New Mexico Road Trip with Kids Itinerary (6 nights)

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New Mexico is a beautiful state offerings deserts, dunes, mountains and loads of culture. This itinerary will offer you a snapshot of Albuquerque and the southern part of the state.

Getting there:

Depending on where you are coming from, it may make sense to road trip from your home in your own car. If you’re coming from the West Coast, there are ample opportunities to hit up some other National Parks along the way to enhance this itinerary. A few suggestions to consider: Grand Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park.

We opted to fly into Albuquerque Sunport International Airport (ABQ) and rent a car at the airport as we had limited time for this road trip.

Day 1:

This will be your travel day and arrival in Albuquerque if you arrive by plane. Today, you will drive from Albuquerque to Alamogordo. If you arrive late, grab a quick dinner in Los Lunas (mostly fast food and fast casual) and continue driving.

Accommodation recommendation: Home2 Suites Alamogordo

Approximate drive time: about 3 hours (200 miles)

Day 2:

If you got into the hotel late, have a lazy morning and then explore town. Consider visiting McGinn’s Pistachioland, home to the world’s largest pistachio. Sample various flavored pistachios, grab an ice cream and consider taking the farm tour. The tour is very basic but you may learn a thing or two about pistachios!

After, check out the Alameda Park Zoo. This park was founded as a deer park at the train station in the late 1890s as a place to entertain passengers while the train refueled. Now, it is a small animal park that houses many rescued or injured animals in hopes of reintroducing them into the wild. There is also a playground here and lots of open space for kids to run around.

Have lunch and then head south towards White Sands National Park. Going this time of day will be busy but you can easily drive the 8-mile Dunes Drive to get acclimated to the park and maybe stop at the Interdune Boardwalk to explore. Before you leave, consider swinging by the Visitor’s Center and buying a sled.

If the kids are in a good mood, stay for an epic sunset.

NOTE: I highly recommend 2 nights in Alamogordo as a buffer. This park is subject to last-minute closures due to missile testing at the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. This closes Highway 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo. Check the White Sands National Park website a day or two in advance to see if there are any planned closures. 

Day 3:

Today is a short travel day but a great opportunity to get one more visit to the park. Now that you have the lay of the land at White Sands National Park and you bought a sled yesterday, head to the park at opening time (usually 7am but check the National Park website to confirm). Enjoy the park in solitude with minimal crowds. This is a great time to sled but since the Visitor’s Center doesn’t open until 9am, you will have an advantage over others who are visiting for the first time. There is no designated sledding spot. Just find a dune, wax up your sled and go! If you need a break from the adrenaline, try out the Dune Life Nature Trail for a sandy walk to learn about the creatures and plants of the desert.

When park time is wrapped, you will drive across Lincoln National Forest and then through some small town on the way to Carlsbad. A great place to stop for lunch is the mountain town of Cloudcroft. Dotted with restaurants and shops, this is a great stopping point before the next stretch which is pretty barren. If you need another stop, Kith+Kin Roasting Company in Artesia had a vast coffee, food and dessert menu including homemade ice cream.

Once in Carlsbad, you’ll find mostly fast food and taquerias for food options.

Accommodation Recommendation: Hyatt House Carlsbad

Approximate drive time: 2 hours, 45 minutes (150 miles)

Day 4:

Book tickets for Carlsbad Caverns on this day. Opt for an earlier entry time and plan to spend about 2-3 hours there between the self-guided tours and the exhibits. There is a cafeteria on-site and it is recommended to grab something here unless you have packed lunch. After exploring the caverns, head south and tick off another national park by visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

If you end up with extra time in Carlsbad, consider visiting Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park.

Approximate drive time round trip (both parks): 1 hour, 45 minutes (100 miles)

Day 5:

As you head back north towards Albuquerque, you can spend a bit of time in the famous city of Roswell, New Mexico. With kids, it will be a brief visit but a good place to stretch legs and take a few fun photos. Roswell is home to lots of museum, many of them free, so take a look ahead of time and have a plan of what you want to check out. The International UFO Museum and Research Center was fairly inexpensive but my 3 year old was a bit scared by it.

Between Roswell and Albuquerque, you will not find a lot of food options so, if time allows, consider grabbing lunch in Roswell. Other than that, you may find an occasional diner or a gas station with some sort of food spot attached.

Today is a great day to book the Sandia Peak Tramway.  Tickets only go on sale a day or two in advance due to weather. If you can score afternoon/evening tickets for tonight, this is a good plan but you will need to stay on a tight timeline as today is the longest drive. You could also book dinner at the top of Sandia Peak at TEN 3 (make reservations in advance for Thursday-Monday with seatings between 5-7pm).

At the end of the day, make your way to Albuquerque’s Old Town for your accommodation.

Accommodation Recommendation: Hotel Chaco or this AirBnB 3-bedroom house

Approximate drive time: 4 hours (275 miles)

Day 6:

Albuquerque has so much to explore so pick a few sights that catch your eye and plan around that. A few suggestions:

• Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum – it is only right to check out this spot when you’re in the “Hot Air Ballooning Capital of the World.” Exhibits that both children and adults willequally enjoy.
• ABQ Biopark – a zoo, botanical garden and aquarium in one.
• American International Rattlesnake Museum – have a child who loves snakes? This is your spot!
• Explora – A hands-on museum for the whole family with 250 interactive exhibits focused on STEM learning.
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – near Old Town, this center will teach you about the culture, history and art of the Pueblo Native American culture.
• New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science – several different exhibits including lots about dinosaurs as part of their permanent collection and special unique temporary exhibits.
• Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm – a lovely spot with a great farm shop and a delicious restaurant called Campo (book ahead for brunch and dinner).
• Old Town Albuquerque – walk around the plaza, grab a cup of coffee at Blackbird Coffee House and browse the shops.
• Take in a minor league baseball game at Rio Grande Credit Union Field where the Albuquerque Isotopes play.
• Sawmill Market is an urban market with 27 local merchants selling food, drink and merchandise. Indoor and outdoor dining.

Day 7:

This will either be departure day or catching an outbound flight home.

Road Trip Essentials:

Wondering what to pack for exploring New Mexico?

• In the summer months, expect warm temperatures so breathable, lightweight clothing with ample sun protection. Sunglasses are a must, especially at White Sands National Park.
• In the winter months, cooler temps and wind are likely. A warm jacket is key.
• Clothing-wise, you can pack pretty casual – we did dress-up a bit nicer for brunch at Los Poblanos.
• Footwear: comfortable walking shoes and sandals are essential; if you plan to explore more, hiking boots are recommended
• Daypack for carrying the essential around
• Refillable water bottle
• Games and activities for the kids for the longer driving days (a few of our favorites are Auto Bingo, Melissa & Doug Water Wow! sets & magnetic playsets)

Have a question about visiting New Mexico? Drop a question in the comments.