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Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument road trip: best stops

The drive from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument takes about 1 hr 47 min (north of Albuquerque), by real roads from ZIP 87102. Along the way we found 43 stops within a short detour: 8 coffee shops, 4 ice cream and treats, 15 places to eat and 16 quick sights.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Albuquerque) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Albuquerque

Where you are going: Bandelier National Monument 1 hr 47 min from Albuquerque

Bandelier National Monument

Photo: Unknown, Public domain

National monument

Bandelier National Monument

A canyon of cliff dwellings and village ruins carved into soft volcanic tuff, with ladders up to alcove rooms along the Pueblo Loop Trail in Frijoles Canyon.

  • Half day
  • Year-round
  • National park entrance fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass

Heads-up: Dogs only in the main parking lot, picnic area and campground, not on trails or the shuttle. The Pueblo Loop is not ADA accessible (steep grades, ladders). A free shuttle from White Rock runs on some days March to October; when canyon lots…

Official site

Map of the stops between Albuquerque and Bandelier National Monument

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Bandelier National Monument

First stretch 4 stops

  1. Burger King Burger place · Bernalillo
    About 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. San Felipe Travel Center / Philips 66 / Pueblo Restaurant Restaurant · San Felipe Pueblo
    About 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Mormon Battalion Historic site · Budaghers
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Kewa Cafe Coffee shop · Kewa Pueblo
    About 32 min into the drive · detour about 3 min

Middle of the drive 15 stops

  1. The Downs Attraction · Cieneguilla
    About 45 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. La Fogata Table Italian restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-We 08:00-21:00; Th-Su 08:00-23:00 Website
  3. Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum Museum · Santa Fe
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Fr 12:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00 Website
  4. Refresqueria Las Delicias Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 49 min into the drive · detour about 11 min
  5. Dre Days Shaved Ice Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  6. The Chocolatesmith Candy shop · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-17:00 Website
  7. Whoo's Donuts Donut counter-service · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-We 07:00-14:00; Th-Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 07:00-19:00 Website
  8. La Choza New Mexican · Santa Fe Our pick
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  9. Maria's of Santa Fe Regional restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  10. New Mexico School for the Deaf Library Museum · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  11. Tune Up Cafe Coffee shop · Santa Fe
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-22:00 Website
  12. Paradise Boba Tea Coffee shop · Santa Fe
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Su 11:00-18:00
  13. Cottonwood Kitchen Restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 1 hr 4 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 24/7 Website
  14. Tesuque Attraction · Tesuque Pueblo
    About 1 hr 7 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  15. Camel Rock Attraction · Tesuque Pueblo
    About 1 hr 8 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 3 stops

  1. Starbucks Coffee shop · Santa Fe
    About 1 hr 12 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Barranca Cafe Coffee shop · Pojoaque
    About 1 hr 13 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Totavi Cafe Coffee shop · Totavi
    About 1 hr 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument

How long is the drive from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument?

About 1 hr 47 min by road, heading north from the middle of ZIP 87102. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument?

Good ones to start with: La Choza (Santa Fe). The page lists 22 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Albuquerque and Bandelier National Monument?

Kewa Cafe in Kewa Pueblo, Tune Up Cafe in Santa Fe, Paradise Boba Tea in Santa Fe and Starbucks in Santa Fe. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Bandelier National Monument?

Burger King in Bernalillo, San Felipe Travel Center / Philips 66 / Pueblo Restaurant in San Felipe Pueblo, La Fogata Table in Santa Fe and La Choza in Santa Fe.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Mormon Battalion in Budaghers, The Downs in Cieneguilla, Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum in Santa Fe and New Mexico School for the Deaf Library in Santa Fe.

More about Albuquerque and Bandelier National Monument

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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