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Albuquerque to Capulin Volcano National Monument road trip: best stops

The drive from Albuquerque to Capulin Volcano National Monument takes about 3 hr 41 min (northeast of Albuquerque), by real roads from ZIP 87102. Along the way we found 33 stops within a short detour: 8 coffee shops, 3 ice cream and treats, 9 places to eat and 1 viewpoints.

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: Capulin Volcano National Monument 3 hr 41 min from Albuquerque

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Photo: R.D. Miller, USGS, Public domain

National monument

Capulin Volcano National Monument

A near-perfect cinder cone you can drive up, then walk a paved mile around the crater rim, or down a short path to the crater floor.

  • 2-3 hrs
  • Year-round
  • National park entrance fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass

Heads-up: Road to the top open 8:30 am to 4 pm; no trailers or vehicles over 26 ft. No cash. Pets only on the Nature Trail and road. Nature Trail is wheelchair accessible; Crater Rim Trail has steep climbs.

Official site

Map of the stops between Albuquerque and Capulin Volcano National Monument

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Capulin Volcano National Monument

First stretch 14 stops

  1. San Felipe Travel Center / Philips 66 / Pueblo Restaurant Restaurant · San Felipe Pueblo
    About 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Mormon Battalion Historic site · Budaghers
    About 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Kewa Cafe Coffee shop · Kewa Pueblo
    About 32 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  4. La Fogata Table Italian restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 47 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
  5. Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum Museum · Santa Fe
    About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Fr 12:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00 Website
  6. Refresqueria Las Delicias Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 11 min
  7. Java Joe's Coffee shop · Santa Fe
    About 49 min into the drive · detour about 6 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 07:00-17:00 Website
  8. Dre Days Shaved Ice Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 49 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  9. Harry's Roadhouse Southwestern restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 53 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: We-Mo 08:00-21:00 Website
  10. Bobcat Bite Restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 55 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo,Sa 08:00-15:00; Tu-Fr 09:00-15:00 Website
  11. Café Fina Coffee shop · Eldorado at Santa Fe
    About 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  12. Galisteo Basin Overlook Viewpoint · Eldorado at Santa Fe
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 5 min
  13. Coffee Lodge Coffee shop · Glorieta
    About 1 hr 4 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  14. Dining Hall Quick bite · Glorieta
    About 1 hr 4 min into the drive · detour about 3 min

Middle of the drive 5 stops

  1. Tillys Pizza place · Las Vegas
    About 1 hr 41 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  2. Watrous Coffee House Coffee shop · Watrous
    About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Carl W Wildensteins House Historic Site Attraction · Watrous
    About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  4. Santa Clara Hotel Historic Site Attraction · Wagon Mound
    About 2 hr 15 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  5. A. MacArthur Co. Historic site · Wagon Mound
    About 2 hr 15 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 3 stops

  1. Bank Building Historic site · Maxwell
    About 2 hr 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Sage Coffee Coffee shop · Raton
    About 3 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 4 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: We-Fr 07:00-15:00; Sa, Su 08:30-15:00 Website
  3. Dulces Encantados Candy shop · Raton
    About 3 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 8 min

Questions about the drive from Albuquerque to Capulin Volcano National Monument

How long is the drive from Albuquerque to Capulin Volcano National Monument?

About 3 hr 41 min by road, heading northeast from the middle of ZIP 87102. Traffic and weather change that.

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

Good ones to start with: San Felipe Travel Center / Philips 66 / Pueblo Restaurant (San Felipe Pueblo), Mormon Battalion (Budaghers), Kewa Cafe (Kewa Pueblo), La Fogata Table (Santa Fe) and Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum (Santa Fe). The page lists 22 in all, in driving order.

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

Kewa Cafe in Kewa Pueblo, Java Joe's in Santa Fe, Café Fina in Eldorado at Santa Fe and Coffee Lodge in Glorieta. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Capulin Volcano National Monument?

San Felipe Travel Center / Philips 66 / Pueblo Restaurant in San Felipe Pueblo, La Fogata Table in Santa Fe, Harry's Roadhouse in Santa Fe and Bobcat Bite in Santa Fe.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Mormon Battalion in Budaghers, Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum in Santa Fe, Galisteo Basin Overlook in Eldorado at Santa Fe and Carl W Wildensteins House Historic Site in Watrous.

More about Albuquerque and Capulin Volcano 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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