Wheater you’re looking to sneak away for a romantic weekend in Santa Fe
or go searching for the truth in mysterious Rosewell
, New Mexico has what you need for an unforgettable weekend getaway! Everyone deserves to get away from the hum-drum of the day-to-day every now and then. Get some distance from the tedious routine and sneak off for a weekend getaway in the beautiful deserts of New Mexico!
The only real question is, which of New Mexico’s many exciting locations is right for your mini-vacation?
Don’t worry, Jerry
—the car insurance
price comparison super-app
—has got your back. In this guide, we’ll go over the best weekend getaways in New Mexico
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The best weekend getaways for couples in New Mexico
Taos
Stay at: The Oliver
(rooms from $246/night) Grab your special someone by the hand and leap headfirst into another age in the enchanting and unique town of Taos. Distinguished by its iconic adobe architecture, it would be easy to think that time had stood still in Taos–if it weren’t for its vibrant and progressive art scene.
Start your weekend out with a stroll through the famed Taos Plaza, a charming downtown square populated by a delightful spread of shops and venues.
Stop for breakfast at Old Martina's Hall
or De La Tierra Restaurant
. Then, take things up a notch with Wild Earth Llama Adventures
and get a taste of the beautiful countryside. If that’s still too tame for you, take your partner on a river adventure with one of Los Rios River Runners'
rafting excursions. You can slow things down with a scenic drive around the Enchanted Circle Drive
. Watch the day wind down over the desert by enjoying the breathtaking view from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
. After a long day of romance, grab an unforgettable dinner at The Love Apple
or Lambert's of Taos
. Santa Fe
Stay at: Pueblo Bonito B&B Inn
(from $95/night) Sneak away for a romantic weekend in beautiful and vibrant Santa Fe. Walk down the streets of the historic downtown and take in the stunning unique architecture that blends traditional Spanish and native styles.
Santa Fe is well known for being an artistic hotbed. Take your special someone for a tour in the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
or the Museum of International Folk Art
–better yet take a fun adventure through Meow Wolf
, the world-renowned artistic wonder. Sore over the gorgeous and austere desert countryside in one of the couple’s hot-air balloon flights offered by the Santa Fe Balloon Company
. If neither of you likes picking a place to eat, don’t worry! You can leave dinner up to chance by taking one of the food tours offered by Wander New Mexico
or Savor Santa Fe
. Finally, round out your weekend by taking in a show at the Santa Fe Opera House
! Pro tip Santa Fe is absolutely bursting with dazzling and exciting sights and activities. You could spend a lifetime there and not see half of what there is to enjoy. To make sure you hit all the spots you want to, it’s a good idea to have an itinerary planned out ahead of time.
The best weekend getaways for families in New Mexico
Farmington
Stay at: Casa Blanca Inn & Suites
(rooms from $126/night) Or: TownePlace Suites Farmington
(rooms from $129/night) Wisk your family away for a weekend getaway in the former heart of the ancient Anasazi culture–today known as Farmington
, New Mexico. Have some educational family fun by learning about the area’s rich history at the Farmington Museum
—or take a more first-hand approach by visiting the Salmon Ruins
. Enjoy the warm New Mexico weather by taking the kids for a hike on the Berg/Animas Trail
or by participating in the Farmington Park Play Days
. Then toss a frisbee around the Lions Wilderness Disc Golf Course
. Then get out of the heat by visiting the E3 Children's Museum & Science Center
. Then have a unique adventure at Escapology
, the puzzle-solving escape room. For dinner, take the family to Weck's
or Dad's Diner
. Las Cruces
Stay at:Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
(rooms from $179/night) Or: Ristra House
(rooms from $100/night) Las Cruces
is a wonderful town that offers a rich history, plenty of outdoor activities, and lots of family-friendly fun. Start things off with a walk through the Mesilla Plaza and Mesilla Historic District
to get a feel for the local culture and visit a variety of fun shops! Learn all about the exciting history of this town—which plays host to NASA's main rocket test sights– by visiting the Las Cruces Railroad Museum
, The Zuhl Museum
, or the Museum of Nature & Science
. After a fun and educational morning, take the kids to the Billy the Kid Gift Shop
for some wild west memorabilia. For a souvenir that the kids will never stop using, take them to the COAS Books
, a fun local bookstore. After that, if the family is itching for some more exciting activities, you can take them to Cluenundrum
–a family-friendly escape room. Your second day in Las Cruces should be reserved for outdoor fun. Spend the day exploring Leasburg Dam State Park
and Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
. Whatever you do, don’t miss the chance to visit Las Cruces’ breathtaking Dripping Springs Natural Area
. The best weekend getaways for UFO enthusiasts in New Mexico
Roswell
Stay at: The Roswell Inn
(rooms from $59/night) Or: Clary Sage Bed & Breakfast
(prices vary–contact proprietor for rates) If New Mexico is known for one thing, it’s the long-standing suspicion that the Roswell has played host to extraterrestrial visitations. There’s plenty of compelling evidence to suggest that we may have been visited before—one of the most intriguing is the U.S. Army Air Forces press release stating that an unidentified flying object was sighted in the skies over Roswell in 1947.
If the idea that we may not be alone in the universe has ever excited your imagination, you should take a trip to Rosewell at some point.
Start your voyage into the unknown with a visit to International UFO Museum and Research Center
. Follow that up with one of the official Roswell UFO Tours
to learn all about the town’s strange past. Experience the mysteries of the universe like you’re there in person with a blacklight journey in a Roswell UFO Spacewalk
—or with a striking virtual reality tour at Spaceport Roswell
. Commemorate your visit with a souvenir from Alien Zone Area 51
or Invasion Station
. Stay fueled up for your search for the truth with a meal at Farley's Food Fun & Pub
. The best weekend getaways for foodies in New Mexico
Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo
Stay at: The Abiquiu Inn
(rooms from $170/night) Or: Dusty Boots Motel
(rooms from $99/night) Located just about half an hour outside of Santa Fe lies the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. Formerly known as San Juan, this settlement was returned to its rightful and original name in 2005.
If you’re looking for a unique and thrilling food experience, look no further! This land belongs to a native people whose culture is still strong and vibrant. In Ohkay Owingeh, you will find a culinary sensation not found anywhere else in the world. This distinctive blend of Spanish and Native American styles has been perfected by the locals for over four centuries.
Make a pilgrimage to The Feasting Place
and sample food unlike any you have tasted before–or will taste again. The food is grown and prepared by Norma Naranjo—whose mother founded the one-of-a-kind restaurant. If you want to learn how to make the delicious and traditional dishes offered at The Feasting Place, Norma also offers cooking classes
. You can also bring your friends and have an event hosted
at the restaurant if you like! Jane Butel Cooking School in Corrales
Stay at: Morning Star Bed & Breakfast
(rooms from $202/night) Immerse yourself in the teachings of legendary cookbook author and chef Jane Butel. Her picturesque cooking school
in Corrales offers weekend-long interactive cook classes
that will make an ideal mini-vacation for any foodie! Learn to cook like a master–and enjoy the fruits of your labor in a two-long experience like no other! Your classes come with dinner, breakfast, and lunch included on Saturday and Sunday–plus dinner on Friday!
The classes should keep you pretty busy, but you can also play hooky and sneak away to nearby Albuquerque for all kinds of other fun!
The best outdoor weekend getaways in New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument
Or: Family Escape Santa Fe
(from $155/night) Looking for an outdoor adventure in the beautiful New Mexico desert? Consider planning your weekend getaway to Bandelier National Monument
—33,677 acres of pristine semi-arid wilderness. Bandelier offers a variety of outdoor activities including trail hiking
, cross-country skiing
, and bird-watching
. The real attraction in Bandelier, however, is the stunning and uniquely well-preserved ancestral Pueblo settlement that was carved directly into the flat cliff faces. The city was abandoned by its builders around 1550 due to prolonged drought, but their bold and distinct structures remain barely tarnished by time.
Take part in one of Bandelier’s guided tours
to learn more about the region's rich history and culture
. Pro Tip Hiking and adventuring through the national monument can be a wonderful experience. Keep in mind, though, it is a desert region. Prepare accordingly. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Stay at: White's City Cavern Inn
(rooms start at $100/night) Or: Backcountry Camping
(requires visitors to acquire a free camping permit) Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers a beautiful vista of dramatic rock formations, flowering cactuses, and desert wildlife. Visitors can enjoy some of the best desert hiking
around. Stand in the wonder of the Dawn of the Bats
, a chilling natural phenomenon where hundreds of thousands of bats return from their nightly hunt, turning the morning sky into a tapestry of black wings and golden sunlight. And all of that is just what’s on the surface. Below the earth lies one of the most extensive networks of caves ever discovered. Over countless ages, sulfuric acid has carved stunning and otherworldly caverns into the subterranean limestone. Explore the caverns
to see nature as you never have before. The best weekend getaways for history buffs in New Mexico
Taos Pueblo
Stay at: The Historic Taos Inn
(rooms from $152/night) Or: Hotel La Fonda Taos
(rooms from $129/night) For rich history, you won’t do better than a weekend getaway to Taos and paying a visit to the nearby Taos Pueblo.
The Taos Pueblo is a piece of living history where the native Puebloan people still live traditional lifestyles in the 1,000-year-old settlement—one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the United States!
The people of Taos Pueblo often welcome visitors
who wish to learn about their history and culture. Take a guided tour
through the village and see history come to life! Santa Fe
Stay at: Inn on the Alameda
(rooms from $205/night) Or: Las Palomas
(rooms from $219/night) Santa Fe is one of the most history-rich cities in all of New Mexico. Begin your weekend by booking a room in one of the many hotels in Santa Fe’s Historic District
. Start your trip off right with breakfast at the Dolina Bakery & Cafe
. Then head on over to The New Mexico History Museum/Palace Of The Governors
–the oldest continuously used public building in the United States! After that pay a visit to some of Santa Fe’s most historically interesting buildings, such as the Loretto Chapel
or the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
. Then, get a taste of the local culture and history at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe
. Pop into El Rancho de las Golondrinas
for an exciting living museum experience. The next day, you can enjoy one of the many guided history tours like Santa Fe Revisited
or the top-rated Santa Fe History Guided Walking Tour.
After a long day of exploring the past, kick back and enjoy a fine dinner at Paper Dosa
. The best cheap weekend getaways in New Mexico
Albuquerque
Or: Desert Sands Inn & Suites
(rooms from $63/night) The bright and vibrant city of Albuquerque
is a great place to find affordable fun for the weekend–if you know where to look. Start your weekend off with an affordable and delicious meal at Padilla's Mexican Kitchen
. For tight-budget travelers with a thirst for knowledge, the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
offers admittance for only $4. If you’re more of an outdoor enthusiast, for only $7 you can enjoy the Wildlife West Nature Park
—or go to Tingley Beach Biopark for free! You can also get a tour of Old Town
for as little as $10 or go on a wine tasting tour
for just $5! Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Or: Silver Saddle Motel
(rooms from $93/night) For only $5, you can gain admittance to the Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
—a stunning natural countryside that plays host to some of the most unique natural rock formations in the world! This is the perfect low-budget weekend getaway! You can enjoy the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking
, camping
, rock climbing
, and biking
! Pro Tip Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a great place to have some affordable fun outdoors–just make sure you secure any required permits
beforehand.
MORE: 10 ways to get cheap car insurance that’s actually good
Why you need good car insurance (and how you can save on the best!)
No matter where you decide to spend your weekend getaway in New Mexico
, you’ll need to make sure that you have good car insurance
before you start your road trip. Jerry
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