Getting Here and Around

Santa Fe is easy to reach by plane but a full day's drive from major metro areas in the neighboring states. Unless you're up for a long road trip (the scenery en route is spectacular, especially coming from Arizona, Utah, and Colorado), it generally makes the most sense to fly here.

Most visitors to Santa Fe and north-central New Mexico fly into the state’s main air gateway, Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), which is served by all of the nation's major domestic airlines as well as some smaller regional ones; there are direct flights from all major West Coast and Midwest cities and a few big East Coast cities. From here it's an easy 60-minute drive to Santa Fe, or a 2½-hour drive to Taos (shuttle services are available). Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF) has ramped up commercial service in recent years and is an increasingly viable option with direct flights on American Airlines from Dallas and Phoenix and United Airlines from Denver. A car is your best way to get around the region. You can see much of Downtown Santa Fe and Taos on foot, but a car is handy for exploring farther afield. In Albuquerque a car is really a necessity for any serious touring and exploring. Note that it’s easy to get from Albuquerque to Santa Fe either by regularly scheduled shuttle bus or on the scenic Rail Runner commuter train.