Santa Fe To Denver Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide

Traveling from Santa Fe to Denver is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 393 miles of the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver takes around 5 hours and 43 mins of driving without stops.

This article includes 15 top tips that turn your Denver trip into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver, take your coffee and keep reading!

5 Best Hotels On The Way From Santa Fe To Denver

On the way from Santa Fe to Denver, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here are the top five hotels on the Santa Fe – Denver route!

1. Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast: Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. Driving from Santa Fe to Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast might take around 39 mins. Situated in Chimayo, this location is ideal for visiting destinations in northern New Mexico. You’ll sleep comfortably on luxury bed linens and orthopedic mattresses. Guest rooms are furnished with hand-picked antiques and feature a rustic southwestern style. Check the Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast, one of the best hotels in Chimayo, New Mexico, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. The Historic Taos Inn: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to Denver from Santa Fe is The Historic Taos Inn. Located in Taos, New Mexico, the hotel is 70.2 miles away from Santa Fe, and it would take 1 hour and 31 mins to drive. The property offers unique guestrooms and suites with decorative kiva fireplaces, and guests can enjoy the evening entertainment on site. The location is perfect for your needs, and the rooms are charming. The staff is accommodating. If you want to learn more about The Historic Taos Inn, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City. Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City is located in Colorado City, Colorado, and it’s 256 miles away from Santa Fe. You can arrive there in 3 hours and 41 mins of non-stop driving. Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City offers a family-friendly environment and many helpful amenities to enhance your stay, including free parking. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City for more information.
4. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pueblo: If you are taking the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver, Pueblo, Colorado is must have a place you should visit. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pueblo is one of the best hotels in town. It is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pueblo, 284 miles from Santa Fe, and it would take 4 hours and 6 mins to drive. The La Quinta Inn & Suites Pueblo is an excellent accommodation for visitors to Pueblo. In addition, the hotel offers a range of facilities and services that cater to the needs of families, making it an ideal place to stay for those with children. If you need more info about the price and availability of La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pueblo, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. SCP Colorado Springs Hotel: Our next hotel is SCP Colorado Springs Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. It will take 4 hours, and 35 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from Santa Fe. SCP Colorado Springs is a property with a fitness facility, co-working space, and a market. Check the SCP Colorado Springs Hotel on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of SCP Colorado Springs Hotel for reviews, prices, and availability.

In this part, we explained five different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people who will take the same Santa Fe to Denver route.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from Santa Fe to Denver. We have five restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

5 Best Restaurants On The Way To Denver From Santa Fe

Some restaurants will please you on your Santa Fe to Denver road trip if dining is a pleasure. In this section, we list the five different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. Stay hungry and enjoy!

1. Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver with Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante. Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante is located in Chimayo, New Mexico, 27.7 miles from Santa Fe. It would take 36 mins of driving. New Mexico cuisine is a tradition of regional cultivation, seed varieties, and recipes passed down for generations. The fertile village of Chimayo, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is known not only for its miraculous Santuario but also for its unique, sought-after varietal of red chile. For more information about Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante, you can visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante.
2. Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to Denver from Santa Fe is Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico. In Taos, New Mexico, Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico is 67.4 miles from Santa Fe and would take 1 hour and 23 mins to drive. Come to this restaurant to experience a combination of Mexican and New Mexican food. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and a fast, friendly, and accommodating atmosphere. If you want to learn more about Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Three Sisters, Colorado: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Three Sisters, Colorado. It will take 5 hours and 49 mins of car drive to take 319 miles from Santa Fe to Three Sisters, Colorado, Colorado City, Colorado. The western ranch atmosphere creates a sense of comfort. The menu is extensive and provides options for everyone! You can check Three Sisters, Colorado, on TripAdvisor or Google Maps for more information.
4. Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill: Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill deserve to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Pueblo, Colorado. The Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill has been a staple in the Pueblo community for its outstanding Indian cuisine, excellent service, and friendly staff. The portions are so generous that you can either share them or take them home for another meal. Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill is 280 miles away from Santa Fe, and it would take 4 hours and 2 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Colorado: If you enjoy dining, Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Colorado, would be an excellent choice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It’s 323 miles from Santa Fe and would take 4 hours and 40 mins of car driving. The Traditional Irish Pub features Corned beef and Cabbage, Fish and Chips, Potato Boxty’s, and a wide array of American dishes. It has an Old World feel and live music five nights a week. If you want to learn more about Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Colorado, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.

This section lists our five restaurant recommendations to eat on your road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 393 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a Denver road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Santa Fe to Denver. Keep reading.

5 Places To Visit On The Way From Santa Fe To Denver

A unique experience awaits you in Denver. However, on your road trip, there are also some unique destinations like Chimayo, New Mexico. We want to explain the top five destinations we recommend on the Denver route.

• El Santuario de Chimayo: El Santuario de Chimayo will be the first destination we recommend you to stop by on your Santa Fe to Denver road trip. Located in Chimayo, New Mexico, El Santuario de Chimayo is 27.1 miles away from Santa Fe, and it would take 35 mins to drive. The Lourdes of America is a popular pilgrimage destination due to the belief that miracles occur there. The grounds are typically peaceful and quiet, while the chapel is small and can sometimes be hot. However, visitors are welcome to take their time inside when no mass is taking place. If you want to learn more about El Santuario de Chimayo, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Taos Pueblo: Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico, is one of the destinations we recommend you to stop by on the Santa Fe to Denver route. It’s 73.0 miles from Santa Fe, and it’ll take about 1 hour and 38 mins to drive. Taos Pueblo is a living Native American community designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. If you want to learn more about Taos Pueblo, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website.
• Museum of Friends: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver is Colorado City, Colorado. And if you visit Colorado City, Colorado, we suggest you visit the Museum of Friends. You can arrive Museum of Friends after 3 hours and 22 mins of driving. The museum’s first floor is accessible on Main Street and 6th and features changing exhibitions, a museum gift shop full of locally made goods “Made in Walsenburg,” and workshop areas. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of the Museum of Friends for more information.
• Rosemount Museum: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Rosemount Museum, Pueblo, Colorado, on the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. Rosemount Museum is 281 miles from Santa Fe, and you can arrive there after the 4 hours and 2 mins of drive. The Rosemount Victorian house museum, built in 1893 by prominent businessman John A. Thatcher, awaits you with the grandeur of a bygone era. Nearly all furnishings, accessories, decorative arts, paintings, custom paneling, and wall and window treatments are original to the home. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of Rosemount Museum before going there.
• Garden of the Gods: Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Garden of the Gods ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the Denver road trip. You must take 4 hours and 50 mins of driving to arrive at the Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark and popular park located at the base of Pikes Peak. The park features stunning geological formations, rock climbing, nature trails, and the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. If you want to learn more about Garden of the Gods, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.

FAQ of the Road Trip From Santa Fe to Denver

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Santa Fe to Denver drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From Santa Fe To Denver?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the road trip takes approximately 5 hours and 43 mins to drive. The distance between Santa Fe to Denver is 393 miles.
• If you want to make the Santa Fe to Denver road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be one day and 7 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Santa Fe-Denver route, you will have to walk for five days and 16 hours.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Santa Fe To Denver?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to Denver. Here we list five of them. For more information about the best places on the Santa Fe to Denver journey, you can check the 5 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Santa Fe To Denver part.

1. El Santuario de Chimayo: 27.1 miles / 35 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 337 miles / 5 hours and 43 mins of driving to Denver.
2. Taos Pueblo: 73.0 miles / 1 hour 38 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 288 miles / 4 hours and 36 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Museum of Friends: 231 miles / 3 hours and 22 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 162 miles / 2 hours and 27 mins of driving to Denver.
4. Rosemount Museum: 281 miles / 4 hours and 2 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 113 miles / 1 hour 46 mins of driving to Denver.
5. Garden of the Gods: 328 miles / 4 hours and 50 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 69.4 miles / 1 hour 13 mins of driving to Denver.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From Santa Fe To Denver?

There are many excellent hotels during your Santa Fe to Denver road trip. We have selected five hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 5 Best Hotels On The Way To Denver From Santa Fe section.

• Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast: 29.1 miles / 39 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 337 miles / 5 hours and 43 mins of driving to Denver.
• The Historic Taos Inn: 70.2 miles / 1 hour 31 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 288 miles / 4 hours and 34 mins of driving to Denver.
• Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado City: 256 miles / 3 hours and 41 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 137 miles / 2 hours and 5 mins of driving to Denver.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pueblo: 284 miles / 4 hours and 6 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 110 miles / 1 hour 43 mins of driving to Denver.
• SCP Colorado Springs Hotel: 319 miles / 4 hours and 35 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 74.1 miles / 1 hour 12 mins of driving to Denver.

Where To Eat Between Santa Fe to Denver?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Santa Fe to Denver journey, you can consider the five restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 5 Best Restaurants On The Way From Santa Fe To Denver.

1. Rancho De Chimayo Restaurante: 27.7 miles / 36 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 337 miles / 5 hours and 42 mins of driving to Denver.
2. Antonio’s The Taste of Mexico: 67.4 miles / 1 hour 23 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 291 miles / 4 hours and 42 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Three Sisters, Colorado: 319 miles / 5 hours and 49 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 68.3 miles / 1 hour 39 mins of driving to Denver.
4. Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill: 280 miles / 4 hours and 2 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 114 miles / 1 hour 48 mins of driving to Denver.
5. Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Colorado: 323 miles / 4 hours and 40 mins to drive from Santa Fe | 70.4 miles / 1 hour 10 mins of driving to Denver.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Santa Fe to Denver. We have listed five hotels, five restaurants, and five places to visit on the way. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Santa Fe to Denver as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken a road trip from Santa Fe to Denver? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Santa Fe to Denver and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.