Drive from ABQ to Taos
Jan 21st, 2003, 04:17 AM
#4
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I think it's about 3 hours about half of which is on I-25. Once you get to Santa Fe you can take a more scenic route to Taos through Chimayo and Truchas. It's a gorgeous trip but it will make your total journey longer than 3 hours.
The roads seemed good to me and reasonably well maintained but you seem pretty stressed about the possibility of driving in snow. Even a highway can be hazardous in a snowstorm.
The roads seemed good to me and reasonably well maintained but you seem pretty stressed about the possibility of driving in snow. Even a highway can be hazardous in a snowstorm.
Jan 21st, 2003, 04:56 AM
#5
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What the above poster says sounds right. There are two ways to get to Santa Fe: the old highway and the new one. The difference in travelling time is slight (maybe 10-20 minutes) but the old highway goes through three very interesting little towns; the new one bypasses them. If you're not in a big hurry, I'd recommend the old road. It's much prettier. The "high road" from Santa Fe to Taos is also gorgeously scenic, and I wouldn't call it scary unless you're completely unfamiliar with driving in the mountains. It's certainly well-maintained. It was a bit snowy when we were there - in August! I don't know how it would be in the winter. The main road is like any thruway, and again if you're not in a big hurry or too concerned about snowy conditions, I'd recommend the slower route. It's really lovely.
Jan 21st, 2003, 11:31 AM
#6
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I just returned from the Santa Fe/Taos area on January 4th. We drove the "high road" (actually a series of smaller, interconnecting roads) from Santa Fe to Taos. There was snow on the ground, but no snow on the road. The road is very well maintained but we found that the road signs were hard to follow in a few sections. If you are looking to make good time, definitely take the highway and avoid the "high road". If you want scenery and interesting villages, take the "high road". I've never driven straight through from ABQ to Taos. But, I can tell you that the drive from ABQ to Santa Fe is almost exactly an hour, and from Santa Fe to Taos, about 2 hours, give or take. Good luck.
Jan 22nd, 2003, 06:04 AM
#8
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Regarding high road vs. low road between Santa Fe and Taos...
If you are only taking the high road one way, it is usually recommended that you take the low road on the way up to Taos, and the high road when you return. This is because the scenery on the high road will be spread out before you as you come down the mountain, as opposed to over your shoulder as you go up it.
The roads are not scary, although I haven't been when there was snow.
If you are only taking the high road one way, it is usually recommended that you take the low road on the way up to Taos, and the high road when you return. This is because the scenery on the high road will be spread out before you as you come down the mountain, as opposed to over your shoulder as you go up it.
The roads are not scary, although I haven't been when there was snow.
