Five Amazing Day Trips: New Mexico

From sweeping deserts to incredible mountain ranges and stunning cultural sites, New Mexico has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Along with its unique geology, you’ll find incredible food and friendly locals in every city and town. The fifth largest state has two national parks that you have to see to believe— Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands. Each of the seven travel regions has gorgeous scenic drives leading to small towns that retain their distinctive identities. A few days in each of the major cities and a road trip is required to truly appreciate everything that this Southwestern state has to offer. Our day trip recommendations start in Albuquerque and showcase some of the best destinations within a reasonable distance.

Here are five great day trips in the Land of Enchantment:

Bandalier National Monument (Parks & Recreation)

Bandalier National Monument is located 100 miles north of Albuquerque. The 33,000-acre park protects and preserves ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people dating back 11,000 years. The monument also contains a mystery— the people who lived here disappeared about 450 years ago. Stop at the visitor center for a short introductory film in addition to a small museum with pottery, tools, and artifacts. The Main Loop Trail (1.4 miles) leads you through excavated archaeological sites on the floor of Frijoles Canyon. Ladders along the trail allow visitors to climb into the caves to experience the dwellings for themselves. If you have more time, the Tsankawi section of the park, 12 miles from the main trail, offers a 1.5-mile mesa-top walk to view petroglyphs and a large unexcavated Ancestral Pueblo village.

Las Vegas (Small Town Experience)

Las Vegas, New Mexico, is a town full of history where “landmarks, legends and lore” come to life. At one time it was the largest city on the Santa Fe Trail and the first major stop on the journey to the Wild West. There are five distinct historic districts and over 900 buildings listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. From the indigenous adobe architecture to the machine-age International style, Las Vegas showcases nearly every important architectural residential style built in the United States between 1840 and 1960. Take a walk through the districts on a self-guided tour and see how many of the different styles you can find! After you have explored downtown, head to the Fort Union National Monument, a preserved frontier outpost (and the ruins of another) from the early days of American settlement. Here you can also see the visible ruts left from wagon wheels on the Old Santa Fe Trail.

Santa Fe (Tours & Experiences)

One of the most popular day trips from Albuquerque, Santa Fe is full of history and culture. New Mexico’s capital is known for its cultural heritage, art scene, and adobe-style architecture. The city blends the old and new— and a walking tour offered by volunteers from the New Mexico History Museum is a great way to learn about the history and incredible true stories, colorful characters, and unique places that make Santa Fe “The City Different.” After your tour, do some shopping in Historic Santa Fe Plaza— in the two square miles that surround the heart of downtown, there are more than 200 art galleries! Then we recommend having lunch at La Plazuela at La Fonda for authentic New Mexican cuisine.

Socorro (Museums & Attractions)

The charming small town of Socorro, rich with culture and history, is 75 miles south of Albuquerque. There is no shortage of things to see and do with art galleries, music venues, and plenty of outdoor recreation, including biking, hiking, and rock climbing. This day trip focuses on the science and technology in the region with a visit to the Very Large Array (VLA). The VLA is comprised of 27 radio telescopes spread across the plains west of Socorro. It is a premier research facility that has daily self-guided walking tours and allows you to meet the scientists during guided tours on the first Saturday of every month. The onsite visitor center offers displays and videos that educate about radio astronomy and the VLA telescope. Besides being an extremely unique facility, this will probably be your only chance to visit the world’s premier astronomical radio observatory.

Taos Pueblo (Tours & Experiences)

Taos is an artist colony, full of galleries, museums, and historic adobe buildings. The high elevation town is a popular destination into the winter season due to its access to nearby ski resorts. Our day trip takes you one mile north of town to Taos Pueblo, an ancient pueblo still inhabited by a Native American tribe of Puebloan people. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the U.S. The adobe dwellings were built about 1,000 years ago, and about 150 people currently live there full-time. They welcome visitors and provide guided tours of the community and some of the buildings, with the opportunity to talk to the residents, try some local foods, and learn about this unique community. Don’t forget your camera, the photos will be amazing!!

**Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hours at attractions may be limited. Make sure to check the websites and add to your list for future travels!