Check out this 20 Things to do in New Mexico trip by thetravelingdans on Steller!

20 Things to do in New Mexico20 things that HAVE to be on your bucket list in New Mexico. This list has the best things to do, sights to see, restaurants to eat at, and more! Authorsthetravelingdans
DestinationsNew MexicoItinerary

Blue Hole

This place is crazy - an oasis in the middle of the desert! This is a sinkhole filled with beautiful blue water. You can snorkel and dive here!

Bisti Badlands

This is an incredible hiking destination! There is only one trail here that is a 5 mile loop but the trail is not marked so make sure you download “Bisti Badlands” on Alltrails before heading out! The parking lot is large and there are bathrooms.

Bandelier National Monument

This place might have the most unique hike we have ever done! We recommend combining the Pueblo Loop trail and Alcove house trail to hike 3 miles round trip. This will take you past a bunch of pueblo dwellings and teach you about the local history. You will also get to climb ladders into the dwellings if you would like.

Four Corners Monument

A SW staple! If you haven’t been, this is a fun stop to put each arm and leg in the 4 states that make up this monument.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

A beautiful landmark in New Mexico! This is a very scenic spot anytime of day but sunsets are super special here.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Another very unique hiking destination but this spot does require some planning! You need permits to hike AND you need to have a local ranger escort you into the park. Make sure you do your own research prior to going here.

Williams Lake

A lake that looks like it should belong in Washington or Colorado! This is a must-do hike if you are here in the summer or fall.

Meow Wolf Santa Fe's House of Eternal Return

If you have kids or are looking for something quirky to do, definitely check out Meow Wolf. It is an immersive art experience and there is definitely nothing else like it!

Sandia Peak Tramway

A must if you are in Albuquerque! Pricing is subject to change but at the time of writing this, the tram is closed on Tuesday and tickets are $34 each. There is a nice restaurant at the top of the tram if interested.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

This national park HAS to be seen in person. Videos will not do this place justice. To visit the caverns, you have to have a reservation. These can be made on recreation.gov. It is a dollar for the self guided tour per person. They do offer ranger guided tours as well. We recommend hiking down the natural entrance if possible but there are elevators if you are unable to do so.

White Sands

This national park is incredible! We spent two days here running around the dunes. There are trails you can take if you want however, we found it was more fun to create our own adventure. You can also rent sleds to sled down the dunes. We really recommend staying for sunset - sunset here is absolutely magical.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The world’s LARGEST balloon festival! A bucket list event that everyone should attend! This year, the balloon festival is from October 4th-12th.

The Owl Bar & Cafe

I am not being dramatic when I say I had the best burger of my life here. This spot is known for it’s green chile cheeseburgers and holy cow, they are to die for.

Plaza Cafe Southside

A great cafe in Santa Fe to get your green chile fix. The food and vibes here are off the charts.

Old Town Albuquerque

New Mexico has some great old towns to explore like this one. We recommend a half day to walk around the shops and see the sights.

Valles Caldera

This is an international dark sky park located outside of Santa Fe! It is a beautiful place to visit at night if you can to see the milky way!

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

This is another great National Monument that allows you to get up close to old cliff dwellings. The one mile Cliff Dweller Trail is the trail you want to hike to see these dwellings!

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness

Literally another planet!! This is a super unique hiking destination. You can see most of the highlights along the 2.5 mile loop trail.

Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe has a super cute downtown full of art shops, restaurants, and more. We spent one full day walking around and exploring all there was to offer.

Ship Rock

A unique stop on your New Mexico trip! This place is sacred to the Navajo people so you cannot hike or climb on this rock but it is worth seeing! This spot was in a bunch of films like Transformers, Jumanji, and The Lone Ranger.