New Mexico and Tombstone, AZ on motorcycle

We plan to rent a motorcycle (fly and ride) in the NM area in May or June. We mainly want to see NM, but my husband does want to go to Tombstone. We are thinking 5-7 days.

Looking for ideas of routes - the more scenic the better. I%26#39;m hoping to pick up the bike in Mesa, AZ and drop it off in Albuquerque as those are the 2 placed listed for rentals.

Also any ';must sees'; along the way. We are open to B%26amp;Bs, spas, and authentic (but nice) places to stay along the way.

New Mexico and Tombstone, AZ on motorcycle

I just found out we cannot pick up and drop off a bike at different locations, so we would fly into and leave from Albuquerque - still possible to see all we want to in 5-7 days?

If not, we would still like ideas on scenic routes and must sees on the bike

New Mexico and Tombstone, AZ on motorcycle

Tombstone is a long way from Albuquerque, not sure if it is really worth the trip.

With 7 days you can cover some nice territory. How many hours on a bike do you want to spend?

Here are some roads to look at.

Hwy 14 the Turquoise Trail from east of Abq to Santa Fe.

West on I40 for a while to Grants, then south on Hwy 53 through El Malpais Nat Mon to El Morro Nat Mon and Zuni Pueblo. Ending up in Gallup NM.

From Santa Fe head north to Taos via the High Road and back to Santa Fe via the River Road

Santa Fe to Los Alamos to Bandelier Nat Mon to Jemez Springs to Bernalillo.

By the most direct route, which is basically I-25 to I-10, it will take almost seven hours to ride from Albuquerque to Tombstone-- not worth it, especially when that stretch of I-25 is pretty boring.

If you%26#39;re looking for a beautiful ride, NM152 from where it connects to I-25 near Truth or Consequences to where it ends just east of Silver City is a great way to spend an afternoon.

I too would concentrate on the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos areas, and save Tombstone for a trip when you can fly into Tucson sometime.

Since you may have up to 7 days. I would also encourage a trip up to SW Colorado, and the Durango, CO area (about 220 miles from ABQ). Mesa Verde National Park is just to the west of Durango, and US550 north from Durango is some of the most beautiful scenery in the Rockies! Some of it is above the timber-line, with many switchbacks, and horseshoe curves. If you are an experienced motorcyclist, this is a beautiful ride, popular with many of the 2-wheel genre. It would still be ';cool'; up there in May and June also.

You could either go to SW Colorado from Taos, across Northern New Mexico, via Pagosa Springs. CO, or directly from Albuquerquerque on I-25, then US550, from Bernalillo (17 miles north of Albuquerque.) The old mining towns of Silverton, and Ouray could make up for a missed Tombstone on this trip.

The Harley-Davidson dealer on Alameda (Thunderbird H-D) is the primary, and perhaps only renter I know of personally here in Albuquerque.

Thanks! I think you are all right, 7 hrs of a boring ride isn%26#39;t a good way to spend a vacation. We are up for 4-8 hours a day of riding.

We are willing to ride and stay at different places too, helping with the round-trip time from the same place.

Thanks! I look forward to looking into your suggestions and am sure we will have more questions!

Some places you may enjoy spending the night... Gallup, Raton, Las Vegas NM (no gambling), Taos, Cimarron, Tucumcari, Farmington and Chama. Just a few places to look at. Visit www.newmexico.org . Plus ask the folks at the Harley place when you rent, they will have some great ideas for you!

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