Aztec, NM Road Trips
Sitting in the Desert Southwest, Aztec, NM is a local road trip base with 5 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 405 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Aztec, NM head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
488.7 mi
Hobbs, NM
Quickest Drive
3h 55m
Santa Fe, NM
Plan Around Aztec, NM
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Aztec, NM is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Aztec, NM
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Aztec, NM
Driving from Aztec, NM
Expect an average of 405 miles and about 7h 28m behind the wheel when leaving Aztec, NM. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 410 miles (7h 44m), while the shortest is just 399 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Aztec, NM most often head toward Deming, NM (410.2 mi, 7h 44m) and Las Cruces, NM (398.9 mi, 7h 11m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in NM currently averages around $3.79 per gallon. For the typical 405-mile trip from Aztec, NM, budget about $60 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing. The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Aztec, NM and 3 routes heading into Aztec, NM, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 399 to 410 miles.
The longest mapped route from Aztec, NM covers 410 miles and takes approximately 7h 44m. Shorter options start at just 399 miles.
The average route from Aztec, NM runs about 405 miles with a drive time of roughly 7h 28m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.79/gallon for regular), the average 405-mile trip from Aztec, NM costs roughly $60 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Aztec, NM include Deming, NM and Las Cruces, NM. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Aztec, NM by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
6,177
Median Income
$42,699
Median Home Value
$164,700
Median Age
34.1
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Aztec, NM at a Glance
Founded
1887
Elevation
5,646 ft
Area
17 mi²
City data from Wikidata (Q794149), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Aztec, NM
Farmington is a town in the northwest region of the state of New Mexico. It is notable as a gateway to Navajo Nation and the Four Corners area, and as a center for folk art, particularly Navajo weavings. Attractions associated with the nearby towns of Aztec, Bloomfield, Kirtland and Shiprock, about the nearest things that highly rural northwestern New Mexico has to "suburbs," are also covered in this article.
1 Aztec Ruins National Monument, 84 Ruins Road, Aztec (in the small town of Aztec, just northeast of Farmington proper on NM 516), ☏ +1 505 334-6174. Winter hours: daily, 8AM-5PM; summer hours: daily, 8AM-6PM. One of the many national parks and monuments of the Four Corners region, Aztec Ruins preserves the remains of a large pueblo village. A short trail winds through the ruins, allowing you to stoop through low doorways into the site and between the old walls. Another highlight is a massive restored kiva, which is quite impressive on the inside. Day use; $5/person entry fee (free for children 15 and under), interagency (NPS) annual pass applies. 2 Salmon Ruins. Open 9-5 daily (12-5 on Sundays during the winter). An archaeological site related to those at much more extensive Chaco Culture National Historical Park to the south (see under "Get out"). On US 64 between Farmington and Bloomfield. Admission $3, with reduced rates for seniors and children. 3 Shiprock. Located beyond the town of the same name, a spectacular monolith rising from the desert that has featured in many movies of the Wild West. It's well worth a visit for some photography. 4 Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village, 125 N Main Ave, Aztec, ☏ +1 505 334-9829. Historical artifacts and old or recreated buildings. (updated Sep 2021) Natural arches around Aztec, as they are numerous. One of the most visited is the 5 Cox Canyon Arch, though this is some distance (close to the Colorado state line). 6 Farmington Museum, 3041 E Main St, Farmington, ☏ +1 505-599-1174. M-Sa 10AM-5PM.
Farmington is known for its outstanding recreational facilities and events, annually hosting the Connie Mack World Series, the XTERRA Four Corners Off-Road Triathlon and The Road Apple Rally, the longest running annual mountain bike race in the country. World class trout fishing on the San Juan River, below the Navajo Dam, and golf at Pinon Hills Golf Course are top attractions year-around. 1 Northern Edge Casino, 2752 Indian Service Road 36, ☏ +1 505 960-7000, [email protected]. Slots and table games. (updated Feb 2025) 2 Flowing Water Casino, 2710 E Hwy 64, Shiprock, ☏ +1 505 368-2300. Slots only. (updated Feb 2025) 3 SunRay Park & Casino, 39 Rd 5568, Farmington, ☏ +1 505 566-1200. Slots, video poker, video blackjack, and horse racing. (updated Jan 2022) 4 Angel Peak Scenic Area, ☏ +1 505 564-7600. Some really impressive badlands. Hiking trails. Primitive camping. (updated Feb 2023) For a leisurely stroll along the Animas River, you can try the River Trails that interconnect for 8+ miles through the city. One place to access them is 5 Berg Park at 400 Scott Ave.
1 Three Rivers Restaurant and Brewhouse, 101 E Main St (at Orchard Ave), ☏ +1 505 324-2187. Great American food, craft beer, pizza, and shuffleboard. Friendly staff. Three Rivers won best beer and best cider at New Mexico's Fair Pro-Am Competition, so beer lovers have a good reason to get off the highway. (updated Jan 2022) 2 Rubio's Fine Mexican Dining, 116 S Main Ave, Aztec (between Chaco and Chuska Sts), ☏ +1 505 334-0599.
Lauter Haus Brewing Co, 1806 E 20th St, ☏ +1 505-326-BEER (2337). M-Sa noon-11PM, Su 10ː30PM-9PM. Brewery with food trucks and arcade games. (updated Feb 2023)
La Quinta Inn Farmington, 675 Scott Ave, ☏ +1 505 327-4706. outdoor pool. Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast, 87 Rd 1980, ☏ +1 505-860-3812, fax: +1 505 325-9671, [email protected]. Located in an underground cave which was dug out of sandstone. $240-380 (2 People/Four People).
Farmington is connected by roads coming from all directions. US-64 runs east-west through Bloomfield, Farmington, and Shiprock. US-550 runs north-south through Bloomfield and Aztec, running from near Albuquerque to the south and Durango to the north. US-491 runs north-south through Shiprock, continuing south to Gallup and north to Cortez. Farmington is served by commuter air links with Great Lakes Airlines, with flights to Denver under a codeshare agreement with United Airlines. No passenger trains serve the town.
Travel tips adapted from Farmington (New Mexico) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Aztec, NM
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