Austin to Albuquerque road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Austin to Albuquerque drive are Brownwood TX, Lubbock TX and Santa Rosa NM. The distance from Austin to Albuquerque by car is 696 miles, with an 11h15m driving time.
Planning an Austin to Albuquerque road trip itinerary
The Austin to Albuquerque drive connects the capital of Texas to the biggest city in New Mexico.
Austin is renowned for its live music scene, although it has plenty of more conventional attractions too. These include Austin Zoo, the Museum of Ice Cream and the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Top Austin experiences include ebike tours taking in the city highlights, haunted pub crawl walks and segway tours.
You can also try highly-rated downtown food tours, half day wine shuttles in the Hill Country, brewery-hopping beer tours and sightseeing on a boat cruise.
For Austin hotel recommendations, try band crashpad chic meets rainbow bathrobes at the Hotel San Jose and the unashamed rock star swagger of the W.
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks, nature tours by bike and guided hops between craft breweries . You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
Austin to Albuquerque distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Austin to Albuquerque is 696 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 11 hours and 15 minutes. The quickest route goes along the TX-183, US-84 and I-40.
The best stops to add to an Austin to Albuquerque road trip itinerary are Brownwood TX, Lubbock TX and Santa Rosa NM.
Best stops between Austin and Albuquerque: Brownwood TX
Brownwood TX is primarily known as the home of Howard Payne University, although the Brown County Museum will tell you more about the city’s frontier past.
Lake Brownwood State Park to the north-west is a good spot for fishing, boating and swimming. Kids, meanwhile, tend to enjoy the water slides of the Camp Bowie Aquatic Center.
Austin to Albuquerque road trip attractions: Lubbock TX
Lubbock is home to the Texas Tech University, which plays host to the National Ranching Heritage Center. This explains the history and culture of ranching across Texas and further afield.
There’s also the Museum of Texas Tech University, which has dinosaurs and a planetarium. Perhaps the most interesting attraction, though, is the Buddy Holly Center, which celebrates the local boy music star who died tragically early.
For something a little cuter, you can visit the prairie dogs at Prairie Dog Town Park.
Good Lubbock accommodation options include the good value La Quinta and the personality-packed Cotton Court Hotel.
- For more suggestions, read the guide to the Austin to Lubbock drive.
Austin to Albuquerque drive: Santa Rosa NM
Santa Rosa NM bills itself as the Scuba diving capital of the Southwest, largely thanks to the Blue Hole. This 81ft deep pool, fed by an artesian spring, is naturally heated to 62 degrees year-round. Divers need a permit, swimmers don’t.
Another alternative for swimming is Park Lake, which is patrolled by lifeguards in summer and has an inflatable obstacle course that’s very popular with children.
Car-lovers, meanwhile, can enjoy the Route 66 Auto Museum.
If stopping for the night, accommodation in Santa Rosa is all motel chains.
- For more ideas, visit the guide to the Santa Rosa to Albuquerque drive.
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