Living in Albuquerque means having an incredible variety of family adventures within a few hours of home. From immersive art and mountain forests to underground caves and enormous white sand dunes, New Mexico offers plenty of places to explore with toddlers.
Here are 15 family-friendly weekend trips to add to your list.
1. Santa Fe + Meow Wolf
About 1 hour from Albuquerque
Start with Santa Fe for an easy family getaway. Explore the Plaza, enjoy local restaurants, and spend a few hours at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, an immersive art experience filled with colorful rooms, secret passages and interactive installations.
2. Bandelier National Monument
About 1.5 hours
Explore ancient cliff dwellings and archaeological sites at Bandelier. The Pueblo Loop Trail offers a manageable introduction to hiking and lets kids see historic dwellings and dramatic canyon scenery.
3. Jemez Springs
About 1–1.5 hours
Head into the mountains for pine forests, scenic drives, picnic spots and easy nature walks. Jemez is perfect for a slower weekend surrounded by nature.
4. Roswell
About 3 hours
Go on an alien-themed adventure in Roswell. Visit the UFO attractions, look for alien art around town and embrace the wonderfully quirky side of New Mexico.
5. Carlsbad Caverns
About 4.5–5 hours
Explore an incredible underground world at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The Big Room offers a fascinating walk through the cavern, with enormous formations and a completely different landscape beneath the desert.
6. White Sands National Park
About 3.5 hours
White Sands is one of New Mexico’s most unforgettable family destinations. Explore the enormous gypsum dunes, build sand creations and try sledding down the hills.
7. Ruidoso
About 3 hours
Escape to the mountains in Ruidoso for forests, wildlife, scenic drives and outdoor adventures. It’s a great destination for a relaxing family weekend.
8. Cloudcroft + Lincoln National Forest
About 3.5 hours
Trade the desert for tall pines in Cloudcroft. Explore Lincoln National Forest, take a short hike and enjoy the cooler mountain air.
9. El Malpais National Monument
About 1.5 hours
Discover an unusual volcanic landscape filled with lava flows, sandstone formations and dramatic scenery. Families can combine scenic drives with shorter walks and overlooks.
10. El Morro National Monument
About 2 hours
Visit the enormous sandstone bluff at El Morro and explore the historic inscriptions left by travelers over hundreds of years. It’s a great combination of hiking, history and scenery.
11. Pecos National Historical Park
About 1.5 hours
Explore ancient pueblo ruins, historic sites and open landscapes at Pecos. It’s close enough to combine with a Santa Fe visit for a full weekend of history and outdoor exploration.
12. Madrid + Cerrillos Hills
About 1 hour
For a shorter getaway, head to the quirky village of Madrid. Browse the galleries and shops, then explore the surrounding Cerrillos Hills landscape.
13. Jemez + Valles Caldera
About 1.5–2 hours
Combine the forests of Jemez with the wide-open landscapes of Valles Caldera. Look for wildlife, enjoy a picnic and explore some of northern New Mexico’s most beautiful scenery.
14. Cibola National Forest
About 1–2 hours depending on destination
Explore the mountains and forests surrounding Albuquerque in Cibola National Forest. There are opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching, picnicking and enjoying the scenery without committing to a long road trip.
15. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
Near Cochiti Pueblo
Explore the distinctive cone-shaped rock formations at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The unusual landscape makes this a fun destination for families who want to see something completely different from the forests and desert around Albuquerque.
Making Memories Close to Home
Traveling with toddlers doesn’t have to mean flying somewhere far away. From Albuquerque, some of New Mexico’s most memorable landscapes are just a road trip away.
Whether you’re exploring a mysterious art installation in Santa Fe, hiking through a national forest, searching for aliens in Roswell or running down the dunes at White Sands, these weekend trips offer plenty of opportunities to get outside and discover something new together.
