Scenic Drives in New Mexico
Routes
60
Avg Distance
431 mi
Avg Drive
8h 12m
Destinations
28
These 60 scenic drives in New Mexico earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 431 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.
Fuel snapshot for this state
Regular
$3.72/gal
Diesel: $5.60/gal
Typical trip cost
$57–$78
One-way, ~431 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG
CO₂ per trip
~151 kg
ICE vehicle, one-way average
Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-08-31
Climate through the year: New Mexico
New Mexico peaks at around 91°F in Jul and cools to 47°F / 27°F in Dec. Wettest month is Jul at ~1.6 in of rain.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain in | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 26 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Feb | 54 | 30 | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Mar | 63 | 36 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Apr | 70 | 43 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| May | 80 | 52 | 0.4 | — |
| Jun | 90 | 62 | 0.6 | — |
| Jul | 91 | 67 | 1.6 | — |
| Aug | 89 | 65 | 1.3 | — |
| Sep | 83 | 58 | 1.2 | — |
| Oct | 71 | 46 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 57 | 34 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 47 | 27 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for NM — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.
Planning Tips
- Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
- Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
- Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top Scenic Routes
Clayton, NM → Sunland Park, NM
Hobbs, NM → Waterflow, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Hobbs, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Hobbs, NM → Spencerville, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Clayton, NM → Las Cruces, NM
Sunland Park, NM → Raton, NM
Through: Albuquerque
Hobbs, NM → Aztec, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Hobbs, NM → Lee Acres, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Gallup, NM → Jal, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Bloomfield, NM → Hobbs, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Farmington, NM → Lovington, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Sunland Park, NM → Shiprock, NM
Through: Albuquerque
Chaparral, NM → Shiprock, NM
Through: Albuquerque
Black Rock, NM → Hobbs, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Upper Fruitland, NM → Carlsbad, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Hobbs, NM → Gallup, NM
Las Cruces, NM → Raton, NM
Columbus, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Aztec, NM → Carlsbad, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Artesia, NM → Shiprock, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Hobbs, NM → Navajo, NM
Deming, NM → Shiprock, NM
Aztec, NM → Chaparral, NM
Bloomfield, NM → Sunland Park, NM
Anthony, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Carlsbad, NM → Zuni Pueblo, NM
Through: San Rafael
White Sands, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Albuquerque → Bernalillo → Rio Rancho +1 more
Black Rock, NM → Carlsbad, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Sunland Park, NM → Navajo, NM
Through: Albuquerque
Las Cruces, NM → Waterflow, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Clayton, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo
Alamogordo, NM → Shiprock, NM
Questa, NM → Sunland Park, NM
Farmington, NM → Hurley, NM
Through: Hillsboro
Gallup, NM → Carlsbad, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Las Cruces, NM → Upper Fruitland, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Aztec, NM → Deming, NM
Deming, NM → Tucumcari, NM
Through: Santa Rosa
Clayton, NM → Gallup, NM
Through: Santa Rosa
Portales, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Alamogordo, NM → Waterflow, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Carlsbad, NM → Church Rock, NM
Carlsbad, NM → Crownpoint, NM
Las Cruces, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Silver City, NM → Clovis, NM
Through: Tularosa
Clovis, NM → Upper Fruitland, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Aztec, NM → Las Cruces, NM
Clovis, NM → Arenas Valley, NM
Through: Arizona → Hatch
Flora Vista, NM → Clovis, NM
Spencerville, NM → Clovis, NM
Farmington, NM → Dexter, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Dexter, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Sunland Park, NM → Taos, NM
Through: Albuquerque → Espanola
Grants, NM → Hobbs, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Zuni Pueblo, NM → Sunland Park, NM
Dulce, NM → Las Cruces, NM
Bloomfield, NM → Las Cruces, NM
Alamogordo, NM → Farmington, NM
Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site
Zuni Pueblo, NM → Artesia, NM
Through: Santa Fe
Chaparral, NM → Zuni Pueblo, NM
Through: Albuquerque → San Rafael