One leg of an upcoming road trip has us driving from Carlsbad to Albuquerque during one day (leaving mid-morning).

We can see on maps that there are several routes we could take, but we don't have any idea which ones are more scenic or interesting than others. Adding an extra hour or two for a more interesting drive is fine with us.

Any suggestions? Does it matter?

I think the only thing you could do to add scenery to that drive is to go west from Carlsbad and drive up and through Cloudcroft. Then work west to I25. Any other way you go will take you through miles of nothing. (My suggestion also includes miles of nothing, but it catches some beauty at least).

Yeah, I figured we'd want to head west like you're suggesting. 285 to the north looks like a whole lot more of nothing, unless you just really want to go through Roswell.

But it's hard to tell on a map, so I figured I'd see if anyone had any experience with it.

If time wasn't an issue, I would 100% go west with stops in the mountains and at white sands. Much better than Roswell

ConroeAg said:

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One leg of an upcoming road trip has us driving from Carlsbad to Albuquerque during one day (leaving mid-morning).

We can see on maps that there are several routes we could take, but we don't have any idea which ones are more scenic or interesting than others. Adding an extra hour or two for a more interesting drive is fine with us.

Any suggestions? Does it matter?

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Up to Roswell, over to Elida, up to Melrose, over to Ft. Sumner (stop and see the grave of Billy the Kid), over to Vaughn, up to Clines Corners and finally to Albuquerque. When you get to Albuquerque, you'll think it's the most beautiful place you've ever seen!

Can any of White Sands be seen from a nearby highway, or do you have to enter the park?

You need to enter the park.

I made that drive several years ago. Long doesnt begin to describe it. We went Carlsbad through Cloudcroft to Alomogordo/White Sands. We should have doubled down to Las Crusas and up the interstate but instead we went north and then over to Socorro. That was a mistake as there isn't anything along that route but rocks. We then took a side trip about an hour west from Socorro to see the VLA. Then back to Socorro and up to Albuquerque. We didn't get there until almost dark and it was in the summer.

Please make sure you have tickets for the caverns before you come to Carlsbad (if that's what you have planned and didn't know). What makes you want to stop in Carlsbad, if you don't mind me asking? The caverns are (much to the dismay of all locals and the head of the chamber of commerce) limiting total visitors to 1000/day (normal is around 8000 during the summer months). If you don't already have tickets to the caverns, consider doing sitting bull falls or something else close to Carlsbad or consider staying in ruidoso and doing the white sands loop from there to the north. If you desire to stay in Carlsbad, consider Guadalupe peak on your way in with a days hike.

As a local to Carlsbad, I can try to guide you in any way you need- just so many people coming for these caverns who get upset when they can't get in.

Thanks for your concern. We did get reservations for the caverns. We watched the website and did it as soon as it became available for the day we'll be there.

Our main trip is a week at a property in Colorado, so New Mexico for us will just be a few days of driving with some touristy stops on our way through to Colorado. We'll have to spend more time later perhaps on a more dedicated trip to NM.

Roswell to Vaughn might be the most boring drive in America.

Make your way to Highway 54. Go north through Carrizozo and keep your eyes peeled for the 349 turn off to White Oaks ghost town. Spend a few hours at the No Scum Allowed Saloon. It's a 100 some year old adobe building that's been a bar forever. Stories say Billy the Kid hung out there. You will always find interesting characters there.

Roswell - Vaughn - I-40 is probably the fastest route, but as mentioned above, it is a whole lot of nuthin'.

I would go up to Roswell, then catch 380 west. Stop in either Ruidoso or Lincoln for lunch. There is some pretty scenery in that area. Back on 380 west to I-25, then north. A little more time than the above, but definitely more to do along the way.

The ghost town suggestion above sounds interesting.

Below is a picture taken at a cemetery in the Roswell/Lincoln area. First cemetery outside of a National Cemetery that I thought I would like to be planted there.

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Living desert zoo in Carlsbad is worth a stop if you have extra time.

We always just go the Roswell-Vaughn route. It's fast and our young kids get a kick out of the ailen streetlights and whatnot.

The big key to Carlsbad, and I can not stress this enough, is to eat at Carniceria San Juan de Los Lagos

Nooooo! El charro or pecos river cafe or the Trinity are all better places (depending on style of food desired).

AustinAg008 said:

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Roswell to Vaughn might be the most boring drive in America.

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What's not to like? Counting pronghorn at 85 mph

If you aren't going to stop at White Sands (which is a pretty big detour), I'd still recommend cutting west pretty early and finding your way to I-25 via 380. You have a few options that don't add a ton of time to overall route and are way better than just heading up 285:

285->82 ->54->380->I-25. Cloudcroft is a great little town to get out and stretch your legs in. It's about 8700' elevation and will get you a nice first taste of clean mountain air before you get to Colorado. Lots of good lunch spots (I recommend a beer and zia pie at Cloudcroft Brewing). While it's not the same as going to white sands, this route has some awesome vistas of the Tularosa basin including white sands in the distance as you drop back down to 54. Once on 54, Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site is worth a short detour.

285->380->70->48->37->380->I-25. This will take you up through Ruidoso (where I live). Similar to Cloudcroft, it gets you up in to the mountains and might be a nice break to walk around a bit and grab some lunch. Also some nice scenery on the drive in and out of the mountains.

285->380->I-25 is a more direct route. This will take your through Lincoln. You can stop by the visitors center and buy tickets that allow you to tour all of the historic buildings in town - it's a tiny town and you can walk and hit all the high points within an our or two. Bonito Valley Brewing has a neat setup in a historic building there (but the beer is mediocre). Che Palle or Oso Grille in Capitan are both solid lunch options up the road in Capitan but you'll need to check that they will be open depending on the day of the week.

Once on 380, outside of Carrizozo you'll pass by Valley of Fires recreation area (lava flow area). It's different and neat, but will also be blazing hot by midday. Beyond that the drive is pretty dull for the rest of the way. As you get closer to I-25 you could hit up the Owl Bar or Buckhorn Tavern - I've never been to either but they are famous for green chili cheeeseburgers.

Check out the detail on this guy.

Thanks!

If you go the Ruidoso direction check out Three Rivers Petroglyph Site - not really on the way to anywhere but it's pretty fantastic.

The drive through Vaughn is divided highway the whole way so you can make excellent time. Some people, like me, enjoy vistas, pronghorn antelope, counting Chihuahuan Raven nests on telephone pole cross-members (how does it stay up there?) and viewing Sacramento Mountains to the west. But, there are several ways to go and none of them are really bad. There is a great little restaurant in Moriarity on IH40.

AustinAg008 said:

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Roswell to Vaughn might be the most boring drive in America.

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Roswell to Capitan is much better.