New Mexico
Trip Ideas|Road Trips

Road Trip To 3 Different Wineries On The New Mexico Wine Shuttle

New Mexico Wine Tours offers guided shuttle tours to various award-winning wineries in northern New Mexico.

Published Nov 12, 2019

Written by 

Monica Spencer

Did you know New Mexico is the oldest wine-producing state in the country? In 1629, the first vines were planted near Socorro in an effort to produce communion wine and have since become known as the Mission grape.

If you’re looking to partake in a smidgen of this history, visiting one of New Mexico’s 40-some wineries is the perfect way to get started. Not sure where to begin? Board this amazing New Mexico wine shuttle for a leisurely tour of a few of the state’s enchanting wineries and vineyards.

New Mexico Wine Tours is a Santa Fe-based company that specializes in various wine-centered tours. The shuttle is one of four different tours they offer and will take you to three wineries in northern New Mexico.

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Gruet Winery/Facebook

During the ride, you’ll embark on a guided tour with a small group of friends and fellow wine enthusiasts. In addition to tasting various wines at local vineyards, you’ll also get to enjoy a fresh lunch and charcuterie boards.

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New Mexico Wine Tours/Google

Which wineries will you visit? Guides will take you to a trio of tasting rooms, choosing from Black Mesa Winery, Vivác Winery, La Chiripada Winery, and Gruet Winery.

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New Mexico Wine Tours/Google

Black Mesa Winery is known for its red wines, such as its award-winning cabernet sauvignon and the chocolate-y dessert wine, Black Beauty.

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Black Mesa Winery/Facebook

Vivác Winery is a wonderful little mountain refuge with some wonderfully rich red wines and award-winning bright white wines.

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Vivác Winery/Facebook

La Chiripada is New Mexico’s oldest winery, and their decades of award-winning wines back up that claim. Their white wines are crisp and perfect for a warm afternoon.

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La Chiripada Winery & Vineyard/Facebook

For those with a more delicate palate, Gruet Winery will be a definite hit. This location is known for its bottles of sparkling wines from pinot noir and chardonnay.

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Gruet Winery/Facebook

Which of these locations would you want to visit while on the tour?

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New Mexico Wine Tours/Facebook

Website: newmexicowinetour.com

Phone: (505) 250-8943

Looking forward to a remote getaway in the picturesque San Juan River Valley that also includes wine? Be sure to check out Wines of the San Juan, an exquisite winery in the tiny town of Blanco, New Mexico. Read more in The Remote Winery In New Mexico That’s Picture Perfect For A Day Trip.

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Trip Ideas|Road Trips

The Unexpected New Mexico Road Trip That Connects Las Cruces To White Sands National Monument

Published Jul 24, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

Ready for another New Mexico road trip adventure? This one starts in Las Cruces with an endpoint at White Sands National Monument, and there are a few stops in between. You can use this Google Maps link as your guide on this road trip. Now, gas up the car or charge your EV, and let's hit the road!

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The driving time for this road trip is just over 2 hours and 85 miles each way. Depending on how much time you spend at each stop, you may be able to do this in a day. If not, there's an overnight option I'll throw in at the end.

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Google Maps

1. Starting Point: Las Cruces

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DenisTangneyJr/E+ via Getty Images

This adventure starts in the city of Las Cruces. Home to historic sites, shops, restaurants, and more, it's a great day-trip destination if you don't live here. Explore all you want to see, like the Mesilla Plaza and the Recycled Roadrunner Sculpture, before heading to the outskirts of town to our next stop.

2. Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park

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Lisa Munson/AllTrails

Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park may not be as popular as White Sands but it's still worth a visit. This underrated state park includes just over 300 acres of land by the Rio Grande and has a visitors' center with exhibits, over 2 miles of hiking trails, gardens, picnic areas, and more. It's also a great place to go birdwatching, so make sure you bring a pair of binoculars with you.

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3. Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

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Bureau of Land Management/Flickr

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is a BLM park that's celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024. This park offers so much in terms of geological, prehistoric, and historic sites. It's also a beautiful spot with the Organ Mountains dotting the landscape. Definitely take a camera with you as you'll want to snap as many pics as possible.

4. Aguirre Spring National Recreation Area and Campground

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Shane Markham/Google Reviews

Stopping at the Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground gives you another view of the Organ Mountains. You may also choose to camp here for a night or two if you'd like as well. There are 55 campsites that are first-come, first-served. The campground is located at the base of a set of cliffs and overlooks both the Tularosa Basin and White Sands which happens to be our next and last stop.

5. White Sands National Monument

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Mark Newman/The Image Bank via Getty Images

The last, and perhaps best, stop on this unexpected New Mexico road trip is the natural wonder known as White Sands National Monument. With a desert filled with gypsum crystals against an azure-blue sky, well, it's as picture-perfect a place can be. When exploring the park, you can hike the dunes, go sledding on the snow-white hills, and even go for a scenic drive through the otherworldly landscape. This place feels like a dream when you visit for the first time but I assure you, it's real!

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If you need a place to stay near White Sands National Monument, this

"" target="_blank">Cozy Adobe Casita in Tularosa is just a 30-minute drive away.

Are you as excited about this New Mexico road trip as I am? Are there any stops you would add between Las Cruces and White Sands? Let us know!

Before you head out on this trip, take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for all the things you'll need for the car, and don't forget the snacks!

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Trip Ideas|Road Trips

New Mexico Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Discover 11 must-do road trips in New Mexico, each with its own unique attractions and scenic routes.

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Written by 

Chris Muras

The best way to explore the Land of Enchantment is undoubtedly by car – that’s how you reach the most remote and rewarding places in the state. However, if you are on the hunt for the best road trips in New Mexico and are feeling a little overwhelmed, we have you covered. From tours of waterfalls to a journey through some of New Mexico’s most iconic natural wonders, here are 11 of the best road trips in New Mexico that belong on your bucket list. Each one has its own New Mexico road trip map that you follow along.

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For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can't forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

1-Day Road Trip In New Mexico

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Kent Kanouse/Flickr
  • Route: Santa Rosa > Montezuma > Las Vegas, > Santa Fe >
  • Distance: 185 miles
  • Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

3-Day Weekend Road Trip In New Mexico

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Jasperdo/Flickr
  • Route: Albuquerque > Mountainair > Carrizozo > San Antonio > Albuquerque
  • Distance: 370 miles
  • Trip Time: 6.5 hours driving time

New Mexico Volcanoes Road Trip

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Jeremy Taylor/Flickr
  • Route: Albuquerque > Grants > Quemado > Shiprock > Cabezon Peak > Jemez Springs > Capulin > Carrizozo > Las Cruces
  • Distance: 1,377 miles
  • Trip Time: 24 hours driving time
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New Mexico Pie Shop Road Trip

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  • Route: Ruidoso > Cloudcroft > Las Cruces > Deming > Silver City
  • Distance: 247 miles
  • Trip Time: 4.5 hours driving time

Best New Mexico Road Trip For Spring

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  • Route: Soda Dam Springs > Jemez Falls > Bandelier National Monument > White Rock > Nambe Falls > Kachina Road > Williams Lake
  • Distance: 164 miles
  • Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
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Best Summer Road Trip In New Mexico

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Doug Aghassi/Flickr
  • Route: Elephant Butte Lake State Park > Caballo Lake State Park > Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park > Oliver Lee Memorial State Park > Brantley Lake State Park > Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park > Bottomless Lakes State Park > Sumner Lake State Park > Manzano Mountains State Park > Elephant Butte Lake State Park
  • Distance: 854 miles
  • Trip Time: 15 hours driving time

Best New Mexico Road Trip For Fall

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  • Route: Santa Fe > Chimayo > Taos > Eagle Nest > Red River > Tres Piedras > Tierra Amarilla > Chama
  • Distance: 353 miles
  • Trip Time: 8 hours driving time
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Best Winter Road Trip In New Mexico

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  • Route: Taos > Santa Fe > Madrid > Albuquerque > Belen
  • Distance: 190 miles
  • Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

Family Friendly New Mexico Road Trip

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  • Route: Santa Fe > Albuquerque > White Sands National Monument > Roswell
  • Distance: 415 miles
  • Trip Time: 7 hours driving time

Road Trip to New Mexico Landmarks & Natural Wonders

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  • Route: Shiprock > Bisti / De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area > El Malpais National Monument > White Sands National Park > Carlsbad Caverns National Park > Sandia Crest > Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument > Valles Caldera > Rio Grande Gorge Bridge > Shiprock
  • Distance: 1,429 miles
  • Trip Time: 26 hours driving time
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Road Trip to Best Small Towns in New Mexico

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Michael Koukoullis/Flickr
  • Route: Sandia Park > Madrid > Los Cerrillos > Chimayo > Peñasco > Mora > Pecos > Corrales > Placitas > Sandia Park
  • Distance: 349 miles
  • Trip Time: 7 hours driving time

Did our list of New Mexico road trip ideas inspire you to explore this beautiful state? Do you prefer weekend road trips in New Mexico or quick road trips in New Mexico? Tell us all about your favorite New Mexico road trip you've taken with a comment. Whether you'd get excited about driving through the stunning Organ Mountains, hiking to the Riverbend Hot Springs, or spending the day at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, there is a road trip through New Mexico with your name on it.

Here are even more road trip ideas in New Mexico to put on your bucket list. And, for more travel inspiration, take a look at this stunning footage of the Bisti Badlands:

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