7-day New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary

7-Day Family Friendly New Mexico Itinerary

How to Spend 7 Days in New Mexico with Kids: A Family-Friendly Road Trip You’ll Never Forget

If you’ve ever dreamed of a road trip that blends national parks, colorful cities, fascinating history, and jaw-dropping landscapes, but family-friendly, then New Mexico might just be your perfect match. From climbing ancient cliff dwellings and sledding down white gypsum dunes to hiking through red rock canyons and eating some of the best Mexican food you’ve ever had, this one-week itinerary is packed with adventure, learning, and plenty of space to make lifelong memories with your kids.

This is the exact route we took through New Mexico (with a little dip into Texas!) — and I’m breaking it down day-by-day so you can follow along or customize your own version. Let’s hit the road!

Getting there

We made the drive from Wichita to Santa Fe, which was around 8.5 hours. If you are flying, you will fly into Albuquerque, which is just 45 minutes south of Santa Fe. Feel free to switch around days as needed to reduce your drive time.

Day 1: Exploring Santa Fe

We kicked off our week in the vibrant and historic city of Santa Fe, and instantly fell in love. The adobe-lined streets, the art, the colors, the mountains in the background… it’s the kind of place that feels like you’re walking through a painting.

We started with a self-guided walking tour through the downtown historic district. The plaza is the heart of the city, and it’s surrounded by museums, shops, and local vendors selling handmade jewelry, pottery, and art. It’s the perfect place to grab a quick bite for lunch and soak in the atmosphere. Make sure to stop at Cathedral Park/Cathedral Basilica, The Oldest House, Loretta Chapel, and San Miguel Chapel- all are very interesting historic sites.

In the afternoon, we made our way to Meow Wolf for a unique and immersive art experience. If you’ve never heard of it, imagine a giant interactive art installation where every room is like stepping into a dream. Neon lights, hidden doors, secret passageways, sound tunnels. Our kids were completely enthralled, and honestly, so were we. It’s weird in the best way.

To end the day, we stretched our legs on a short family-friendly hike in the Atalaya Mountain area. We had a little trouble finding parking near St. John’s College (where the trailhead is), but once we got going, the views were beautiful and it was the perfect way to end our first night in New Mexico.

Note: We started the Atalaya Mountain trail, which is 4.5 miles out and back, but turned around about a mile in because our kiddos were tired. It’s a beautiful area- just go in as far as you want and turn around when you get tired! 

Day 2: Bandelier National Monument + Scenic Drive Through the Jemez Mountains

On day two, we traded city streets for cliff dwellings and canyons. Just under an hour from Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument is such a unique look back into the history of New Mexico and is a must see. Start at the Visitor Center, where your kids can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet — then head out on the Pueblo Loop Trail.

This 1.4-mile loop is packed with history. You’ll walk through ancient ruins, climb ladders into carved-out caves, and imagine what life was like here 800 years ago. The trail does include stairs and ladders, so sturdy shoes are a must. We ended the hike with the optional spur trail to the Alcove House, a large ceremonial space high up in the cliffs. It’s incredible, but the climb is steep and includes four long ladders. We made the decision to have one adult go up solo while the other stayed down with the kids, which worked great for us.

After lunch at the park’s little café, we hit the road through the Jemez Mountains, and let me tell you- this drive is gorgeous. We visited over Spring Break in mid-March, and due to recent snow, many of the higher-elevation trails were closed, but we still found plenty of areas to explore. We hiked the short trail to Jemez Falls, then stopped at the Soda Dam (a natural rock formation with a waterfall running through it) and then continued to the Gilman Tunnels, where we walked through tunnels carved into the cliffs and ended at a picture-perfect waterfall.

To access Gilman Tunnel Falls, park your vehicle where the road is closed, then enter and walk along it. You will walk through several tunnels and come across a stunning waterfall at the end. 

If you are visiting during warmer months, definitely download the AllTrails app and check out some of the other trails in the area!

Day 3: Rest + Play at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort

After two days of go-go-go, we slowed things down for day 3. We checked into the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, a beautiful, family-friendly resort located on tribal land north of Albuquerque.

We loved spending the day exploring this resort- there is so much here to do! We rode bikes down dusty trails to visit the horses at the stables, splashed in the heated pool, played yard games, and relaxed on the patio while the sun set over the mesas. The resort has bikes in every size (including trailers for toddlers), and the grounds are full of places to explore.

We had dinner at one of the on-site restaurants, which offered incredible views and delicious food, and ended the night roasting complimentary marshmallows around the firepit. It was the perfect balance of fun and rest, and I cannot recommend this resort enough!

My only regret- not staying an extra day here!

Day 4: Albuquerque + Ancient Petroglyphs

Refreshed and recharged, we headed south to Albuquerque the next morning for a mix of outdoor exploration and indoor fun.

We started at Petroglyph National Monument, where more than 20,000 ancient images are carved into volcanic rock. We stopped at the Visitor Center to pick up Junior Ranger booklets, then hiked the Mesa Point Trail, a short and easy ½-mile loop that winds past dozens of petroglyphs. There’s no shade here, so bring water, sunscreen, and hats, and try to get here early in the day.

From there, we headed to Explora! Science Center & Children’s Museum, which was a total hit with our kids. This place is hands-on, creative, and packed with STEM-focused fun. We easily spent a few hours exploring every corner.

Pro-tip: This museum is part of the ASTC program, which grants you free admission if you hold a membership at another participating museum! 

We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner at El Patio de ABQ, where we devoured plates of New Mexican enchiladas and sopapillas.

Day 5: ABQ Biopark + Slot Canyon Adventures

We started our morning at the ABQ Biopark, which includes a zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens. For time’s sake, we skipped the zoo and focused on the aquarium and gardens. The aquarium is small but well-done, and the gardens had lots of fun features for kids, including a whimsical children’s garden.

Don’t miss lunch at the aquarium café, where you can eat next to a giant tank full of sharks and rays!

After lunch, we hit the road south toward Alamogordo, but not without a couple epic stops along the way. First up: San Lorenzo Canyon, a tucked-away red rock canyon with winding paths and boulders to scramble over.

Pro tip: GPS won’t take you directly there, so enter these coordinates into your GPS: 34.222995, -106.922238.

We also made a detour at the Las Cruces Slot Canyon, where the narrow passageways and towering rock walls made us feel like we were on another planet!

Day 6: White Sands National Park

This day was the highlight of the entire trip. If you’ve never seen White Sands National Park, it’s hard to describe; the rolling white dunes look like snow, but they’re actually soft, cool gypsum sand. And the best part? You can sled down them!

We arrived early in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds. First stop was the Visitor Center to grab our Junior Ranger booklets, then we bought a sled from the gift shop (you can also bring your own). We spent hours climbing, sledding, laughing, and taking in the surreal beauty all around us.

Find all the tips and details of our day at White Sands here. 

There are also several short hiking trails through the dunes if you want to explore more. Pack a picnic lunch (there are shaded picnic tables throughout the park) and plenty of water. The sun here is intense, even when the temperatures are mild.

After we finished at the park, we made the 3-hour drive east to Carlsbad, where we stayed the night.

Day 7: Carlsbad Cavern & Guadalupe Mountains

We saved two incredible national parks for our final day of this epic road trip.

We started at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where we picked up Junior Ranger booklets and then entered the cave via the Natural Entrance Trail. This 1.25-mile descent winds down into a massive underground world full of stalactites, stalagmites, and cathedral-like chambers. It’s unlike anything else we’ve ever experienced. It is a long walk down, but so worth it, especially because you can take the elevators back up.

Read more about our day at Carlsbad Caverns here. 

After lunch, we crossed the Texas border to explore Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We stopped at the Pine Springs Visitor Center, where we stretched our legs on the short Pinery Trail, a half-mile loop that passes the ruins of an old stagecoach station.

There are so many unique hiking trails here to explore, so make sure to take a look at the map and pick one that works for your family!

Final Thoughts

New Mexico is one of the most underrated family road trip destinations in the country. It’s wild and beautiful, full of surprises, and rich with culture, history, and natural wonder. Our week was filled with everything we love most about travel: exploration, connection, and those magical moments of being immersed in someplace completely new.

If you’ve been dreaming of a trip that blends national parks, vibrant cities, outdoor adventure, and unforgettable family moments… add New Mexico to your list. It’s a road trip you’ll talk about for years to come.