Guide to Driving the Turquoise Trail

The Turquoise Trail is a scenic highway linking Albuquerque and Santa Fe through rolling hills with mountain views and quaint historic mining towns. The Trail begins to the South in Tijeras and the Cibola National Forest, then heads north through Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Edgewood, Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos, before ending in the San Marcos/Lone Butte Area.

Many begin their drive along the Turquoise Trail just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Take Exit 278A of I-25 south of Santa Fe and you are headed south along the beautiful Turquoise Trail. Here's a map of the Turquoise Trail (.pdf) as seen above.

Tips for Enjoying the Turquoise Trail

• Gas up - there are no gas stations along the rural part of the trail
• Plan to stop in Madrid to eat. There are not many restaurants on the rural parts of the trail
• Allow a half day if you are driving with just a few stops - a full day if you are going to enjoy exploring the historic towns and Tinkertown Museum