Scenic bywayCited official sources
Turquoise Trail — NM-14, Albuquerque to Santa Fe
50 miles. National Scenic Byway. The slow alternative to I-25 through Madrid and Cerrillos.
NM-14 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, a 50-mile alternative to I-25 through the Sandia Mountains and the old mining towns of Madrid and Cerrillos. The route is paved, RV-friendly, and accommodates Class A motorhomes. Madrid (pronounced MAH-drid) is a working artists' colony in a former coal-mining town. Cerrillos was a major turquoise mining center for centuries.
Frame: a highway in New Mexico — not this route.
Elevation
7,000ft
highest point · climbs from 5,500 ft
Elevation range — drawn from this page's surveyed low and high points
At a glance
Route facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded numbers for planning — always confirm against current conditions and state DOT 511 before you depart.
Distance
50 mi
Tijeras to I-25 near Santa Fe
Drive time
1–2 hr
Elevation
5,500–7,000 ft
RV compatibility
RV-friendly
Best season
Year-round. Best April-October.
Cell coverage. Generally good.
Elevation profile
Ranges 5,500 ft to 7,000 ft.
Vehicle restrictions
- No posted RV restrictions
What's actually here
Madrid: artists' colony in former coal-mining town. Multiple galleries, the Mine Shaft Tavern, Madrid Old Coal Town Museum. Many original 1900s coal-camp structures preserved.
Cerrillos: smaller, even more historic. The Casa Grande Trading Post + petting zoo. Turquoise mining heritage going back to pre-Columbian times.
Cerrillos Hills State Park: protected area showcasing the geology of the turquoise district. RV-friendly day-use parking.
What Visit New Mexico + Madrid tourism doesn't tell you
Madrid markets itself as the Wild West Hollywood (the film Wild Hogs was shot here). The honest framing is that the town is a small artists' colony that gets crowded with tourists on weekends.
For RV travelers, the route works as a half-day side trip from either Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Multiple RV campgrounds in both metropolitan areas provide base camps.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I camp on the Turquoise Trail?
- Limited en-route. Multiple campgrounds in Santa Fe and Albuquerque metropolitan areas.
- Is Madrid busy?
- Weekends busy, weekdays quiet. Plan accordingly.
Authoritative sources
- America's Byways — Federal Highway Administration scenic byway program FHWA National Scenic Byways
- National Park Service — find a park National Park Service
Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.
Planning an RV trip along Turquoise Trail?
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