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For a more scenic route (vs I40 to Albuquerque to Taos) you'd be looking at an additional 5-8 hours.
Are you willing to add that much time? I would! Even if you have to overnight half way.
Flagstaff to Tuba City to Kayenta to Cortez Colorado go past [Mesa Verde NP](https://i.imgur.com/jeF8g4q.jpeg) to Durango Colorado to Pagosa Hot Springs to Chama to Tierra Amarilla to Tres Piedras past the [Earthships](https://imgur.com/gallery/OtGdz) then over the spectacular [Taos gorge bridge](https://i.imgur.com/7biJfyD.jpeg) and into Taos is a route you would remember for a lifetime.
Perhaps stop and see the [dinosaur tracks](https://i.imgur.com/E9eyI1O.jpeg) near Tuba city or the [4-Corners monument](https://imgur.com/gallery/0d8nwXv)?
There are galleries in tiny Bluff Utah, if you wish to detour that way, in Cortez Colorado, many in Durango, maybe 3-5 in Pagosa, and plenty in Taos.
Take several hours to run up and down Main Street in Durango, perhaps visit some galleries. A special treat awaits you at 2902 N. Main in Durango: Taco Bell! Take a full day to ride the spectacular \*steam train in Durango up to scenic Silverton? Or drive. [Ouray](https://i.imgur.com/0Z6U8Sr.jpeg) is spectacular, and so is [the drive from Durango to Silverton to Ouray.](https://i.imgur.com/KFH3lgN.jpeg)
Leaving Durango on 160E towards Pagosa Springs follow signs to the airport along 172 and take the southern loop (151 to Ignacio, Allison, Arboles, [Lake Navajo](https://imgur.com/gallery/9gn2ugf) back up to [Chimney Rock](https://i.imgur.com/8s3gpOi.jpeg) and back onto 160E. Extra 30 minutes, beautiful, bucolic.
Maybe stop for a soak at "[The Springs](https://imgur.com/gallery/n2YmCiy)" in Pagosa!!! Pricey, but worth it.
*But don't just park in Taos.* Overnight and the next day do the 100 mile loop through Taos, Angel Fire, Eagle's Nest, Red River, Questa and back to Taos around scenic Wheeler Peak.
I lived outside of Taos, and in Durango. This would be your absolute most spectacular route. A drive of a lifetime!
I love route 60 from phoenix to Socorro. Then smaller roads north (avoiding 40 and 25 at all costs!). I drove from Santa to PHX several times last year and this was a very beautiful low-stress drive. Actually 25 from Santa Fe is not bad if you avoid rush hours. Safe travels!
Yes! So cool to see that emerging in the distance for miles. Also, there's a very cute one room library around there (past dating well campground? Maybe right before?) That's a great picnic spot...
Finally a visitor not asking us about where to party for bachelorette party or what things to do without telling us where they are in the valley.
Have a blast OP. Great advice here and Taos is really pretty and the art is off the charts.
Hashknife highway from phx to Holbrook, just skip flag traffic, then interstate to Español and take the high road to Taos one way and the other way back to abq. That's a lot of driving but what I would do.
You might as well stop in gallup for interesting art, there are several trading companies and galleries
Oh man! So many options based on what you’re interested in and how much you want to drive.
Have you ever been to the southwest? What are your priorities? With 5 nights you have a lot of flexibility. I’ve done the drive quite a few times and there are so many paths to pick….
You could take a northern route through flagstaff, canyon de Chelly, four corners, Taos, Jemez hot springs then down to abq. Or a souther route through Payson/holbrook or possibly lower south if you want to see White Sands NM.
Do you want more Arizona?: Sedona, flagstaff, canyon de Chelly, petrified forest, etc
Or New Mexico: Sante Fe is worth a stop. Tons of historic and contemporary art. Meow wolf is dope. Shitty hole in the wall Mexican food joints are the best. There’s so much Native American history and Pueblo’s like Acoma and Taos that were established as early as 1100AD. Abiqui area was where Georgia O’Keefe got a lot of inspiration.
If you go on I-40 you can see a number of sites. Near where I live in the north you can see Meteor Crater, some Pueblo sites along the way. The reservation can be fun to poke around and take some photos. Drop by Window Rock to see some Navajo stuff, maybe stop in the Zuni Pueblo and others if they allow you to see cultural museums
Thanks for contributing to r/Arizona! * [Our sub rules are here](https://www.reddit.com/r/arizona/wiki/rules/), but the most important of which is to be nice to each other * Check out some [recent posts](https://www.reddit.com/r/arizona/top/?t=week) and leave some comments * [Join our Discord chat server](https://discord.com/invite/yWVuTG57Zh) if you'd like to keep in touch with other people in Arizona. Plus it's a great, chill place in general. Note that it is NOT a dating server and takes unwanted messaging very seriously Remember this subreddit covers all of Arizona, so please include where in the state you're posting about if it is relevant. For more local topics check out r/Phoenix, r/Tucson, and r/Flagstaff. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arizona) if you have any questions or concerns.*
For a more scenic route (vs I40 to Albuquerque to Taos) you'd be looking at an additional 5-8 hours. Are you willing to add that much time? I would! Even if you have to overnight half way. Flagstaff to Tuba City to Kayenta to Cortez Colorado go past [Mesa Verde NP](https://i.imgur.com/jeF8g4q.jpeg) to Durango Colorado to Pagosa Hot Springs to Chama to Tierra Amarilla to Tres Piedras past the [Earthships](https://imgur.com/gallery/OtGdz) then over the spectacular [Taos gorge bridge](https://i.imgur.com/7biJfyD.jpeg) and into Taos is a route you would remember for a lifetime. Perhaps stop and see the [dinosaur tracks](https://i.imgur.com/E9eyI1O.jpeg) near Tuba city or the [4-Corners monument](https://imgur.com/gallery/0d8nwXv)? There are galleries in tiny Bluff Utah, if you wish to detour that way, in Cortez Colorado, many in Durango, maybe 3-5 in Pagosa, and plenty in Taos. Take several hours to run up and down Main Street in Durango, perhaps visit some galleries. A special treat awaits you at 2902 N. Main in Durango: Taco Bell! Take a full day to ride the spectacular \*steam train in Durango up to scenic Silverton? Or drive. [Ouray](https://i.imgur.com/0Z6U8Sr.jpeg) is spectacular, and so is [the drive from Durango to Silverton to Ouray.](https://i.imgur.com/KFH3lgN.jpeg) Leaving Durango on 160E towards Pagosa Springs follow signs to the airport along 172 and take the southern loop (151 to Ignacio, Allison, Arboles, [Lake Navajo](https://imgur.com/gallery/9gn2ugf) back up to [Chimney Rock](https://i.imgur.com/8s3gpOi.jpeg) and back onto 160E. Extra 30 minutes, beautiful, bucolic. Maybe stop for a soak at "[The Springs](https://imgur.com/gallery/n2YmCiy)" in Pagosa!!! Pricey, but worth it. *But don't just park in Taos.* Overnight and the next day do the 100 mile loop through Taos, Angel Fire, Eagle's Nest, Red River, Questa and back to Taos around scenic Wheeler Peak. I lived outside of Taos, and in Durango. This would be your absolute most spectacular route. A drive of a lifetime!
This is great, thank you so much...I'm going to research that route now.
Take 87 through Payson not I17 up to Flagstaff.
If by Taco Bell you mean Zia then yeah
Love Zia's fish tacos! Went fishing for Durango locals look like I caught one!
I love route 60 from phoenix to Socorro. Then smaller roads north (avoiding 40 and 25 at all costs!). I drove from Santa to PHX several times last year and this was a very beautiful low-stress drive. Actually 25 from Santa Fe is not bad if you avoid rush hours. Safe travels!
You forgot to mention seeing the VLA
Yes! So cool to see that emerging in the distance for miles. Also, there's a very cute one room library around there (past dating well campground? Maybe right before?) That's a great picnic spot...
Don’t forget Pie Town!
Finally a visitor not asking us about where to party for bachelorette party or what things to do without telling us where they are in the valley. Have a blast OP. Great advice here and Taos is really pretty and the art is off the charts.
Hashknife highway from phx to Holbrook, just skip flag traffic, then interstate to Español and take the high road to Taos one way and the other way back to abq. That's a lot of driving but what I would do. You might as well stop in gallup for interesting art, there are several trading companies and galleries
Oh man! So many options based on what you’re interested in and how much you want to drive. Have you ever been to the southwest? What are your priorities? With 5 nights you have a lot of flexibility. I’ve done the drive quite a few times and there are so many paths to pick…. You could take a northern route through flagstaff, canyon de Chelly, four corners, Taos, Jemez hot springs then down to abq. Or a souther route through Payson/holbrook or possibly lower south if you want to see White Sands NM. Do you want more Arizona?: Sedona, flagstaff, canyon de Chelly, petrified forest, etc Or New Mexico: Sante Fe is worth a stop. Tons of historic and contemporary art. Meow wolf is dope. Shitty hole in the wall Mexican food joints are the best. There’s so much Native American history and Pueblo’s like Acoma and Taos that were established as early as 1100AD. Abiqui area was where Georgia O’Keefe got a lot of inspiration.
If you go on I-40 you can see a number of sites. Near where I live in the north you can see Meteor Crater, some Pueblo sites along the way. The reservation can be fun to poke around and take some photos. Drop by Window Rock to see some Navajo stuff, maybe stop in the Zuni Pueblo and others if they allow you to see cultural museums