Best Day Trips from Santa Fe, New Mexico
One of Santa Fe's great advantages is its location as a base for exploring northern New Mexico. Within a one- to two-hour drive, you'll find ancient cliff dwellings, dramatic river gorges, mountain villages, hot springs, and landscapes that have inspired artists for generations. Here are the day trips that locals recommend again and again.
The High Road to Taos
Distance: ~80 miles, 2–2.5 hours (one way)
Route: Take US-285 north to NM-503, then follow NM-76 through the mountain villages.
This winding mountain route passes through Chimayó, Truchas, Las Trampas, and Peñasco on its way to Taos. It's the scenic route — and it's spectacular. Stop at the Santuario de Chimayó (the "Lourdes of America"), browse the weaving shops in Chimayó, and take in the views of Truchas Peak from the village of Truchas (the setting for Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War). Return via the "Low Road" along the Rio Grande for a different perspective.
Taos
Distance: ~70 miles (Low Road), 1.5 hours
Taos is worth a full day or an overnight. Visit Taos Pueblo — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Walk across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, 650 feet above the river. Explore galleries and the Harwood Museum. In winter, Taos Ski Valley is one of the most challenging ski areas in the Southwest.
Bandelier National Monument
Distance: ~45 miles, about 1 hour
Ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings carved into volcanic tuff canyons. The main loop trail through Frijoles Canyon is accessible for most fitness levels and lets you climb ladders into actual cave dwellings. A profound, humbling experience. Go early to avoid crowds in summer — the access road sometimes closes when the parking lot fills.
Ghost Ranch and Abiquiú
Distance: ~55 miles, 1 hour
The landscape Georgia O'Keeffe made famous. Ghost Ranch is a 21,000-acre education and retreat center surrounded by dramatic red and yellow cliffs. Hiking trails lead to stunning viewpoints. Nearby, the village of Abiquiú is home to O'Keeffe's house and studio (tours available by reservation through the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum). Abiquiú Lake offers boating and fishing with a backdrop of multicolored mesas.
Jemez Mountains and Valles Caldera
Distance: ~60 miles, 1.5 hours
Take NM-4 through the Jemez Mountains past Bandelier and into the Valles Caldera National Preserve — a massive volcanic caldera that's now a pristine grass valley ringed by mountains. Continue down through the Jemez Valley to reach Jemez Hot Springs and the red rock canyon town of Jemez Springs. The full loop back through San Ysidro and Bernalillo makes a scenic all-day drive.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
Distance: ~40 miles, 45 minutes
Cone-shaped rock formations created by volcanic eruptions 6–7 million years ago, located on Cochiti Pueblo land. The slot canyon trail weaves through narrow passages between towering hoodoos to a mesa top with sweeping views. A geological wonder. Note: the Pueblo controls access and occasionally closes the monument for ceremonial purposes — check before you go.
Pecos National Historical Park
Distance: ~25 miles, 30 minutes east on I-25
Ruins of a once-great Pueblo that was a major trade center between the Rio Grande Pueblos and Plains tribes. A 1.25-mile trail loops through the mission church ruins and kivas. Less crowded than Bandelier, and an important piece of the region's history.