Adobe towns, art roads & high-country light
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Northern New Mexico High Desert
Abiquiú to Taos
Abiquiú and Taos sit about 70 km (44 mi) apart in a straight line, with Taos to the east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Northern New Mexico High Desert itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 70 km · 44 mi
- Est. road distance
- 84–99 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h – 2 h
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Northern New Mexico High Desert itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 84–99 km (52–61 mi) of road and 1 h – 2 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Most travelers rent a car for the scenic roads between Santa Fe, Taos and Abiquiu, often flying into a regional airport first. The High Road to Taos is a popular route. Santa Fe's historic center and Taos Plaza are walkable.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Taos
Spend two days: Taos Pueblo, the gorge and Earthships, then galleries, green chile and margaritas around the Plaza.
Taos Pueblo
Multi-story adobe village lived in for over 1,000 years; a UNESCO site.
Williams Lake Trail
Alpine hike from Taos Ski Valley to a lake below Wheeler Peak.
Orlando's New Mexican Cafe
Popular local New Mexican spot north of town with a fire-pit patio.
Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn
'Living room of Taos' with margaritas and live music most nights.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Steel bridge 650 feet above the Rio Grande, among the highest in the US.
Earthship Biotecture Visitor Center
Self-guided tour of off-grid homes built from tires, bottles and earth.
Before you leave Abiquiú
Spend a full day among the red cliffs O'Keeffe painted: tour her home, hike at Ghost Ranch and Plaza Blanca, soak at Ojo Caliente.
On this curated route
Where Abiquiú → Taos sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Taos to Abiquiú is the same 70 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in April, when Taos averages highs 2°C cooler than Abiquiú.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abiquiú high | 6° | 8° | 14° | 19° | 24° | 31° | 32° | 30° | 26° | 20° | 12° | 6° |
| Taos high | 5° | 6° | 12° | 17° | 22° | 29° | 30° | 28° | 25° | 18° | 10° | 5° |
| Abiquiú rain | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 64 | 53 | 45 | 32 | 23 | 31 |
| Taos rain | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 71 | 57 | 46 | 32 | 24 | 32 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Taos month guides.
Abiquiú to Taos: questions travelers ask
How far is Abiquiú from Taos?
Abiquiú is about 70 km (44 mi) from Taos in a straight line, with Taos to the east. By road, we estimate 84–99 km (52–61 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Abiquiú to Taos?
An estimated 1 h – 2 h, assuming 84–99 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Abiquiú to Taos?
Our Northern New Mexico High Desert itinerary includes this leg. Northern New Mexico High Desert runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Mar – May.
Getting to Abiquiú
- Santa Fe to Abiquiú 67 km
Guides for both ends
- Abiquiú travel guide
- Abiquiú weather best time to visit
- Taos travel guide
- Taos weather best time to visit
Taos by month
Plan Abiquiú → Taos with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.