Visiting Santa Fe for the first time... (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: shops, distance)

[TY2012]

I'm driving from Texas and wanted to know if their are mountains that I will drive through to get to Santa Fe? Does anyone know?

[Squirl]

I don't recall driving through mountains until you are almost at Santa Fe city limits. I've made the trip a few times from Dallas.

[caphillsea77]

Driving up I-25 north from Albuquerque and seeing Santa Fe for the first time with the wall of mountains behind the city (Sangre de Cristos) is an incredible sight to behold. It blew my mind, absolutely breathtaking sight. I drove up I-25 from Las Cruces (and 10 from El Paso before that). It's mostly valleys with parallel mountain ranges along the way but they don't traverse the through mountains themselves. If you want to see impressive scenery drive north of Santa Fe towards Taos. The High road to Taos is like "Oh my god" kind of beautiful.

[Towanda]

Many people approaching Santa Fe from Texas would travel west on I-40 and turn north at Cline's Corners.

And yes, along that route, you might see some mountains off in the distance, but you would be almost to Santa Fe before you actually approached any mountains close up.

[GreatSantaFe]

To me, one of the most beautiful sights is on Hwy 41 from the rise north of Stanley and south of Galisteo. Wow, you have this incredible vista of the Galisteo Basin and the Devil's Backbone in the foreground, and the Sangre de Christo Mountains in the background. I don't know if it gets any better than that! If you're driving up from Cline's Corners on 285 there are some pretty great views as well. But no, you won't be traveling through any mountains on the way to Santa Fe.

[TY2012]

Awesome! Thanks so much. I know I will be taken away by the beautiful scenery! God's creation is so beautiful.

[Gearhound]

You could continue driving west on I-40 until you reach state route NM 14, then head north.
After a few miles, you'll see state route NM 236 on the left.
If you take a left turn there, it's about a 15 minute drive up to Sandia Peak ( 10,600 feet) were you will have some GREAT views of Albuquerque and the surrounding area.
Go back down NM 236, and make a left turn back on NM 14 going north.
You will end up in the little town of Madrid, where you can grab a nice cup of coffee and walk around the funky little shops there.
You can pretty much see the entire town in 45 minutes.
Continue driving north and NM 14 will run right into Santa Fe.

Have fun!
Steve

[Poncho_NM]

That is a nice route Steve. It is called the: Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway (New Mexico)

Have taken it many times from ABQ, but since we dilly dally, the trip up to Sandia Peak and Madrid almost take us the whole day, leaving little time for Santa Fe...


Rich

[mortimer]

Although you won't be aware of it, as you make your way to Santa Fe, the elevation gets higher.
By the time you reach the city limits, you will be higher in elevation than about 95%+ of all of Texas.
( That probably can be said of Albuquerque, also. )