Anniversary road trip

My husband and I have decided on a Southwestern road trip for our 15th wedding anniversary. Would really appreciate some feedback on our preliminary itinerary. The only thing we know for sure is that we’re flying into Las Vegas, NV (from Mpls.) and flying home from Albuquerque. Here’s what we’re thinking. Open to suggestions!

Sun., Apr. 26: fly into Las Vegas, in the a.m., stay over

Mon., Apr. 27: stay another day/night in Las Vegas

Tues., Apr. 28: drive to and spend the day in Sedona, AZ (275 mi), stay over

Wed., Apr. 29: drive to and spend the day in Zuni Pueblo (220 mi), stay over

Thurs., Apr. 30: drive to and spend the day in Taos, NM (306 mi), stay over

Fri., May 1: stay another day/night in Taos

Sat., May 2: drive to and spend the day in Santa Fe (70 mi), stay over

Sun., May 3: drive to Albuquerque (65 mi) to fly home

We’re pretty set on 2 nights in Las Vegas and 3 nights in Taos/Santa Fe. Everything in between is fair game, as long as we can keep the mileage at or under 300 miles on any given day. Is there anything we shouldn%26#39;t miss along the way?Thanks so much in advance for your help.

Anniversary road trip

You are missing the best place to see in the SW, Grand Canyon. Lodging near Zuni Pueblo is very limited.

Day 1-Sun arrive Las Vegas

Day 2-Mon Vegas

Day 3-Tue Drive to Sedona. If you have not seen Grand Canyon, then go there instead.

Day 4-Wed Sedona in AM, then drive to New Mexico. I would consider visiting Acoma Pueblo, then stay in Abq for the night.

Day 5-Thu Santa Fe

Day 6-Fri Santa Fe or Taos

Day 7-Sat Santa Fe

Day 8-Sun Depart

Anniversary road trip

Thanks for the speedy reply. We were iffy about ZP and don%26#39;t know much about it — just looking for something that was close to halfway between Sedona %26amp; Taos. (Albuquerque might be a little too far to go in one day). We%26#39;ve both been to GC a couple times, but are still toying with skipping Sedona and checking out Bryce and/or Zion instead. Such tough decisions, but super excited.

In my opinion the drive between Sedona and Albuquerque is a very easy drive. Interstate with no traffic, 75 mph speed limit, cruise control virtually the entire way.

There%26#39;s not much to the Zuni Pueblo and not much in way of lodging in that area. However, the drive through that area is pretty and the El Morro National Monument is very interesting IMO. Sedona to say Grants, is about 290 miles. We drove from Holbrook to Albuquerque that same way, about 250 miles and with stops at Zuni and El Morro it took us the whole day. You could just go along I-40 to Albuquerque and stop at Acoma.

If it was me I wouldn%26#39;t go to LV. I think the things you can see in AZ and NM are much more interesting (personally, I just don%26#39;t see what the big deal with LV is). Since you intend to spend the majority of your time in AZ and NM maybe Flagstaff or Albuquerque would be a better starting point.

My suggestions for some things to see or do in NM are the Taos Pueblo, the Enchanted Circle drive, El Rancho de las Golondrinas (a living history museum just south of Santa Fe), Albuquerque Old Town and Bandelier National Monument. There%26#39;s also the Petrified Forest National Park in AZ.

First, congratulations on your anniversary.

As far as I know, there is only one accomodation at Zuni Pueblo, and that is the Inn at Halona, a B%26amp;B. There is not much to really ';see'; at Zuni...save your pueblo visits for Acoma and Taos Pueblo, which are the ';stars'; of New Mexico.

My recommendation would be:

Sunday - Into Las Vegas, stay overnight

Monday - Las Vegas, and overnight

Tuesday - Drive to Sedona, being sure to use Alt.89 from Flagstaff to Sedona. Overnight

Wednesday - Morning in Sedona...return to Flagstaff, and drive east on I-40. You%26#39;ll pass Petrified Forest National Park if you are interested. Continue to Gallup, and overnight in Grants. (The scenery from Flagstaff to Albuquerque cannot be compared to what you will enjoy in Northern New Mexico, so I would make time from Sedona to Albuquerque on I-40.)

Thursday - From Grants, visit Acoma Pueblo (the Sky City, on a lofty mesa-top, arguably the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S.) In Albuquerque visit historic Old Town (conveniently located just off I-40 on Rio Grande Blvd.), and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (museum/ restaurant/ shops, etc. owned and operated by the 19 remaining Pueblo villages in NM), then drive on to Santa Fe for the afternoon/evening, overnight in Santa Fe. Just a mention that there are also some very nice casinos in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo/Santa Fe areas.

Friday - Morning in Santa Fe, drive to Taos in the afternoon...take in Taos Pueblo / Taos Plaza area. Overnight in Taos.

Saturday - Taos in the morning / return to Santa Fe for the afternoon and evening, overnight.

Sunday - Breakfast and ? in Santa Fe, return to Albuquerque International Sunport (perhaps you could get a late afternoon flight out of Albuquerque?)

You later mention possibly visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon from Las Vegas...now that%26#39;s an entirely different route! :-) When you decide, please come calling again, and we%26#39;ll all offer our opinions, and hopefully personal experience as well.

Hi, everyone. Thanks again for taking the time to reply to these posts — the insight you provide is invaluable. So much so, that after spending several hours here on TA, we%26#39;ve changed our itinerary to focus entirely on NM (Plus, one-way airfare from ABQ to MSP is over $500/ea. Yikes!) So now we%26#39;re flying RT to ABQ. Definitely still want to experience Sedona, but we%26#39;ll do that another time. Here%26#39;s our revised itinerary (unfortunately had to lose a day from original plan):

Sun., Apr. 26: arrive in Albuquerque, drive to Taos, stay Taos

Mon., Apr. 27: see Taos Pueblo, stay Taos

Tues., Apr. 28: drive to Santa Fe via Turquoise Trail, see Bandelier Nat%26#39;l Monument, stay SF

Wed., Apr. 29: see Chimayo or Madrid, stay SF

Thurs., Apr. 30: drive to ABQ, see Old Town, Acoma Pueblo tour, stay ABQ

Fri., May 1: take Sandia Tram and see Petroglyph Nat%26#39;l Mon., stay ABQ

Sat., May 2: depart ABQ

Are we missing anything that we%26#39;ll regret? Does anyone think we can fit in an overnight at Ojo Caliente? Could really use a spa day. Thanks again in advance. Couldn%26#39;t plan a trip without this site and all you guys.

Sounds good. Here%26#39;s some tweaking...

Sun., Apr. 26: arrive in Albuquerque. What time do you arrive? If early enough the drive to Taos will be nice. Stay in Taos.

Mon., Apr. 27: see Taos Pueblo, stay Taos

Tues., Apr. 28: drive to Santa Fe. You can not drive from Taos to Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail, this highway is between Abq and Santa Fe. You can take either the High Road or River Road from Taos to Espanola, then drive up the hill to Los Alamos to see Bandelier Nat%26#39;l Monument. You can also see Chimayo on the way. Stay SF

Wed., Apr. 29: Spend the day in Santa Fe, visiting the Plaza, museums, Canyon Road, churches etc. Stay SF.

Thurs., Apr. 30: drive to ABQ via Hwy 14, the Turquoise Trail. Stop and see Madrid along the way. Not too much there, but fun for a short visit. Head on to Abq to see Old Town, Acoma Pueblo tour, stay ABQ

Fri., May 1: take Sandia Tram and see Petroglyph Nat%26#39;l Mon., stay ABQ

Sat., May 2: depart ABQ