Scenic Drives in New Mexico
Routes
8
Avg Distance
264 mi
Avg Drive
5h 4m
Destinations
6
These 8 scenic drives in New Mexico earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 264 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.
Planning Tips
- Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
- Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
- Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 8 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.
Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.
Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.
Top Scenic Routes
Dexter, NM → Farmington, NM
396 mi
7h 41m
Score: 10/10
Silver City, NM → Hobbs, NM
387.4 mi
7h 20m
Score: 10/10
Roswell, NM → Farmington, NM
376.5 mi
7h 13m
Score: 10/10
Twin Lakes, NM → Clovis, NM
371.6 mi
6h 42m
Score: 8/10
Gallup, NM → Capitan, NM
286.8 mi
5h 20m
Score: 10/10
Albuquerque, NM → Las Vegas, NM
123.4 mi
2h 8m
Score: 8/10
Farmington, NM → Dulce, NM
84.9 mi
2h 4m
Score: 8/10
Dulce, NM → Farmington, NM
84.7 mi
2h 3m
Score: 7/10