New Mexico is full of natural sites, history, great food, cultural attractions and lots of other reasons to visit. In fact, there’s so much to do that you’ll likely want to make a New Mexico bucket list to keep track of all of the sites.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best destinations to add to your New Mexico bucket list.
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument lets visitors travel back in time as they step foot in a 900-year-old Pueblo great house. Here you can see the original timber holding up the roof, find the fingerprints of the people who built the ancient building, and explore a reconstructed great kiva.
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument has rugged canyon-and-mesa country vistas. Be sure to check out the evidence of human presence over 11,000 years ago in the form of petroglyphs, dwellings, and more.
Capulin Volcano National Monument
You can see four different states from the rim of the volcano at Capulin Volcano National Monument. The monument also has some of the darkest skies in the U.S., so if you stay late you can do some great stargazing.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert there are more than 119 caves. These caves were formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone, creating caverns of all shapes and sizes. Have a blast exploring these caverns and learning about the bats that live at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Learn about the Ancestral Puebloan people as you explore Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Puebloans lived in this area between 850 and 1250 A.D. Take a guided tour to gather more information or explore the area on your own by hiking or biking.
El Malpais National Monument
Known as “the land of fire and ice”, El Malpais National Monument is home to another New Mexico volcano. Explore the diverse and sometimes bizarre features created by lava many, many years ago, and learn about the animals and people that have called this harsh terrain home for centuries.
El Morro National Monument
El Morro was once an important place for travelers because it was home to one of the only reliable waterholes in the dry and dusty desert. See the signatures, petroglyphs, and other messages carved by over 2,000 travelers when you visit this national monument.
Fort Union National Monument
Explore the remains of the largest 19th-century military fort in the region. Fort Union was an agent of political change in the southwest for a full forty years (from 1851–1891). Learn about the fort and its impact on the area at the Fort Union National Monument.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
The caves located along the Gila River were used as temporary shelter by travelers for thousands of years. In the 1200s, a small community of people of the Mogollon Culture decided to call the caves home. They stayed for 20 years before moving on, leaving behind them a peek into the past that we can still see at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
Manhattan Project National Historical Park
The creation of the atomic bomb involved a number of scientists at sites across the country. Visit the Manhattan Project National Historical Park to learn about the people, events, and science behind this history-making, controversial invention.
Pecos National Historical Park
Another place to explore the remains of Native American Pueblo homes, Pecos National Historical Park offers an exciting journey into the past. Gather information about the culture of the people who once lived here and learn about the geographic features of the area.
Petroglyph National Monument
Petroglyphs are an incredibly valuable tool for studying history and a glimpse into what life might have been like for those who left them behind. See dozens of petroglyphs created 400–700 years ago as you explore the sacred grounds that are now the Petroglyph National Monument.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
The perfect place to study the early encounters of Spanish and Pueblo people, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument features three distinct sites. Each of these sites gives you a glimpse of a unique period of history when these cultures converged.
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Over a million years ago, a huge volcanic eruption occurred, leaving behind a 13-mile depression in the land. This depression is now known as the Valles Caldera. Explore mountain meadows, see wildlife, and follow meandering streams through the preserve.
White Sands National Park
The world’s largest gypsum dune field is at White Sands National Park. This place features 275 square miles of glistening white sand. It’s also a wonderful place to experience sand sledding for some unusual fun.
National Historic Trails
New Mexico also has its fair share of National Historic Trails. Each of these trails is beautiful to follow and features some interesting history lessons.
These trails include:
- Santa Fe National Historic Trail
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
Go Out of This World at International UFO Museum and Research Center
Visit the site of the infamous Roswell UFO Incident of 1947 and learn everything you could possibly want to know about UFOs. Be sure to watch for a UFO while you’re there — you never know when one might turn up!
Ride the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Featuring a cute and cozy train and a route that takes you all the way to Colorado, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is a wonderful way to relax while taking in the beauty of New Mexico. Rolling hills, mist-filled mountains, and some of the most beautiful views in the southwest can be seen from this train.
Explore TinkerTown
TinkerTown is a quirky little attraction that is part museum and part art installation. With glass bottle walls, gnome guards, and totem poles, the place is bizarre—in the very best way possible. It was built by one man over the course of 40 years and is one of those things you have to see to appreciate.
Learn at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Life-size dinosaur displays, replica volcanoes, spectacular gemstone collections, and fossils are just some of the things you’ll find at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. Visit this place to escape bad weather or cool off during the summer.
Attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
We’ve yet to find an event that can compare to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. During this weeklong event, balloon lovers from all over the world gather to fly and view some beautiful hot air balloons. Wake up to a sky full of balloons and make memories that’ll last a lifetime.
Try Winter Sports at Taos Ski Valley
New Mexico has some great options for those who enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. Taos Ski Valley is an excellent option to have fun on the slopes and then enjoy the adorable village and its restaurants, sauna rooms, and more.
Get Weird at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is a mind-bending experience for the whole family. This art installation features bizarre rooms, unexpected passageways, and live performers in colorful costumes. It’s the place to go if you’ve ever wished for an adventure in Wonderland. You might not understand all of it, but you’ll be fascinated by it.
Go to the Museum of International Folk Art
The Museum of International Folk Art features art from all over the world. Our favorite part of this museum is the Girard Wing, which features an enormous collection of more than 100,000 toys from various countries.
Wander ABQ BioPark
Part zoo, part aquarium, and part botanical garden, ABQ BioPark is the perfect place to learn about the natural world and get up close with its plants and animals. Popular exhibits include polar bears, koalas, and monkeys, but the whole place is worth exploring.
Hike the Bisti Badlands
The Bisti Badlands are home to some amazing rock formations that tower above the desert sands. Check out a sunrise or sunset from the site, and keep an eye out for petroglyphs.
Relax at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa can work out the knots after a few days of exploring New Mexico. The resort is home to the oldest hot springs in New Mexico, and you can relax in the springs, visit the Ojo Farm, and enjoy farm-fresh food at the resort restaurant.
Be Awed by the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
The gorgeous white cliffs at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks might be what the park is named for, but they aren’t the only thing that people go to see. The rock formations in the canyon between the cliffs also fascinating. These formations are shaped like cones, a unique shape caused by volcanic eruptions.
Experience Santa Fe
Santa Fe is one of the cutest towns in New Mexico. Walk the streets of the historic downtown area, check out the many art galleries and boutique shops, dine at Cafe Pasqual’s (or one of the many other local eateries), try some locally made chocolate, and see the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Loretto Chapel and its seemingly impossible staircase. You’ll find lots of campgrounds near Santa Fe, so you can stay and explore the area for a few days.
Stand in Four Places at Four Corners Monument
Four Corners Monument lets guests place themselves in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado, all at the same time. Put one hand and foot in each state, or stand on the marker at the intersection of all of them. And make sure to take plenty of pictures!
Try Something New at Tiwa Kitchen
Tiwa Kitchen is the oldest Native American Restaurant In Taos. They serve up delicious Pueblo and New Mexican foods including blue corn fry bread and green chili.
Dive into Blue Hole
Looking to cool off on a hot New Mexico summer day? Blue Hole might be just the place for you. This swimming hole has striking blue water, which is refreshing in summer. The hole is 80 feet deep, and people love to practice freediving here. Additionally, it is a popular place for scuba divers.
You may want to move around a lot while exploring all of New Mexico, staying in different areas of the state. A New Mexico RV rental makes it easy to change locations without having to pack up all your things each day to move on.
