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Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro
West of Albuquerque to a pueblo on a mesa top, a lava-field arch and an inscription rock carved by centuries of travelers, ending in Gallup.
- Distance
- approx. 301 km (187 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 20 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 6
- States
- NM
- Best time to go
- April–May and October
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 301 km (187 mi) with 6 stops, from Albuquerque to Gallup. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total. Best time to go: April–May and October. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in New Mexico · More road trips from Albuquerque
Photos along the route
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Route description
Leave Albuquerque west on I-40 and take exit 102 for Acoma Pueblo, about 100 km from the city. A paved road runs south past sandstone mesas to the Sky City Cultural Center, where guided tours start by bus up to the village on top of the mesa. Tours may be suspended on feast days and at other times, so check before you go. Photography needs a permit.
Return to I-40 and head west to exit 89, then take NM-117 south along the eastern edge of El Malpais. The Sandstone Bluffs Overlook looks over black lava flows, and La Ventana Arch is a short walk from the road further south. NM-117 is paved and quiet, fine for RVs. Return the same way to I-40 and continue to Grants, a former uranium-mining town with a visitor center for El Malpais.
From Grants, take NM-53 south and west, the Ancient Way. It passes the Zuni-Acoma Trail and the privately run Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave, then crosses the Continental Divide. After about 70 km you reach El Morro National Monument, where a sandstone bluff holds inscriptions by Spanish explorers, soldiers and settlers. It also has a small, free first-come campground.
At El Morro, walk the paved Inscription Loop and, if you have time, the Headland Trail over the top to the ruins of Atsinna Pueblo. NM-53 then continues west to Zuni Pueblo, known for its silver and stone carving. From Zuni, NM-602 runs north for about 65 km to Gallup on I-40, the trading center of the region with pawnshops and Route 66 buildings.
Which stops are on the route from Albuquerque to Gallup?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Albuquerque
NM - 2105 km
Acoma Sky City
HistoryAcoma Pueblo, NMA pueblo on a sandstone mesa top 110 m high, inhabited for about 1,000 years. Visits are by guided tour only from the Sky City Cultural Center; photography requires a permit.
- 327 km
La Ventana Natural Arch
NatureGrants, NMOne of New Mexico’s largest arches, in El Malpais National Conservation Area. Pull-off from NM-117 and a short trail lead toward it; nearby Sandstone Bluffs overlook the lava flows.
- 435 km
Grants
NM - 556 km
El Morro National Monument
HistoryRamah, NMA sandstone bluff above a waterhole where travelers carved names for centuries, including Spanish inscriptions from 1605. A trail loops over the top to an ancient pueblo.
- 678 km
Gallup
NM
How do you drive the route from Albuquerque to Gallup in 2 days?
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Albuquerque → Grants · 104 mi · 1 h 51 minOn the way: Acoma Sky City, La Ventana Natural Arch.Overnight nearby, for example: BAR S RV Park (4 mi); Lavaland RV Park (2 mi).
- Day 2: Grants → Gallup · 83 mi · 1 h 29 minOn the way: El Morro National Monument.Overnight nearby, for example: USA RV Park (4 mi); Red Rock Park campground (8 mi).
When is the best time for the route from Albuquerque to Gallup?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
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FAQs
How long is Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro?
2-day road trip of about 301 km (187 mi) with 6 stops, from Albuquerque to Gallup. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro?
We suggest 2 days: about 3 h 20 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro start and end?
It starts in Albuquerque and ends in Gallup.
Which states does Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro pass through?
New Mexico.
Where can you camp along Acoma Sky City, El Malpais and El Morro?
OpenStreetMap lists 43 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: BAR S RV Park, El Morro RV Park and Cabins and High Desert RV Park.
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