As you may know by now, I am OBSESSED with road trips, underrated states, and adventures with my dog. A dog-friendly New Mexico road trip was the perfect option! I was blown away by the unique culture and activities. New Mexico definitely inched its way up towards the top of my “Favorite US states” list.
Here are things to see/do while on a New Mexico road trip + unique Airbnb’s to stay in (all without leaving your dog behind!)
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Table of Contents
When is the best time to visit New Mexico?
We visited in March and we were met with mild temperatures, some snow, and a lot of wind. Below are the average temperatures (from Santa Fe) in Fahrenheit to help you plan the perfect trip!
- Winter (Dec-Feb): 24/19
- Spring (March-May): 63/33
- Summer (June-August): 83/53
- Fall (September-November): 65/36
Again, the temperatures will differ based on your location. When we visited White Sands, it was almost hot during the day, but then during our hike in Santa Fe, we were met with a lot of snow and ’30s at the top of the mountain!
The New Mexico Road Trip Route
We started this road trip in Dallas, TX, but did not make any stops until we reached White Sands (below). The map shows the stops we made totaling 1,534 miles!
Stops to make on your Dog-Friendly New Mexico Road Trip
Stop 1: White Sands National Park
Driving Distance from…
- Dallas: 9 hr 34 min.
- Distance from Santa Fe: 3 hr 43 min.
- Distance from Albuquerque: 3 hr 21 min.
If you are making a quick drive through New Mexico (and only have time for one stop) or completing a full New Mexico Road Trip, White Sands should be your NUMBER ONE stop.
It will feel like you have landed on a different planet.
Once you arrive, stop in the gift shop to buy a sled and wax. I think we only paid 15 dollars or so. Nothing too expensive, but you can also bring your own sled if you have one.
We then found parking and hiked out a bit to find a spot with no other people. You won’t have to go far, the park is HUGE.
After admiring the beauty, we tested out sand sledding.
Ookkaaaay, it didn’t go that fast, but it was still fun! Hunt for dunes where the sand is extra packed down for a faster ride.
We spent the rest of the day hiking around, picnicking, and watching the sunset.
White Sands National Park Details:
- Visitor Center Hours: 9:00-5:00 (6:00 during the summer)
- Park Hours: 7 am- Depends on the season. You can check hours HERE. ***the park occasionally closes for missile tests, so make sure to check HERE before visiting.***
- Entrance Fee: 25 dollars per car
- Hiking: 5 marked trails ranging from 0.4 miles-5.0 miles.
- Other Things to do: Bike, horseback ride, photography, camp, junior ranger programs, picnic, and sled.
Stop 2: Rinconada Canyon- Albuquerque
This trail is part of Petroglyph National Monument and contains the largest petroglyph concentrations in North America.
(hint…Petroglyphs are prehistoric rock carvings)
We didn’t have the greatest weather in Albuquerque and it poured during this hike, but it was a very easy, accessible hike (2.2 miles) with petroglyph images on the surrounding volcanic rocks.
A cool thing to see and learn about on your dog-friendly New Mexico Road Trip!
Petroglyph National Monument Quick Facts:
- Cost?: Free to visit except a small parking fee at Boca Negra Canyon (2 dollars)
- Hours: The Visitor Center is open from 8:30-4:30. There are no trails from the visitor center though. See trail hours here.
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes, except at Boca Negra Canyon
- Hiking?: 4 different trails. Read about them HERE
Stop 3: Sandia Peak Tramway- Albuquerque
We waited in line for a bit to load the Sandia Peak Tramway, but unfortunately due to the wind, they weren’t allowing anyone to ride.
If we were to ride, we would have had a 15-minute ride to the top of the Sandia Peak Mountains.
Instead, we decided to explore the trails around the tramway! It was a fun side adventure, but we hope to ride the tramway to the peak next time!
Covid Update: The tram is operating at 1/3 capacity. You need to purchase tickets online beforehand. Closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays.
Note: Dogs are not allowed on the tram, but they do have kennels (free of charge) to use during your ride.
Keep Reading: A Complete Albuquerque Weekend Guide (from a local)
4. Meow Wolf- Santa Fe
This is an attraction you just have to see for yourself. You never know what you may find at Meow Wolf. You can crawl through a fireplace, walk through enchanted forests, and find hidden doors everywhere.
Unfortunately… this is the one-stop where dogs weren’t allowed on this dog-friendly New Mexico Road Trip. Be sure to pack your travel kennel for the Airbnb!
Warning: We did wait in line for a long time outside, but once we got inside it didn’t appear to be busy.
Meow Wolf Quick Facts
- Cost: 25 dollars pp.
- Hours: Sun – Thurs 10:00AM – 8:00PM Fri, Sat 10:00AM – 10:00PM, Closed Tuesdays
- Physical Address: 1352 Rufina Cir. Santa Fe, NM 87507
5. Atalaya Mountain Trail- Santa Fe
We visited in March and the trail was still covered with snow. We had just come from White Sands, so we were not prepared for this. Zach (my husband), just had his normal tennis shoes.
Anyways, this hike was AWESOME, but hard. It is about a 6-mile hike, with a pretty big elevation gain (1,774 ft).
I don’t know if it was the snow that made it hard, or the fact that I was (am) extremely out of shape, but I struggled to make it to the top.
Once we got to the top the temperature had dropped a good 20 degrees, so we didn’t hang out for long, but the views were amazing!
Tip: We parked in the college parking lot and followed the trail to the beginning of Atalaya trailhead.
6. Santa Fe Plaza
Again, we were here in March, so it was very quiet “downtown”. We did go in a few shops and found a cool Christmas shop (I love getting ornaments from the different places I visit).
I would imagine it would be much busier and livelier during the summer.
Where to eat?
Again, I do not consider myself a foodie traveler what-so-ever. When I road trip I am perfectly okay with eating a sandwich I brought or stopping at the closest pizza restaurant.
I know some people love to try new food when they travel…so I found blog posts that do a much better job showing you the “cool” restaurants to try. 🙂
Other things to do on a New Mexico Road Trip:
Due to being a part-time tourist (full-time 9-5er) I never get to see everything I want to due to the time constraints. Buuuttt it’s just another excuse to return someday!
Unique Airbnb’s on your Dog-friendly New Mexico Road Trip
And they are all dog friendly!
*Click here to save 35 dollars on your first Airbnb during your next New Mexico Road Trip!
When booking accommodations ahead of time, I like to look for the most unique stays. All three of our homes on this trip definitely lived up to my expectations!
If you prefer a hotel, use this AWESOME search engine to find the best deals!
Want help planning your next road trip?
Check out this 15-page FREE TRAVEL PLANNER!
Helpful Items to Bring:
Travel water dish for your dog. They will get tired going up and down the dunes!
Backpack with a water pack for the humans. You can fit a lot of snacks/picnic foods in here as well
Go pro to video sledding the dunes!
We had to leave our dog in the Airbnb a couple of times (to go out to eat and Meow Wolf), so we always bring this collapsible kennel.
What else would you add to this “Dog-friendly New Mexico Road Trip?” Let me know below!
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