. One gallon per person minimum, because there's nothing available in the park except sand, beauty, and regret if you get dehydrated.
Route 66: America's Main Street (New Mexico edition)
New Mexico claims 535 miles of historic Route 66, though some stretches preserve the nostalgia better than others. The Tucumcari to Santa Rosa segment delivers concentrated Americana, complete with neon signs and motels that look frozen in 1955.
The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, built in 1939, still offers rooms with private garages… perfect for hiding your modern car while pretending you're driving a '57 Chevy. In Albuquerque, Central Avenue serves as the Route 66 corridor, passing the magnificently restored KiMo Theater. Fun fact: there's a spot where Route 66 crosses itself due to alignment changes over the years. Try explaining that one to your GPS.
My favorite Route 66 oddity? The Musical Road near Tijeras that plays "America the Beautiful" through rumble strips when you drive exactly 45 mph. Go faster or slower and it sounds like a dying moose. There's a metaphor in there somewhere about following directions.
Northern mountains: Where the air gets thin and the views get thick
These routes climb into serious elevation, delivering Spanish colonial history and alpine scenery. Pack layers, check your brakes, and prepare for some of New Mexico's most spectacular driving.
High Road to Taos: A journey through time
The High Road to Taos isn't just a scenic alternative to the main highway… it's a 56-mile journey through centuries of New Mexico history. The route climbs from 5,600 feet in Santa Fe to over 8,500 feet near Truchas, passing through villages that look largely unchanged since Spanish colonial times.
Chimayo's El Santuario draws 300,000 pilgrims annually to its healing dirt. Yes, dirt. People eat it, rub it on ailments, and carry it home in Ziploc bags. I'm not judging… I've got some in my glove compartment.
The village of Truchas perches on a ridge with views that'll make you forget you're supposed to be driving. This is where they filmed "The Milagro Beanfield War," and honestly, not much has changed since then. Las Trampas showcases the San José de Gracia church, built in 1760 and considered the best-preserved Spanish Colonial structure in the state.
Here's crucial information that could save your road trip: there are NO gas stations between Santa Fe and Taos on this route. None. Zero. Nada. Fill up before leaving NM-68 or NM-84, or prepare to coast down the mountain on fumes while your passengers remind you they suggested stopping for gas 40 miles ago.
The US Hill pullout on SR 518 frames Wheeler Peak perfectly, assuming you can find parking among the other photographers. The whole drive takes 2.5-3 hours without stops, but you'll want a full day to explore properly. Cell service vanishes for long stretches, so download offline maps unless you enjoy the adventure of being genuinely lost.
Enchanted Circle: New Mexico's alpine loop
The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway creates an 83-mile loop around Wheeler Peak, the state's highest point at 13,161 feet. Unlike the High Road, this route offers gas stations in each town, though cell coverage still plays hide-and-seek in the mountain passes.
Starting from Taos, you'll climb through Palo Flechado Pass at 9,101 feet before dropping into Angel Fire. The resort town's chairlift operates year-round, hauling visitors to 10,677 feet for views that'll make your vertigo kick in. Red River preserves its mining town character while adding ski slopes and enough fudge shops to induce diabetic coma.
The Moreno Valley between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire provides New Mexico's best elk viewing. These massive creatures seem to know they're photogenic, often posing in perfect morning light. Dawn and dusk offer peak wildlife activity, though this means sharing the road with elk who haven't quite grasped traffic laws.
Fall colors peak from late September to early October, with aspen groves turning the mountainsides gold. Every photographer in the Southwest descends on the valley during peak foliage, so either embrace the crowds or visit a week later when the leaves are slightly past prime but the parking's easier.
Key elevations for those who track such things:
- Palo Flechado Pass: 9,101 feet
- Bobcat Pass (above Red River): 9,820 feet
- Eagle Nest: 8,300 feet
- Angel Fire base: 8,382 feet
Southern adventures: Desert floors to mountain peaks
Southern New Mexico serves up dramatic elevation changes, from white sand dunes at 4,000 feet to mountain passes cresting 8,800 feet. These drives showcase the state's geological diversity, though some demand serious driving skills.
Gila Cliff Dwellings: Not for the faint of heart
Let me be crystal clear: the drive to Gila Cliff Dwellings via NM 15 isn't just challenging… it's 44 miles of automotive anxiety. The first 25 miles feature narrow lanes without center lines, grades of 10-12%, and curves where the speed limit drops to 15 mph for excellent reasons.
Vehicles over 20 feet or those pulling trailers should take the alternate route via NM 152 and NM 35. This adds 30 minutes but subtracts years from your life expectancy. Trust me, your marriage/friendship will survive better on the longer route.
Here's what you're signing up for: no cell service from Silver City until you return, and no gas stations along the route. The 700-year-old Mogollon cliff structures at the end justify the journey, but this drive requires preparation, patience, and possibly a pre-drive meditation session.
For a slightly tamer mountain experience, NM 152 crosses Emory Pass at 8,828 feet. The historic mining town of Kingston (current population: 32, peak population: 7,000) provides a glimpse into boom-and-bust mining history without quite as many hairpin turns.
Very Large Array: Science fiction meets reality
The Very Large Array creates an unexpected destination 52 miles west of Socorro. These 27 radio telescope dishes, each 82 feet in diameter, scan deep space while providing a backdrop that screams "alien contact imminent."
The visitor center ($6 admission) explains how these dishes work together to create a telescope effectively 22 miles across. Self-guided walking tours cover half a mile of mixed surfaces. Guided tours run the first and third Saturdays at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Important note: all electronic devices must switch to airplane mode on site. The telescopes are so sensitive they can detect a cell phone on Jupiter (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea).
Combine this drive with Bosque del Apache, especially from November through February when 15,000+ sandhill cranes and 20,000+ snow geese create one of North America's greatest wildlife spectacles. Morning fly-outs sound like nature's own symphony, assuming you can drag yourself out of bed before dawn.
Hidden gems for the adventurous
These lesser-known routes reward those willing to venture beyond the tourist trail. Some require high-clearance vehicles, all require a sense of adventure.
Cuba Badlands: New Mexico's secret wonderland
NM 96 between Abiquiu and Cuba hides some of the state's most spectacular geology. The Cuba Badlands spread across five mesa areas, featuring hoodoo-filled canyons and iron concretions up to five feet across that look like alien eggs.
Access requires turning off US 550 onto NM 197 at Cuba's south end. Some areas demand high-clearance 4WD vehicles, and there are no marked trails or water sources. This is wilderness exploration in its purest form… bring maps, water, and common sense.
Mesa Chijuilla offers the most accessible wonders, with bright orange-red boulders contrasting against white shale walls. Just remember: no Instagram photo is worth getting your rental sedan stuck in a sandy wash.
Sunspot Scenic Byway: Touch the sky
This 14-16 mile climb from Cloudcroft reaches the Sacramento Mountains rim. The Sunspot highway features planet signs using a 1:250 million scale model of our solar system. By the time you reach Pluto, you'll understand just how empty space really is.
Haynes Canyon Vista provides views dropping 5,000 feet to the valley floor, with White Sands visible as a white slash across the desert. Both Apache Point Observatory and the National Solar Observatory offer tours, though schedules vary seasonally.
Essential planning tips that could save your trip
After countless miles on New Mexico roads (and a few mishaps I'd rather forget), here's the practical wisdom:
Gas station reality check: Remote routes like the High Road to Taos, Gila NM 15, and sections of NM 12 can stretch 70+ miles between stations. That quarter tank isn't enough, no matter what your optimistic calculations suggest.
Cell phone dead zones: Download offline maps before leaving civilization. Major coverage gaps include the Gila Wilderness, most of the High Road, mountain passes on the Enchanted Circle, and basically anywhere scenic enough to photograph.
Seasonal considerations matter:
- Winter (November-March): Mountain passes above 8,000 feet may require chains or 4WD
- Monsoon season (July-September): Afternoon thunderstorms and flash flood risks
- October: Generally perfect statewide
- Fall colors: Late September through mid-October in northern mountains
Wildlife encounters: Dawn and dusk bring animals to roadsides. Elk in the Moreno Valley and Valles Caldera, bighorn sheep in the Organ Mountains, and sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache all follow predictable patterns. Drive accordingly.
New Mexico's scenic drives range from mellow cruise-friendly highways to routes that'll test your driving skills and your deodorant. Whether you're seeking Spanish colonial history, geological wonders, or simply a beautiful drive, the Land of Enchantment delivers. Just remember to fill your gas tank, download those maps, and embrace the journey… even when your GPS insists you've driven off the edge of the earth.
