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Albuquerque to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge road trip: best stops

The drive from Albuquerque to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge takes about 2 hr 28 min (northeast of Albuquerque), by real roads from ZIP 87102. Along the way we found 43 stops within a short detour: 8 coffee shops, 5 ice cream and treats, 15 places to eat and 15 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: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge 2 hr 28 min from Albuquerque

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0

Viewpoint

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

A tall steel bridge on US 64 northwest of Taos with dizzying views straight down into the Rio Grande Gorge.

  • 1 hr
  • Year-round
  • Free

Heads-up: About 12 miles northwest of Taos. Watch traffic when crossing.

Map of the stops between Albuquerque and Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

First stretch 7 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 28 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Refresqueria Las Delicias Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 49 min into the drive · detour about 11 min

Middle of the drive 16 stops

  1. Dre Days Shaved Ice Ice cream · Santa Fe
    About 50 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. La Choza New Mexican · Santa Fe Our pick
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Maria's of Santa Fe Regional restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  6. New Mexico School for the Deaf Library Museum · Santa Fe
    About 56 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Cottonwood Kitchen Restaurant · Santa Fe
    About 1 hr 4 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 24/7 Website
  10. Tesuque Attraction · Tesuque Pueblo
    About 1 hr 7 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  11. Camel Rock Attraction · Tesuque Pueblo
    About 1 hr 8 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  12. Starbucks Coffee shop · Santa Fe
    About 1 hr 13 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  13. Poeh Cultural Center Museum · Santa Fe
    About 1 hr 13 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00 Website
  14. Chill n Brew Coffee Coffee shop · Espanola
    About 1 hr 22 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  15. The Paleta Bar Ice cream · Fairview
    About 1 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  16. Starbucks Coffee shop · Espanola
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Questions about the drive from Albuquerque to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

How long is the drive from Albuquerque to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge?

About 2 hr 28 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 Rio Grande Gorge Bridge?

Good ones to start with: La Choza (Santa Fe). The page lists 23 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Albuquerque and Rio Grande Gorge Bridge?

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 Rio Grande Gorge Bridge?

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, Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico School for the Deaf Library in Santa Fe and Tesuque in Tesuque Pueblo.

More about Albuquerque and Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

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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