Las Cruces to Santa Fe road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Las Cruces to Santa Fe drive are Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Socorro NM and Albuquerque. The distance from Las Cruces to Santa Fe by car is 285 miles, with a 4h13m driving time.

Planning a Las Cruces to Santa Fe road trip itinerary

The Las Cruces to Santa Fe drive connects the second biggest city in New Mexico to the state’s capital.

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.

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.

Las Cruces to Santa Fe distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Las Cruces to Santa Fe is 285 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 13 minutes. The quickest route is up the I-25.

The best stops to add to a Las Cruces to Santa Fe road trip itinerary are Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Socorro NM and Albuquerque.

For more suggestions, read the guides to the Las Cruces to Albuquerque drive and Albuquerque to Santa Fe drive.

Las Cruces 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.

Best stops between Las Cruces and Santa Fe: Socorro NM

The town of Socorro NM began life as a Spanish mission. The historic plaza is the most attractive part of Socorro, but the parks along the Rio Grande are arguably more alluring for a brief stop.

For outdoors types, the Blue Canyon trailhead is just to the south of town. For cultural attractions, the Hammel Museum covers local history in a former ice plant and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum hosts lots of rare, colourful mineral specimens.

The Comfort Inn and Suites is arguably the best of Socorro’s motels.