Viewpoint · 44 min southeast
Angel Peak Scenic Area
A rim-top overlook of colorful badlands below a tall sandstone peak, with a short interpretive rim trail.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Day Trippin' › New Mexico › From Farmington
Day trips from Farmington
From Farmington, Aztec Ruins is about 20 minutes away, Navajo Lake and Angel Peak under 45, the Four Corners Monument and the Bisti Badlands a little over an hour, and Chaco Canyon under two. The best day trips from Farmington, by drive time.
45 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Farmington
- Navajo Lake State Park 39 min east
- Angel Peak Scenic Area 44 min southeast
- Four Corners Monument 1 hr 10 min west
- Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness 1 hr 13 min south
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park 1 hr 47 min south
- Bluff Fort Historic Site 2 hr northwest
- Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad 2 hr 12 min east
- Monument Valley 2 hr 48 min west
- Old Town Albuquerque 2 hr 50 min southeast
- Natural Bridges National Monument 2 hr 59 min northwest
Within an hour from Farmington 2 spots
Lake · 39 min east
Navajo Lake State Park
New Mexico's second largest lake, with marinas, a swim beach, boating and famous fly fishing on the San Juan River below the dam.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- New Mexico State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
1 to 2 hours from Farmington 4 spots
National park · 1 hr 47 min south
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Massive stone great houses of the Ancestral Puebloans in a remote desert canyon, seen from a loop drive and short trails.
- Full day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- National park entrance fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass
Historic site · 2 hr northwest
Bluff Fort Historic Site
A rebuilt pioneer fort in Bluff with log cabins and wagons telling the story of the Hole-in-the-Rock settlers.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Trail · 1 hr 13 min south
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Badlands of strange hoodoos, colored clay hills and petrified wood south of Farmington, explored off-trail.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round (best spring and fall)
- Free
Viewpoint · 1 hr 10 min west
Four Corners Monument
The only place in the U.S. where four states meet, run by the Navajo Nation, with Navajo vendors selling crafts and food.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- Navajo Nation Parks entry fee (per person) (check)
2 to 3 hours from Farmington 37 spots
Train · 2 hr 12 min east
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
A historic steam train ride of 64 miles between Chama and Antonito, Colorado, through aspen forest, over a high trestle and through two tunnels.
- Full day · Easy
- Late May to mid-October
- Tickets
Town · 2 hr 50 min southeast
Old Town Albuquerque
The city's 1706 birthplace, a walkable plaza ringed by adobe shops, restaurants and the San Felipe de Neri church dating to 1793.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
National park · 2 hr 59 min northwest
Natural Bridges National Monument
Three huge natural stone bridges carved by streams, seen from a loop road and short trails.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- National monument entrance fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass
Viewpoint · 2 hr 48 min west
Monument Valley
The famous sandstone buttes of the old Westerns, on a 17-mile loop drive or a Navajo-guided tour.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day)
- Navajo Parks entry fee
Viewpoint · 2 hr 49 min southeast
Sandia Peak Tramway
A 2.7-mile aerial tram that lifts you from Albuquerque's foothills to the 10,378-foot summit of the Sandias, with a restaurant at the top.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (closed Tuesdays)
- Admission
Trail · 2 hr 36 min east
Ghost Ranch
A red-rock ranch near Abiquiu that inspired O'Keeffe, with hiking trails such as Kitchen Mesa, two museums and a labyrinth.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round (check hours)
- Admission (day pass)
Theme park · 2 hr 44 min southeast
Cliff's Amusement Park
Albuquerque's hometown amusement park with thrill and kiddie rides, the New Mexico Rattler roller coaster and the WaterMania splash area.
- Half day · Easy
- Late spring to early fall (check)
- Admission
Zoo · 2 hr 52 min southeast
ABQ BioPark Zoo
Albuquerque's city zoo along the Rio Grande, with animal habitats and daily feeding times.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 87401 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.