Santa Fe, New Mexico — Trip Plan ✈️
A detailed day-by-day trip plan for an 18ft RV adventure from Star, Idaho to Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. Summer/Fall 2026.
Trip Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Starting Point | Star, Idaho |
| Destination | Santa Fe, NM & surrounding areas |
| Distance | ~1,000 miles one way |
| Total Trip | 10–14 days recommended |
| Best Time | Late September – early October (golden aspens, Balloon Fiesta, monsoons ending, perfect weather) |
| Rig | 18ft self-contained RV / camper |
Day 1: Star, ID → Moab, UT (6.5 hours driving)
Route
Star → I-84 south → Twin Falls → I-15 south → I-70 east → Moab
Along the Way
- Shoshone Falls (Twin Falls) — quick 30-min detour for the "Niagara of the West"
- Fuel up in Green River, UT before heading south to Moab
Evening
- Camp: Free BLM dispersed camping along Hwy 128 (Colorado River corridor) or Willow Springs Road area
- Sunset over red rock canyon walls from your campsite
Don't Miss
- Drive the Colorado River Scenic Byway (Hwy 128) on the way in — stunning red rock canyon along the river
Day 2: Moab Day (Optional — or drive on)
If you have time, spend a day in Moab. If not, head straight to Santa Fe (7 hours).
If You Stay
- Morning: Arches National Park — Delicate Arch viewpoint, Windows Section, Double Arch
- Afternoon: Dead Horse Point State Park — one of the most photographed viewpoints in Utah
- Evening: Dinner in Moab, beers at Moab Brewery
If You Drive On
- Moab → I-70 east → US-191 south → I-40 east → I-25 north → Santa Fe
- Long drive day but beautiful — Colorado Plateau to the Sangre de Cristos
Day 3: Arrive Santa Fe — Explore the City
Camp Setup
- Hyde Memorial State Park — 20 minutes from the plaza, 8,300 ft in the pines, $10–$14/night
- Or Black Canyon Campground (Santa Fe NF) — 30 min, free–$10/night, more secluded
Afternoon & Evening — Santa Fe Essentials
- Santa Fe Plaza — Walk the historic center, browse Native American jewelry under the Palace of the Governors portal
- Canyon Road — Stroll half a mile of 100+ art galleries in adobe buildings (free to browse)
- Dinner: The Shed (famous red chile enchiladas) or Tomasita's (green chile everything). Get there early — lines form.
- Evening: Walk the plaza at dusk, grab a margarita at La Fonda rooftop bar
Day 4: Santa Fe Culture Day
Morning
- Meow Wolf (House of Eternal Return) — Immersive art experience like nothing else. Walk through a portal in a Victorian house into surreal worlds. Tickets (2026): $52 adult, $41 children 10–13, $22 New Mexico resident. Book ahead at tickets.meowwolf.com — frequently sells out. Plan 2–3 hours.
Afternoon
- Museum Hill — Museum of International Folk Art (incredible miniature collections) and Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
- Or Georgia O'Keeffe Museum downtown — small but powerful collection
Evening
- Ten Thousand Waves — Japanese-style outdoor hot spring spa in the mountains above town. Reservations recommended. Soak under the stars in a cedar-lined tub. Worth the splurge.
- Or catch a performance at the Santa Fe Opera (if visiting June–August) — open-air opera house with mountain sunset views. Tailgate in the parking lot before the show (a beloved local tradition).
Day 5: Bandelier & Tent Rocks
Morning — Bandelier National Monument (50 min from Santa Fe)
- Main Loop Trail (1.4 miles) — Walk among ancient cliff dwellings, climb wooden ladders into cave rooms carved by the ancestral Puebloans 700+ years ago
- Alcove House — Climb 140 ft of ladders to a reconstructed kiva in a natural alcove. Not for the faint of heart, but incredible.
- Allow 2–3 hours
Afternoon — Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks (45 min from Santa Fe)
- Cave Loop + Canyon Trail (3 miles) — Walk through a narrow slot canyon among volcanic tent-shaped formations, then climb to a panoramic overlook. One of the most unique hikes in the Southwest.
- ⚠️ Reservation REQUIRED (2026): Tent Rocks is now reservation-only via Recreation.gov. Open Thursdays–Mondays only, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays/Wednesdays and from December 15 – January 31 each year.
- Two fees required:
- Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass: $20 adult, $10 children 2–16 (obtained from the Pueblo)
- BLM Recreation.gov ticket: $6/person
- Total ~$26/adult
- Plan ahead: Book your Recreation.gov ticket and arrange the Cochiti Pueblo pass before driving out — no walk-up entry.
Evening
- Return to Hyde Memorial SP or head toward the Jemez Mountains for tomorrow
- Pick up green chile stew at a Santa Fe roadside stand on the way back
Day 6: Jemez Mountains — Hot Springs & Volcanoes
Route
Santa Fe → Hwy 4 west → Jemez Springs → Valles Caldera → loop back (1.5 hrs each way)
Morning
- Valles Caldera National Preserve — 13-mile wide volcanic caldera. Enormous grassy meadow surrounded by mountains, often with elk herds grazing. Stop at the visitor center and take a short hike. Surreal landscape.
Afternoon
- Jemez Falls — Short walk to a beautiful waterfall in the pines
- Soda Dam — Pull over and see this bizarre natural dam of mineral deposits across the Jemez River. Free, roadside.
- Soak — Options:
- Spence Hot Springs (free, natural hillside pools — 5-min uphill hike, clothing optional common)
- Jemez Hot Springs / Giggling Springs ($18–$25, developed pools, more relaxing)
- San Antonio Hot Springs (free, remote, tiered forest pools — rough road + 1-mi hike, worth it if you're adventurous)
Evening
- Camp: Jemez Falls Campground ($12/night, forested, quiet) or San Antonio Campground ($10/night)
- Campfire under the pines in the caldera
Day 7: High Road to Taos
Route
Santa Fe → Chimayo → Truchas → Taos (80 miles, half-day scenic drive with stops)
This is one of the most beautiful drives in New Mexico — winding mountain roads through traditional Spanish villages that haven't changed much in centuries.
Stops Along the Way
- Chimayo — Visit the Santuario de Chimayo, the "Lourdes of America." Tiny adobe pilgrimage church with "holy dirt" believed to have healing powers. Buy a chile ristra at a roadside stand.
- Truchas — Tiny mountain village with sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo peaks. This is where the movie "Milagro Beanfield War" was filmed.
- Trampas — 18th-century mission church (San José de Gracia). One of the finest Spanish colonial churches in the US.
Afternoon — Taos
- Taos Pueblo — UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuously inhabited for 1,000+ years. Multi-story adobe buildings. Entry $16. Respect photography rules — ask before shooting, some areas are off-limits.
- Taos Plaza — Browse galleries and shops. Smaller and more intimate than Santa Fe.
Evening
- Camp: Orilla Verde Recreation Area (BLM, on the Rio Grande, $7–$15/night) — dramatic volcanic gorge setting
- Or Cuchilla Campground (Carson NF, free–$7, forested)
Day 8: Rio Grande Gorge & Taos Area
Morning
- Rio Grande Gorge Bridge — Walk across the 650-ft-high bridge spanning the 800-ft deep gorge. Free. Vertigo-inducing views straight down to the Rio Grande. One of the most dramatic viewpoints in NM.
- West Rim Trail — Hike along the gorge rim for more views (as far as you want, up to 9 miles one way)
Afternoon — Choose Your Adventure
Option A: Wheeler Peak (highest point in NM, 13,167 ft)
- 8 miles RT, strenuous. Start early (lightning risk in afternoon). Above treeline with alpine tundra. Stunning 360° views.
- Trailhead at Taos Ski Valley (Williams Lake TH)
Option B: Rafting the Rio Grande
- Half-day raft trip through the Taos Box — Class III–IV whitewater in a 800-ft deep gorge. Multiple outfitters in Taos ($50–$100/person). An unforgettable experience.
Option C: Relax
- Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs — 45 min south of Taos. Historic hot springs with multiple mineral pools (iron, arsenic, lithia, soda). Adobe architecture. Day soak $24–$54. Pure relaxation.
Evening
- Dinner in Taos — Orlando's (New Mexican classics) or Love Apple (farm-to-table in a chapel)
- Return to camp
Day 9: Enchanted Circle Drive
Route
84-mile loop: Taos → Angel Fire → Eagle Nest → Red River → Questa → Taos
Highlights
- Angel Fire — Vietnam Veterans Memorial (moving hilltop memorial)
- Eagle Nest Lake — Mountain lake with fishing. Stop for a break.
- Red River — Old West mining town turned ski resort. Charming main street. Grab lunch.
- Questa — Gateway to Wild Rivers Recreation Area
- Wild Rivers Recreation Area (optional detour) — Where the Red River meets the Rio Grande in a deep gorge. Rim camping with incredible views. Short trails descend to the rivers and hot springs.
Afternoon/Evening
- Complete the loop back to Taos or camp at Wild Rivers ($7/night, first-come)
- Last Taos dinner — hit whatever you missed
Day 10: South to Chaco Canyon (3 hours from Taos)
Route
Taos → I-25 south → US-550 west → Chaco Canyon access road
⚠️ Important
- Chaco access road is 13–21 miles of rough dirt/gravel. Passable in 18ft but go slow (25 mph). Do NOT attempt after rain — clay becomes impassable.
- Check road conditions before going: call the visitor center (505-786-7014)
- Fill up on gas and water before entering — nothing out here
Afternoon
- Arrive and set up camp at Gallo Campground ($15/night, reserve Loop A on recreation.gov)
- Pueblo Bonito — Walk through the largest great house. 600+ rooms, 40 kivas, perfectly aligned with solar and lunar events. Mind-blowing that this was built 1,000 years ago.
- Casa Rinconada — Great kiva aligned with the summer solstice
Evening — Stargazing ⭐⭐⭐
- Chaco is an International Dark Sky Park. This is some of the best stargazing in the entire US.
- The Milky Way arcs overhead in vivid detail. You'll see more stars than you thought existed.
- Bring a camera with manual settings for astrophotography
- Ranger-led night sky programs available (check schedule)
Day 11: Chaco Morning → Head Back Toward Santa Fe
Morning
- Sunrise at Chaco — soft light on ancient stone walls
- Pueblo del Arroyo and Chetro Ketl — more great houses to explore
- Petroglyph trails along the canyon walls
Afternoon
- Drive back to the Santa Fe area (3 hours)
- Camp option: Return to Hyde Memorial SP or Caja del Rio BLM (free, mesa-top dispersed camping 20 min from Santa Fe)
Evening
- Final Santa Fe evening — revisit anything you missed
- Stock up on souvenirs: turquoise jewelry, pottery, chile ristras, Chimayo weavings
Day 12: White Sands Day Trip (Optional — adds 1 day)
If you have extra time, White Sands is 3.5 hours south and absolutely worth it.
Drive
Santa Fe → I-25 south → US-380/US-70 → White Sands National Park
At the Park
- Dunes Drive — 8-mile scenic road into the heart of the white gypsum dunes
- Alkali Flat Trail (5 miles) — Walk deep into the dune field. Surreal and otherworldly. Bring lots of water.
- Sunset — The dunes turn pink, orange, and purple. One of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever see.
- Sled the dunes! (Buy a saucer at the gift shop — $20)
Camp
- Oliver Lee Memorial State Park (30 min from White Sands, $10–$14/night) — dramatic desert canyon at the base of the Sacramento Mountains
Return
- Drive back to Santa Fe the next day, or head directly home via I-25 north
Days 13–14: Return to Star, ID
Route Home (reverse Day 1–2)
Santa Fe → I-25 north → I-70 west → Moab area → I-15 north → I-84 → Star
Split into 2 days
- Day 13: Santa Fe → Moab/Green River area (7 hours). Camp one more night in the red rocks.
- Day 14: Moab → Star (6.5 hours). Home.
Alternate: Southern Route via Flagstaff/Vegas
Santa Fe → I-40 west → Flagstaff → I-15 north → I-84 → Star (longer but passes through Petrified Forest, Flagstaff, and Sedona options)
Budget Estimate
| Category | Estimate |
|---|
| Fuel (2,000+ miles RT, ~8 mpg) | $600–$800 |
| Campgrounds (10–12 nights, mix of free/paid) | $100–$200 |
| Food & Groceries | $300–$500 |
| Activities (Meow Wolf $52pp, pueblos, hot springs, park fees) | $200–$300 |
| National Park Pass | $80 (covers Bandelier, White Sands, Chaco, Carlsbad) |
| Misc (souvenirs, propane, dump fees) | $100–$150 |
| Total Estimate | $1,380–$2,030 |
Pre-Trip Checklist
- Reserve Gallo Campground Loop A at Chaco (recreation.gov)
- Reserve Hyde Memorial SP sites (newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Book Meow Wolf tickets ($52 adult — sells out, especially weekends)
- Book Ten Thousand Waves spa (optional)
- Check Santa Fe Opera schedule (June–August only)
- Buy/renew America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year)
- Download offline maps (Google Maps / Gaia GPS) — cell service is spotty in rural NM
- Check Chaco road conditions closer to trip date (505-786-7014)
- Reserve Tent Rocks (Kasha-Katuwe) via Recreation.gov AND obtain Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass — both required, only open Thu–Mon
- Fill propane, top off water, check tires before leaving Star
Quick Tips
- "Red or green?" — Every restaurant will ask. This means red or green chile. "Christmas" = both. Always say Christmas your first time.
- Altitude: Santa Fe is 7,000 ft. Drink way more water than you think you need. Take it easy Day 1.
- Monsoons (July–Sept): Storms roll in between 2–5 PM like clockwork. Plan outdoor activities for morning. Never camp in a dry wash.
- Respect pueblos: They are sovereign nations and active communities, not tourist attractions. Follow all posted rules.
- Cash: Carry small bills for pueblo entry fees, roadside chile stands, and art purchases
- Fall timing: If you can go late September / early October — golden aspens, perfect weather, and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (first two weeks of October, 500+ balloons). Peak magic.
¡Vamos a Santa Fe! 🏕️🌶️🦞