Many people fly into Albuquerque then rarely venture beyond the city limits. Sure, there’s plenty to do in Duke City, but to really appreciate New Mexico, you need to head further afield. Don’t worry about figuring out a route, because we’ve done the planning for you. All you have to do is grab some snacks and gas up the car!
This road trip will be part of a series that focuses on the different sections of our expansive state. Some of the stops here venture beyond the technical boundaries of “central” New Mexico, but I’ve described it this way because the route travels around the middle of the state.
The drive time for this loop is 6 hours and 33 minutes and it covers 371 miles of gorgeous New Mexican landscape. You also need to leave time to actually explore these destinations, so that’ll determine how long the trip takes. Personally, I’d allow two days, with one overnight stop, to hit all the highlights without feeling rushed. I’ve included a few optional attractions that you can add on if you want.
This trip begins in Albuquerque and moves east along the route shown. Here is the Google map with detailed driving directions.
- Frontier Restaurant, 2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Flickr/Ushlambad
Yelp/Rachel R. This restaurant has been around since 1971 and has a cult following. If you want an early start, Frontier Restaurant is the place to be. Grab a breakfast burrito to give you energy for the trip ahead and perhaps a sweet roll for the ride! (If you haven’t already seen this stretch of Central Ave, a.k.a Route 66, you can always detour along it for a few miles before taking I-40 East to start the loop.)
Optional: Quarai Ruin
Flickr/BriYYZ Once you reach the town of Mountainair, it’s easy to drive an additional 8.5 miles to Quarai. (Take NM-55 north then make a left onto Co Rd B076). Three ruins form the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. If this part of history intrigues you or you want to see all three sites, by all means take this detour. Quarai and Abó are somewhat similar, which is why this is optional.
- Abó Ruins Salinas National Monument Historical Marker, Mountainair, NM 87036
Flickr/Jasperdo Native American tribes lived in the Salinas Valley for thousands of years and it was one of the most populated areas in the Southwest. Then, during the 17th century, Franciscan missionaries arrived and constructed huge churches in the existing pueblos. Native American women and children were actually the ones to build the mission structures. By the 1670s, everyone abandoned the region due to severe drought. It’s worth noting that these missions were built more than one hundred years before the California missions. The church of San Gregorio is the highlight of this ruin. Abó is also the only one of these missions with petroglyphs. (Ask a ranger for directions to them.)
- Gran Quivira, 4030 Gran Quivira, Mountainair, NM 87036
Flickr/Lane B Gran Quivira (or Las Humanas) is the largest of these missions. Mound 7 - the one completely excavated structure - contains 226 rooms!
Optional: The Ghost Town of White Oaks
Wikimedia Commons/Plazak at en.wikipedia White Oaks boomed when gold was discovered in Baxter Mountain. Once upon a time, this was a party town packed with brothels and saloons. (Before you reach Carrizozo, turn off US-54 onto NM-349/White Oaks Hwy.)
- Valley of Fires Recreation Area, 6158 US Highway 380, Carrizozo, NM 88301
Flickr/mwwile There aren’t many places in the U.S. where you can experience a lava flow! The lava here didn’t come from one volcanic explosion. Instead, it surged up through vents in the earth. Stretch your legs with a hike through this unique landscape.
- Owl Bar and Cafe, 77 US-380, San Antonio, NM 87832
Yelp/Mark H.
Yelp/Brian M. San Antonio is a town known for its green chile cheeseburger rivalry. Refuel at either the Owl Bar and Cafe or Buckhorn Tavern.
- Bosque Del Apache Visitor Center, 1001 New Mexico 1, San Antonio, NM 87832
Flickr/Diana Robinson
Flickr/John Fowler
This is arguably the most incredible birding spot in the Southwest. Thousands of waterfowl pause here during migration seasons. But there’s plenty of wildlife throughout the year, from bobcats and deer to javelina.
Optional: Very Large Array
Flickr/mnchilemom This detour adds 100-miles round trip to the drive, so it’s not for everyone. Still, the sight of these 27 massive dishes dominating the sky is unforgettable. (Stop in Socorro and take US-60 W for 45 miles then make a left on NM-52 S, turn right onto Old Hwy 60.)
- Petroglyph National Monument, 6510 Western Trail Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87120
Flickr/Michele
Flickr/FalkonV311
Pause at the visitor center to get your bearings and absorb the panoramic views or head straight to Boca Negra Canyon. You can walk right up the park’s extensive petroglyphs. This is the easiest place to see multiple petroglyphs in a relatively short amount of time. If you want to explore in greater depth, Piedras Marcadas Canyon and Rinconada Canyon have even more petroglyphs spread out over longer, rougher trails.
- Albuquerque, NM
Flickr/Robert Adams End your journey back in central Albuquerque at one of the city’s many stellar restaurants. Pasion Latin Fusion (722 Lomas Blvd NW) and Vinaigrette (1828 Central Ave SW) are two of my personal favorites.
That’s all folks! Your road trip is complete. So, what do you think of this route? And which other New Mexican road trips would you like to try?
Flickr/Ushlambad
Yelp/Rachel R.
This restaurant has been around since 1971 and has a cult following. If you want an early start, Frontier Restaurant is the place to be. Grab a breakfast burrito to give you energy for the trip ahead and perhaps a sweet roll for the ride! (If you haven’t already seen this stretch of Central Ave, a.k.a Route 66, you can always detour along it for a few miles before taking I-40 East to start the loop.)
Flickr/BriYYZ
Once you reach the town of Mountainair, it’s easy to drive an additional 8.5 miles to Quarai. (Take NM-55 north then make a left onto Co Rd B076). Three ruins form the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. If this part of history intrigues you or you want to see all three sites, by all means take this detour. Quarai and Abó are somewhat similar, which is why this is optional.
Flickr/Jasperdo
Native American tribes lived in the Salinas Valley for thousands of years and it was one of the most populated areas in the Southwest. Then, during the 17th century, Franciscan missionaries arrived and constructed huge churches in the existing pueblos. Native American women and children were actually the ones to build the mission structures. By the 1670s, everyone abandoned the region due to severe drought. It’s worth noting that these missions were built more than one hundred years before the California missions. The church of San Gregorio is the highlight of this ruin. Abó is also the only one of these missions with petroglyphs. (Ask a ranger for directions to them.)
Flickr/Lane B
Gran Quivira (or Las Humanas) is the largest of these missions. Mound 7 - the one completely excavated structure - contains 226 rooms!
Wikimedia Commons/Plazak at en.wikipedia
White Oaks boomed when gold was discovered in Baxter Mountain. Once upon a time, this was a party town packed with brothels and saloons. (Before you reach Carrizozo, turn off US-54 onto NM-349/White Oaks Hwy.)
Flickr/mwwile
There aren’t many places in the U.S. where you can experience a lava flow! The lava here didn’t come from one volcanic explosion. Instead, it surged up through vents in the earth. Stretch your legs with a hike through this unique landscape.
Yelp/Mark H.
Yelp/Brian M.
San Antonio is a town known for its green chile cheeseburger rivalry. Refuel at either the Owl Bar and Cafe or Buckhorn Tavern.
Flickr/Diana Robinson
Flickr/John Fowler
This is arguably the most incredible birding spot in the Southwest. Thousands of waterfowl pause here during migration seasons. But there’s plenty of wildlife throughout the year, from bobcats and deer to javelina.
Flickr/mnchilemom
This detour adds 100-miles round trip to the drive, so it’s not for everyone. Still, the sight of these 27 massive dishes dominating the sky is unforgettable. (Stop in Socorro and take US-60 W for 45 miles then make a left on NM-52 S, turn right onto Old Hwy 60.)
Flickr/Michele
Flickr/FalkonV311
Pause at the visitor center to get your bearings and absorb the panoramic views or head straight to Boca Negra Canyon. You can walk right up the park’s extensive petroglyphs. This is the easiest place to see multiple petroglyphs in a relatively short amount of time. If you want to explore in greater depth, Piedras Marcadas Canyon and Rinconada Canyon have even more petroglyphs spread out over longer, rougher trails.
Flickr/Robert Adams
End your journey back in central Albuquerque at one of the city’s many stellar restaurants. Pasion Latin Fusion (722 Lomas Blvd NW) and Vinaigrette (1828 Central Ave SW) are two of my personal favorites.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: 6510 Western Trail Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87120Address: 2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106Address: 4030 Gran Quivira, Mountainair, NM 87036Address: 6158 US Highway 380, Carrizozo, NM 88301Address: 77 US-380, San Antonio, NM 87832Address: 1001 New Mexico 1, San Antonio, NM 87832
