National Scenic Byway · New Mexico

Turquoise Trail

NM 14 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, from Tijeras past the Sandia Crest spur to the old mining towns of Madrid and Los Cerrillos.

Also known as Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway; NM 14

Turquoise Trail: Ortiz Mountains

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length62 miles[1]New Mexico Tourism calls it a 52-mile byway.
  • Drive timeAbout two hours, including backtracking[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsNM-14, with a spur on NM-536 to Sandia Crest[2]
  • Start and endTijeras (I-40) north to the junction of NM-14 and I-25 southwest of Santa Fe[2]
  • Fees and passesNo fees for driving the byway[1]
  • Best seasonYear-round; fall and spring are the busiest seasons[3]
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesBring a jacket into the mountains; snow can bring chain or four-wheel-drive requirements between October and March.[3]
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

The Turquoise Trail is the back road between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It leaves I-40 at Tijeras and follows NM-14 north through pinon and juniper hills to I-25 just southwest of Santa Fe. It is named for the turquoise deposits found in the area.

A spur on NM-536 climbs through the Cibola National Forest to Sandia Crest, where the road ends, so plan to backtrack. Farther north, Madrid and Los Cerrillos are small, distinctive artists' communities.

It takes only a bit longer than the interstate. Allow about two hours including the Sandia Crest spur.

Stops along the way

  1. Sandia Crest

    Top of the NM-536 spur, where the road ends.

    Official information · 35.20894, -106.44781 · about 0.2 mi from the route line

  2. Tijeras

    South end, where NM-14 leaves I-40 east of Albuquerque.

    Official information · 35.08089, -106.38809 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

  3. Madrid

    Small artistic community on NM-14.

    Official information · 35.40671, -106.15253 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  4. Los Cerrillos

    Small artistic community north of Madrid.

    Official information · 35.43721, -106.12603 · about 0.4 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Food events nearby

Dated public events within about 50 miles, during the drive's best months, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in New Mexico

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Turquoise Trail (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. Turquoise Trail (Recreation.gov) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. Turquoise Trail: Visitor Services (byways.org, FHWA National Scenic Byways Program) (archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in New Mexico · All scenic drives