El Paso to Santa Fe road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time
The distance from El Paso to Santa Fe by car is 329 miles, with a 4h47m driving time. The best road trip stops on the El Paso to Santa Fe drive are Las Cruces, Elephant Butte Lake State Park and Albuquerque.
Planning an El Paso to Santa Fe road trip itinerary
The El Paso to Santa Fe road trip connects the biggest city in west Texas to the capital of New Mexico.
El Paso has plenty of stories behind it, some of which are covered on the Ghosts, Haunted Cowboys and Outlaws tour. You can also explore the surrounding landscape on a UTV adventure tour, or going biking, hiking and rock-climbing in Franklin Mountains State Park.
As for other El Paso attractions, the National Border Patrol Museum looks at the work of those who monitor the US’ borders, with a little bit too much emphasis on weaponry. The El Paso Museum of Archaeology, meanwhile, looks at the prehistory of the South West.
To track down the best El Paso hotel deals, head here.
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.
El Paso to Santa Fe distance and driving time
By car, the distance from El Paso to Santa Fe is 329 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 47 minutes. The quickest route is largely straight up the I-25.
The best stops to add to an El Paso to Santa Fe road trip itinerary are Las Cruces, Elephant Butte Lake State Park and Albuquerque.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the El Paso to Albuquerque drive and Albuquerque to Santa Fe drive.
Best stops between El Paso and Santa Fe: Las Cruces
Las Cruces lies on the Rio Grande and the cusp of the Chihuahuan Desert. The Organ Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop, and the most wholesome thing you can do here is go hiking in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
However, there’s also a lively bar and restaurant scene, thanks in part to the New Mexico State University. Attractions-wise, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum has art to go with the agricultural history.
Well-reviewed Las Cruces accommodation includes the charismatic Hotel Encanto and the solidly affordable Best Western Mission Inn.
El Paso to Santa Fe road trip attractions: Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Elephant Butte Lake State Park is New Mexico’s largest state park. It comes with 15 miles of hiking and biking trails plus a campground and playground. The focus, however, is justifiably on the lake. Boats are available for hire at the marina, but passing visitors are likely to be more interested in going for a swim.
El Paso to Santa Fe drive: Albuquerque
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.
More El Paso road trips
Abilene to El Paso | El Paso to Albuquerque | Amarillo to El Paso | Austin to El Paso | El Paso to Colorado Springs | Dallas to El Paso | Denver to El Paso | Fort Worth to El Paso | El Paso to Galveston | Houston to El Paso | El Paso to Phoenix | San Antonio to El Paso | El Paso to Tucson.
Santa Fe road trips
Albuquerque to Santa Fe | Amarillo to Santa Fe | Austin to Santa Fe | Colorado Springs to Santa Fe | Dallas to Santa Fe | Denver to Santa Fe | Flagstaff to Santa Fe | Houston to Santa Fe | Las Cruces to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Sedona to Santa Fe | Santa Fe to Tucson.