ABQ - SF itinerary
Mar 9th, 2013, 06:36 AM
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ABQ - SF itinerary
DebitNM & ElendilPickle & others,
You've helped me map out half of my trip and now I'm planning the ABQ to SF segment.
I have limited time, which I know is not ideal, but for various reasons, I am confined to 3 nights for this segment. This is in late May, so have long daylight hours.
1) Should an overnight in ABQ before heading to SF be a priority due to elevation? I did experience some shortness of breath in Bryce Canyon, Utah.
2) I am questioning three possible routes:
- drive early AM from ABQ (via Rt 25), stopping at Tent Rocks, overnight SF.
Next day Bandelier, continue Rt 4 into ABQ, overnight ABQ. This would give us all day
for this segment as could arrive ABQ late. Fly home 2 PM next day.
- drive ABQ to SF (via Turquoise Trail), back track to tent Rocks, overnight SF.
Next day same as above.
- Drive ABQ to SF (via Rt 25), stoping at Tent Rocks, overnight SF. Next morning in SF,
afternoon day trip to Bandelier, return for second overnight in SF.
Drive Turquoise Trail to airport for return flight at. 2 PM. This misses Rt. 4 drive through
Jemez, etc. and means driving day of airport departure.
Sounds complicated when I write it out....Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Lottie
You've helped me map out half of my trip and now I'm planning the ABQ to SF segment.
I have limited time, which I know is not ideal, but for various reasons, I am confined to 3 nights for this segment. This is in late May, so have long daylight hours.
1) Should an overnight in ABQ before heading to SF be a priority due to elevation? I did experience some shortness of breath in Bryce Canyon, Utah.
2) I am questioning three possible routes:
- drive early AM from ABQ (via Rt 25), stopping at Tent Rocks, overnight SF.
Next day Bandelier, continue Rt 4 into ABQ, overnight ABQ. This would give us all day
for this segment as could arrive ABQ late. Fly home 2 PM next day.
- drive ABQ to SF (via Turquoise Trail), back track to tent Rocks, overnight SF.
Next day same as above.
- Drive ABQ to SF (via Rt 25), stoping at Tent Rocks, overnight SF. Next morning in SF,
afternoon day trip to Bandelier, return for second overnight in SF.
Drive Turquoise Trail to airport for return flight at. 2 PM. This misses Rt. 4 drive through
Jemez, etc. and means driving day of airport departure.
Sounds complicated when I write it out....Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Lottie
Mar 9th, 2013, 07:41 AM
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I have been to ABQ and SF around a dozen times in the last 7 years. I have doen the Rt 4 Bandlier, Valle Caldera, Jemez, red Rock loop from SF to ABQ, and I have gone to Tent Rocks and driven the Turquoise Trail.
I think you are giving short shrift to Santa Fe with your itineraries. Instead you are giving almost all the time to the places btwn the two (Tent Rocks, Bandalier, rest of Rt 4). The only exception is option 3, whihc gives you an afternoon, evening, and next morning in SF.
If that is your intention, that's certainly fine, but I just wanted to point that out, since SF is so nice and has so much to offer.
I drove the Turquoise trail from SF to ABQ on my last trip in January. Persoanlly, my travel companion and I saw nothing special at all in that route. We drove through Madrid and did not stop. a coule of places to eat, a few shops, a lot of broken down cars and trucks awaiting repair. Nothing charming or special that made us have any desire to stop, and we are both usually up for small towns and different routes. The trail was not particularly scenic either. It was just a different road, and a bit longer way, to get back to ABQ.
I almost always drive from SF to ABQ airport the day of departure. It is an easy 1 hr drive on the hwy. And rent car return is at an easy centralized location at ABQ airport, with constant 5 min shuttles to the airport. No problem doing that at all.
I had bad response to altitude in SF in Jan. on my most recent trip, passed out, etc. I know with altitude it is most important where you sleep. So perhaps a night in ABQ bfore SF would help, I don't know. The thing is that there is no way to predict if you will have problems or not w/altitude. Every time you go to altitude is a new even- your past respon is no prediction of any future response to altitude. So having a prior problem does not mean you will have it again, and not having a prior problem does not mean you won;t have it on your next time at altitude. I had been to SF so many times previously (and have gone to 10,000 ft. in Peru with no problems) and had no problems at all. But then in Jan., I ended up in the Emergency Rm, in SF. I leanred on this trip from the ER dr. it is totally unpredictable.
I think you are giving short shrift to Santa Fe with your itineraries. Instead you are giving almost all the time to the places btwn the two (Tent Rocks, Bandalier, rest of Rt 4). The only exception is option 3, whihc gives you an afternoon, evening, and next morning in SF.
If that is your intention, that's certainly fine, but I just wanted to point that out, since SF is so nice and has so much to offer.
I drove the Turquoise trail from SF to ABQ on my last trip in January. Persoanlly, my travel companion and I saw nothing special at all in that route. We drove through Madrid and did not stop. a coule of places to eat, a few shops, a lot of broken down cars and trucks awaiting repair. Nothing charming or special that made us have any desire to stop, and we are both usually up for small towns and different routes. The trail was not particularly scenic either. It was just a different road, and a bit longer way, to get back to ABQ.
I almost always drive from SF to ABQ airport the day of departure. It is an easy 1 hr drive on the hwy. And rent car return is at an easy centralized location at ABQ airport, with constant 5 min shuttles to the airport. No problem doing that at all.
I had bad response to altitude in SF in Jan. on my most recent trip, passed out, etc. I know with altitude it is most important where you sleep. So perhaps a night in ABQ bfore SF would help, I don't know. The thing is that there is no way to predict if you will have problems or not w/altitude. Every time you go to altitude is a new even- your past respon is no prediction of any future response to altitude. So having a prior problem does not mean you will have it again, and not having a prior problem does not mean you won;t have it on your next time at altitude. I had been to SF so many times previously (and have gone to 10,000 ft. in Peru with no problems) and had no problems at all. But then in Jan., I ended up in the Emergency Rm, in SF. I leanred on this trip from the ER dr. it is totally unpredictable.
Mar 9th, 2013, 08:39 AM
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emd3 - I very much appreciate your thoughtful response and it has helped me greatly.
From my research, I was not sure that the Turquoise Trail was a must do for me and you have confirmed that. Also, you have highlighted my main dilemma - drive more or spend more time in SF (even though that amount of time is not nearly enough).
If I drive from SF to ABQ airport on day of departure, I can fit in an overnight in ABQ before heading to SF. That sounds like a good plan (altitude and time wise).
I will consider all of your suggestions. Is Bandelier as day trip from SF reasonable? Any idea how many hours to allow? We will not be hiking but long walking trails are OK.
From my research, I was not sure that the Turquoise Trail was a must do for me and you have confirmed that. Also, you have highlighted my main dilemma - drive more or spend more time in SF (even though that amount of time is not nearly enough).
If I drive from SF to ABQ airport on day of departure, I can fit in an overnight in ABQ before heading to SF. That sounds like a good plan (altitude and time wise).
I will consider all of your suggestions. Is Bandelier as day trip from SF reasonable? Any idea how many hours to allow? We will not be hiking but long walking trails are OK.
Mar 9th, 2013, 10:49 AM
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Bandalier is only one hr drive from Santa Fe, so very doable as a half day trip. Get up early and head over there. There are many flat walking trails going towards the cliff dwellings. If you are not going to go up to the cliff dwellings themselves, I'd say 2 hrs at most for the visit. We stopped at a grocery store on the nwy leading up to Bandlier and got stuff for a picnic and at in a nice spot under tree cover at Bandalier w/picnic tables.
This site will give you the info you need for visiting Bandlaier:
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/directions.htm
This site will give you the info you need for visiting Bandlaier:
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Mar 9th, 2013, 03:57 PM
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Having just driven both the turquoise trail and rt 25 from SF to ABQ I would certaily say that TT is more scenic and interesting but not worth a detour ( although I loved Madrid) on the day of travel and not worth missing a trip t o the Jemez for.
Mar 10th, 2013, 04:13 AM
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Lee Ann & jubilada,
Ordinarily, I like to do a combination of cities and scenic drives. This time I have to make a choice.
I am now thinking that if i stay 2 nights in SF, with a day trip to Bandelier, I still will not have time to do much in SF, especially on day of departure. I think I would need to be at car return by noon. So if this is a somewhat wasted day, plan 1 might be best.
Ordinarily, I like to do a combination of cities and scenic drives. This time I have to make a choice.
I am now thinking that if i stay 2 nights in SF, with a day trip to Bandelier, I still will not have time to do much in SF, especially on day of departure. I think I would need to be at car return by noon. So if this is a somewhat wasted day, plan 1 might be best.
Mar 10th, 2013, 08:26 AM
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Upon arrival I would hit the road to Santa Fe skipping the Turquoise Trail since you have limited time. As mentioned above it doesn't have a lot to offer and falls low on the "to do" list with your schedule. Plus, I don't think overnighting in ABQ is necessary for the altitude adjustment.
Basing yourself in Santa Fe would give you evenings to have a taste of Santa Fe and enjoy some of their great restaurants and its ambiance. I think you have plenty of time to overnight in SF your last night and after Sunday brunch or a walk up Canyon Road drive to ABQ to drop off your rental car and catch a 2pm flight.
With all of the walks and hikes you may want to look into Ten Thousand Waves Spa one evening to soak your tired body after your full days of driving and hiking.
Basing yourself in Santa Fe would give you evenings to have a taste of Santa Fe and enjoy some of their great restaurants and its ambiance. I think you have plenty of time to overnight in SF your last night and after Sunday brunch or a walk up Canyon Road drive to ABQ to drop off your rental car and catch a 2pm flight.
With all of the walks and hikes you may want to look into Ten Thousand Waves Spa one evening to soak your tired body after your full days of driving and hiking.
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