5 Fascinating Scenic Drives in New Mexico

1. New Mexico Scenic Drives: Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway

• Distance: About 140 miles, or a bit longer if you take some of the side routes
• Time needed: 4 hours to 2 days, depending on stops 

Named after Geronimo, the famous Chiricahua Apache warrior, this incredible New Mexico scenic byway will be enough to convince any traveler of the state’s unparalleled majestic beauty. 

The route starts and finishes in the Gila Wilderness and crosses through parts of the Chihuahuan Desert. You’ll be treated to cliffs lined with ponderosa pines, rugged desert, and the expansive skies New Mexico is famous for. 

There are three primary segments of the drive: the northern route, which begins in Beaverhead and leads to the Rio Grande, and the segment on the Rio Grande itself, which passes through historic towns like Truth or Consequences and Williamsburg. And the southern route, which cuts back west to finish in San Lorenzo. 

2. New Mexico Scenic Drives: Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway

• Distance: 132 miles for the whole loop
• Time needed: 3 hours to a day 

If you’re in northern New Mexico and looking for scenic drives near Santa Fe, then the Jemez Mountain Trail should be on your map.

Starting out in the quaint and picturesque town of Los Alamos, a bit north of Santa Fe, the trail brings you through high desert mountain scenery, past the dormant volcano crater at Valles Caldera National Preserve, and past historic Indian ruins. 

You can take the entire loop in a day, break it up into segments for a longer trip, or just drive part of it if you’re pressed for time. 

Some points of interest along the way include the Jémez Pueblo, one of several Native American pueblos in northern New Mexico. Nearby you’ll find the famous Jémez Springs, where you can take a dip in the natural thermal waters.

3. New Mexico Scenic Drives: Quebradas Backcountry Scenic Byway

• Distance: 22 miles 
• Time needed: 1-4 hours 

If you want to explore the rugged side of the Land of Enchantment, then check out this unpaved scenic drive in New Mexico. Crossing over the high desert dunes and cutting close to stunning canyons, you’ll get to experience the Wild West in a way unlike any other.

Since this drive doesn’t get much traffic, it also offers excellent chances for spotting wildlife. If you want to take a slight detour, you can also visit the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. 

One of the characteristic features of this New Mexico drive is the colorful rock formations and topographic landmarks created by erosion from the arroyos of the Rio Grande. 

When to go: Any time of year is good to drive this route, but because it’s unpaved, it’s best to check weather and road conditions before starting. 

4. New Mexico Scenic Drives: Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway

• Distance: 15 miles one way, 30 miles round-trip 
• Time needed: 30 minutes to a day, depending on exploration

Although this New Mexico scenic drive might not have as many miles as other routes, it certainly doesn’t fall short of incredible scenery.

Traversing the aspen and conifer forests near the Santa Fe Ski Basin, this is a perfect drive near Santa Fe either for a short afternoon excursion or a day of adventure if you want to hike, picnic, snowshoe, or even camp for the night. 

There are numerous trailheads found along the route, as well as pull-off spots where you can enjoy a picnic lunch or just get some photographs of the landscape. If you visit in the winter, many of the trails are converted into backwoods, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe routes. Downhill skiers can hit the slopes at Ski Santa Fe, where you can cruise down the snowy sides of Tesuque Peak. 

5. New Mexico Scenic Drives: El Camino Real National Scenic Byway 

• Distance: About 300 miles 
• Time needed: 8 hours to multiple days 

Also known as Route 66, this is one of the best-known scenic highways in New Mexico. Not only is the landscape stunning, but it’s also packed with history.

This was the route the Spanish explorer Don Juan de Onate used in 1598, and it crosses through villages with original colonial Spanish architecture as well as traditional Indian Pueblos, which were present before the arrival of the Spaniards. Although several adjustments have been made to the original route traveled by Onate, this NM scenic drive stays very accurate to history.

The Camino Real is an excellent pick for a Santa Fe scenic drive since you could either start or end the trip in the city. 

We’d recommend planning for at least two days for this particular drive on account of its length and the number of interesting places to stop along the way. 

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