Colorado Springs to Santa Fe drive: Best stops, distance and time
The best road trip stops on the Colorado Springs to Santa Fe drive are Pueblo CO, Raton NM and Las Vegas NM. The distance from Colorado Springs to Santa Fe by car is 326 miles, with a 4h36m driving time.
Planning a Colorado Springs to Santa Fe road trip itinerary
The Colorado Springs to Santa Fe drive takes you from one of the biggest cities in Colorado to the historic capital of New Mexico.
Colorado Springs is at the foot of the Rockies – most notably the 14,114ft-high Pikes Peak. You can take a Jeep tour to the top, or go via the cog railway. The other natural highlight is the Garden of the Gods, a park with giant red sandstone formations jutting out towards the sky. Ways of exploring include Jeep tours, ebike adventures and Segway tours.
Other interesting Colorado Springs experiences include falconry classes, food tours, hot air balloon flights and ziplining.
For memorable Colorado Springs accommodation with character, go for the Great Wolf Lodge or the Mining Exchange.
Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the US, and has a huge arts scene. The glut of adobe architecture makes the New Mexico capital highly photogenic. These buildings are best seen on an architecture walking tour.
Fab Santa Fe experiences include history walks covering the city’s past, on-the-move photography classes and New Mexican food tours through the evocative Santa Fe Plaza.
For other options, try small group e-bike tours through lesser-known areas of the city and ghost story tours.
If you want memorable Santa Fe accommodation, try the Hacienda in the Railyard Arts District or the adobe-style La Fonda on the Plaza.
Top tip for Santa Fe
The Canyon Road Arts District plays a huge part in Santa Fe’s distinctive character. But with 80-plus galleries, it’s difficult to know where to start looking. Taking a Canyon Road Arts District tour with an art historian guide helps you zero in on the most interesting works. You’ll also get to chat to the artists and gallery curators. Find out more here.
David Whitley, editor of Best3Stops.
Colorado Springs to Santa Fe distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Colorado Springs to Santa Fe is 326 miles. You can expect a driving time of around four hours and 36 minutes. The quickest route is via the I-25, although there is a shorter, more scenic mountain route via Taos.
The best stops to add to a Colorado Springs to Santa Fe road trip itinerary are Pueblo CO, Raton NM and Las Vegas NM.
Best stops between Colorado Springs and Santa Fe: Pueblo CO
Pueblo CO is on the Front Range of the Rockies, but it’s not all about the mountains. From a cultural perspective, El Pueblo History Museum looks at the various ethnic groups in the region inside a recreated adobe trading post. The Rosemount Museum, meanwhile, is a 37-room mansion with the late 1800s furnishings retained.
The Arkansas River is the heart of Pueblo, however. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk brings bars, restaurants, parks and boat cruises together.
Well-reviewed Pueblo accommodation options include the historic, character-packed Orman Mansion and the good value Wingate.
Colorado Springs to Santa Fe road trip attractions: Raton NM
Raton NM lies just to the south of the scenic, 7,834ft-elevation Raton Pass, which straddles the Colorado/ New Mexico border. This was once one of the key points on the Santa Fe Trail. There’s a scenic overlook on the Colorado side, and a camp and café on the New Mexico side.
Raton is also the gateway to the Sugarite Canyon State Park, which offers all manner of outdoor activities and plenty of wildlife viewing.
Colorado Springs to Santa Fe drive: Las Vegas NM
Las Vegas NM doesn’t have nearly as much neon as its Nevada namesake. But it has a couple of thing worth looking at. The Dwan Light Sanctuary uses carefully-placed prisms to create a light show with sunlight. The City of Las Vegas Museum looks at the heritage of the self-styled wildest town in the West. And the Storrie Lake State Park is a great bet for fishing, birdwatching and windsurfing.
More Colorado Springs road trips
Amarillo to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Aspen | Boulder to Colorado Springs | Castle Rock to Colorado Springs | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Colorado Springs | Denver to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Estes Park | Fort Collins to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Glenwood Springs | Grand Junction to Colorado Springs | Kansas City to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Vail.
More Colorado Springs road trips
Colorado Springs to Albuquerque | Amarillo to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Aspen | Boulder to Colorado Springs | Castle Rock to Colorado Springs | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Colorado Springs | Denver to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Estes Park | Fort Collins to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Glenwood Springs | Grand Junction to Colorado Springs | Houston to Colorado Springs | Kansas City to Colorado Springs | Omaha to Colorado Springs | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City | Colorado Springs to San Antonio | Tucson to Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs to Vail.