Day Trips
The Best of 2024
Want to fill a free day with a fun day exploring other parts of New Mexico while visiting Santa Fe? We have a couple of fun options for both shorter trips or longer trips.
Day Trips
The Best of 2024
Scenic Day Trip to Taos
If you have a free day and need something to do, think about spending the day on the scenic byway to Taos. You could make the trip there in back in only a couple of hours or it could take your 7-8 hours depending on how much time you have and how many stops you make!
If you're looking for good souvenirs from New Mexico, there are plenty of shops along the scenic route to shop at.
Once you are in Taos, there are plenty restaurants to eat at, hot springs to visit, and galleries and museums to explore.
You can cater this day trip to your exact needs!
Short Trip to Chimayo
Chimayo is a short drive from Santa Fe, at a little over half an hour. Chimayo is the perfect town to visit if you need to fill half of your day.
The main attraction in Chimayo is the Roman Catholic Church and Shrine, Santuario de Chimayo which is said to have healing powers. The church recieves more than 300,000 visitors each year.
Day Trip to Rio Grande Gorge
If you were to take a drive up to to the Rio Grande Gorge, you could drive along 74 miles of river which used to be volcanic lava. No matter the time of year, this is a beautiful place to visit. The Rio Grande Bridge is one of the highest bridges in the United States highway systems. Walking this bridge is scary- but fun! If you were to do this day trip in the warmer months, there are lots of fun adventures, such as rafting the Rio Grande, but there is always beautiful hiking in the surrounding areas.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is located 12 miles north of Taos if you wanted to combine these two trips into one spectacular one!
Los Alamos and Jemez Mountain Trail
What's a better way to spend a day than visiting pueblos, ruins, the atomic bomb, volcanos, and hot springs all in one trip? In a 160 mile round trip to Los Alamos and the Jemez Mountain Trail you can experience all of these adventures in just one day!
Here are all of the stops you will make:
1) San Ildefonso Pueblo
2) Santa Clara Pueblo
3) Tsankawi Mesa and Frijoles Canyon. These will take you to two different places of Bandelier National Monument to see ruins.
4) Bradbury Science Museum where you will see the making of the atomic bomb and current research.
5) Valle Grande which is one of the worlds largest calderas eras from a crater from one million years ago.
6) Jemez Springs where you can relax and soak in public tubs.
7) Jemez State Monument where you can see more Indian Ruins.
8) Coronado State Monument
9) Back to La Fonda on the Plaza
Pueblos
Here are some Pueblos that are close to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
NAMBE PUEBLO: Located 18 miles north of Santa Fe, off U.S. 84/285 and N.M. 503
(505)445-2036
OHKAY OWINGEH: Located 25 miles north of Santa Fe on U.S. 84/285 then five miles north of Espanola off N.M. 68.
(505) 852-4400
PICURIS PUEBLO: Located in Peñasco, 60 miles north of Santa Fe on N.M. 68 then 13 miles east of the junction at Embudo 75.
(575) 587-2519
POJOAQUE PUEBLO: Located 15 miles north of Santa Fe, on U.S. 84/285.
(505) 455-2278
SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO: Located 23 miles north of Santa Fe on U.S. 84/285 then west on N.M. 502.
(505) 455-3549
SANTA CLARA PUEBLO: Located 1.5 miles south of Espanola, via U.S. 84/285 then off N.M. 30.
505) 753-7326
TAOS PUEBLO: Located in Taos 68 miles north of Santa Fe, then 2.5 miles north of the Taos Plaza on U.S. 64.
(505) 758-1028
TESUQUE PUEBLO: Located 10 miles north of Santa Fe off U.S. 84/285.
(505) 983-2667/505-988-3620