White Sands National Park is less than an hour and a half from Ruidoso and under an hour from Las Cruces. Far from the shores of Caribbean beaches where it's typically found, the pure white sands of the White Sands National Monument make for one of the most unique day trips from Santa Fe. Want to plan the trip back? But once you step out of the car and walk a few steps into the park, you get caught in the rhythm of the faded skies and paled-out grounds. Here youll discover the untold beauty of the Jemez Mountains that are surrounded by desert, grasslands and lakes. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Its already lit up (so you dont need to bring a flashlight) and for the most part, its wheelchair accessible. You also have all the dining options, amenities and attractions of Alamogordo within a short walk or drive of the hotel. This itinerary packs some of New Mexico's many highlights and our favourite hidden gems into a whirlwind 2-week road trip, including the spectacular White Sands National Park; local cuisine-hot spots in Sante Fe and Albuquerque; the abundant hot springs of Truth or Consequences; and the bizarre hoodoos of the Bisti Badlands. Sure thing! There are so many US southwest vacation ideas to see unique deserts, mountains, and canyons carved by rivers. About halfway between Truth or Consequences and the last stop on this road trip, stop in Hatch to fill up on these flavorful peppers. Albuquerque is well known for hosting the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each October, but theres so much more to see and do before hitting the road and heading south. and answers related to White Sands. In late summer, look for patches of bright yellow prairie sunflowers. And it is a rather pretty drive, except between Alamogordo and Carrizozo. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. If you were to drive nonstop, it would take about 3 hours driving roughly 244 miles straight to White Sands. Started in VA last December and headed south first. Corona The source of inspiration for a number of artists over the years on account of its beauty, Taos hosts frequent art fairs and is home to the prestigious Taos Art Museum, making it a veritable haven for artists from all over the country. Use table below for information on driving distances and approximate drive time from Albuquerque to selected US National Parks. Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area, a not-so-easy day trip from Albuquerque, is a slice of badlands and hoodoos piped with fossils. So if youre a hiking enthusiast and you have the right gear, its worth a drive out in spring or fall. LazyTrips is a trading name of Strategy Desk Ltd. Get the reverse directions for a The 1,310-mile road trip from Austin to Phoenix will take 21 hours and 30 minutes to drive nonstop. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-52193385', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');White Sands also from Las Cruces. Albuquerque to White Sands drive - plan a road trip Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Albuquerque to White Sands. The guest rooms are cozy self-contained casitas and studios, some with a fireplace, which is ideal if you're visiting during the cooler months. When I first visited Santa Rosa, I treated it as a drive-by stop, a place to fill up gas and stretch my legs whilst on-route to ABQ. Located in the small town of Belen, about 35 miles south of Albuquerque, is the Belen Harvey House Museum. Or stroll through Albuquerques historic Old Town, where adobe buildings and the beautiful San Felipe de Neri Church date to the late 1700s. This covers 425 miles, with a driving time of 7 hours and 15 minutes non-stop. Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions Find all the transport options for your trip from Albuquerque to White Sands National Monument right here. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the There are a few trails in-and-around White Sands. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in White Sands National Monument? Top 14 road trips from White Sands. Travel back in time by visiting the Petroglyph National Monument and hiking along volcanic rocks decorated with prehistoric images of animals and scenes of everyday life chiseled by an ancient civilization. because there's an entire community of travelers talking Theres often a long wait to enjoy the dishes created by James Beard semifinalists Josie and Teako Nunn, but taking in the quirky decor inside and outside the establishment will keep you busy until your food arrives. The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state special education school with a residential campus in Alamogordo, New Mexico and a preschool in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around Veterans Memorial Park, or admire the massive carved wooden sculpture Dineh at Apodaca Park. White Sands is tucked in an out of the way valley, so much of the drive is through sparsely populated desert and mountains, plus the occasional small town. As always, I love hearing from you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Even though both routes are relatively short and could be driven in a day or two, we would recommend allowing three or four days for your road trip, so you have ample time to explore. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities. Via: Where should I stop along the way? The name is Spanish for The Crosses, and there are several theories about how Las Cruces got its name. So many adventures and stories along the way. I would stay over in Alamogordo then take US54, Us380, and I-25 to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? White Sands National Park . Situated along the renowned Route 66, this is a really fun day trip that will liven up your Albaquerque trip. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Exploring the cool white gypsum dunes of this natural wonder is truly a unique experience. Especially the photo of the river and mountains at the very top of your article. Then explore the exhibits that detail the work being conducted on-site and take a self-guided tour to the base of one of the massive dishes. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 11:55 amdrive for about 1.5 hours, 1:16 pm Cloudcroft While 54 and 380 are two lanes, the traffic isn't particularly heavy, and a lot of 54 is 4 lanes now. So its not surprising that the organization seeking to make space travel as accessible to all as air travel is today is located here. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. travelers and answer their questions about Albuquerque! Source: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz / shutterstock, Source: Bas van den Heuvel / shutterstock, Best Hotels in Albuquerque, New Mexico (NM), 40 Places to See in California Before Your Kids Are All Grown Up, 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, 25 Most Beautiful Medieval Castles in the World, 15 Best Things to Do in Middleborough (MA). If you're planning a road trip to White Sands, you can research locations to stop along the way. Then drive for about 30 minutes. Outside of San Antonio is the Hill Country. Starting from Albuquerque, you can leave at 7:00 am and drive for about 10 minutes to the first stop. A trip to Jemez Springs will have you feeling like youve just stepped into the true Wild West, surrounded by red rock formations and dusty grasslands that are reminiscent of some of the worlds favourite Westerns. The social distance requirement in White Sands National Monument is 2 metres. White Sands National Park is composed of 145,762 acres of white sand made of gypsum crystals, thus giving it its white appearance. trip dates & more! The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a museum and planetarium complex in Alamogordo, New Mexico, dedicated to artifacts and displays related to space flight and the space age. This is one of the most remote areas of New Mexico thats still publicly accessible (I recommend a 4 wheel drive for this day trip). At a very toasty range between 98 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the geothermal waters in Truth or Consequences are said to cure " any and all ails ". Hike the extensive trails, pack a picnic, and try your hand at sand-sledding. Camping along the way? most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. and answers related to White Sands. 5. Although you can find red and green chiles on nearly every menu and decorating license plates all over the state, the little town of Hatch is the official Chile Capital of the World. I plant weekly travel stories on Passport To Eden and I'm so excited that you're visiting (*reaches out for a giant bear hug*). change route. Or get a full Albuquerque NM to White Sands flight plan. You then continue west until you reach Pojoaque, where you turn left and head towards Santa Fe, passing by some spectacular mountain peaks along the way. About 50 miles west of Socorro, stop at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory to see the Very Large Array (VLA), one of the most advanced radio telescope arrays on Earth. Make sure you check road conditions View the steepness of roads from Albuquerque to White Sands and check the elevation or altitude along the way. . Find pet-friendly stops. Going back to Las Cruces on US70, then I-25 is 337 miles. Id suggest driving from ABQ to Bloomfield and then following resources for directions from there (side note: try to fill up gas in either Farmington or Bloomfield). This route is ideal if you want to discover New Mexico's stunning natural landscape and fascinating history, along with some charming small towns. While Roswell is known for its alien kitsch, there is a place far more unreal on the other side of New Mexico. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. But after spending a day in Santa Rosa, I truly believe this is one of the best day trips from Albuquerque. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. The Museum of Space History highlights the role that New Mexico has had in the U. S. space program, and is one of eight museums administered by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Last updated: 11 Jan 2023 Worth it. Nonstop drive: 243 miles or 391 km Driving time: 3 hours, 28 minutes Realistically, you'll probably want to add a buffer for rest stops, gas, or food along the way. 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