The distance from Winslow AZ to Albuquerque NM is 265 miles, with a 3h48m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Winslow to Albuquerque drive are Petrified Forest National Park, Continental Divide and El Malpais National Monument.
Planning a Winslow AZ to Albuquerque NM road trip itinerary
The Winslow AZ to Albuquerque NM drive takes you from eastern Arizona to the biggest city in New Mexico.
Most people know Winslow, Arizona, from the Eagles song Take It Easy. Standin’ On The Corner Park is a classic, kitsch Route 66 attraction.
It’s not the only thing to see in Winslow, however. The Old Trails Museum covers local heritage, including ranching, the Santa Fe Railroad and Route 66.
Homolovi State Park, meanwhile, is home to several archaeological sites relating to the Hopi people. There are also walking trails and wildlife viewing areas.
For Winslow accommodation options, hunt down deals here.
5 great Albuquerque experiences to book
- 🎈 Admire the sunrise on a hot air balloon ride across the desert.
- 🌅 Alternatively, take your balloon ride at sunset.
- 🎬 Get on the trail of Walter White with a Breaking Bad filming locations tour.
- 🚴 Take a bike tour – and see Albuquerque’s top natural sights.
- 👻 Listen to spooky historic tales on an Old Town ghost tour.
In Albuquerque, the must-dos are the Sandia Peak Tramway cable car and Petroglyph National Memorial. Explora and the ABQ BioPark are good bets with kids in tow, while the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum explores one of the greatest places in the world for hot air ballooning.
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks and nature tours by bike. You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
Winslow to Albuquerque distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Winslow AZ to Albuquerque NM is 265 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 48 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-40.
The best stops to add to a Winslow to Albuquerque road trip itinerary are Petrified Forest National Park, Continental Divide and El Malpais National Monument.
Winslow to Albuquerque drive: Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona gets its name from the vast fossil deposits of petrified wood. Most come from the Late Triassic period, and the short walk to the Giant Logs is arguably the best place to see what it’s all about.
But this national park has much more to it than the petrified wood. It is part of the Painted Desert, and several walking trails show off the multi-coloured Badlands. Try the one mile Blue Mesa Loop or 1.2-mile Tawa Trail from Tawa Point to the Painted Desert Visitor Center for particularly impressive, yet accessible, scenery.
Best stops between Winslow and Albuquerque: Continental Divide
The Continental Divide is where rainfall splits. Anywhere to the east of the divide, rain heads towards the Atlantic Ocean. Anywhere to the west, rain goes towards the Pacific.
On the I-40 in New Mexico, however, there is a small community called Continental Divide that stands on the dividing line. It makes for a fun photo stop, as there are several hand-painted signs marking the geographical importance. Not all of them agree on the same height, but most seem to plump for 7,295ft.
Winslow to Albuquerque road trip attractions: El Malpais National Monument
A short diversion to the south from San Rafael, El Malpais National Monument covers a landscape formed by volcanoes. Get a special permit, and you can go caving in the lava tubes. Otherwise, there are several satisfying hiking trails. The 4.8 mile return hike to the top of cinder cone El Calderon is arguably the highlight.
The most popular sight is the Ice Cave by the Bandera Volcano. This is privately owned, and there’s a small charge to enter.
More Arizona and New Mexico road trips
- Getting to Albuquerque: The best stops on the Amarillo to Albuquerque drive, Austin to Albuquerque drive, El Paso to Albuquerque drive, Houston to Albuquerque drive, Lubbock to Albuquerque drive and Tulsa to Albuquerque drive.
- Interstate road trips from Albuquerque: What to see on the Albuquerque to Flagstaff drive, Albuquerque to Sedona drive and Albuquerque to Tucson drive.
- Getting to Flagstaff: The best stops on the Phoenix to Flagstaff drive, Tucson to Flagstaff drive, Amarillo to Flagstaff drive, Albuquerque to Flagstaff drive and Gallup NM to Flagstaff drive.
- The best stops on the Flagstaff to Santa Fe drive.
- Getting to Santa Fe: The best stops on the Albuquerque to Santa Fe drive, Las Cruces to Santa Fe drive, Amarillo to Santa Fe drive, Sedona to Santa Fe and Flagstaff to Santa Fe drive.
