Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Austin - Fredericksburg - Marfa - Terlingua - Carlsbad - Alamogordo - Santa Fe - Taos - Albuquerque
100% customisable for you
Your exciting road trip under the sunny skies of Texas and New Mexico starts today with a 10-and-a-half-hour flight to Austin. On arrival, collect your comfortable and spacious hire car and head into the state capital for a two-night stay in your first accommodation.
The rest of today is yours to play with. Need some inspiration? Turn to our destination-specific Dossier, which is full of our top picks for eateries and stylish bars nearby. Or simply kick back and enjoy the hotel’s facilities after a busy day of travelling (we won’t blame you).
Nestled along the banks of the Colorado River, Austin is known for its architecture, greenery and eclectic music scene, all of which you’ll spend today discovering. For an insight into 19th-century architecture, visit the pink granite Texas State Capitol. Craving fresh air? Head to Barton Springs, one of the most beautiful natural springs in and around the city. The expansive, wooded Zilker Park is a haven of peace and quiet, while the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail offers a scenic route around Austin’s lush Lady Bird Lake.
Your road trip continues today with an hour-and-a-half drive west through the emerald landscapes of Hill Country. Your destination? Fredericksburg, a small city oozing with classic country charm and fascinating German heritage. Make a pit stop at the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch, a Texas-German farm that offers a glimpse into his family’s ancestral roots.
Upon arrival in Fredericksburg, check into your riverside hotel before exploring this sleepy country city. We recommend visiting the National Museum of the Pacific War, or heading to the Pioneer Museum, which unpacks the history of the Texan hinterland’s German pioneers.
As for this evening, live music is singing your name. Pop into one of the many local saloons and unwind in preparation for your big day of driving tomorrow.
Fuel up on breakfast and stock up on snacks; you have quite the journey ahead of you. This morning, hit the road west to Marfa, a small desert city six hours away. Eyes will be glued to windows as the landscapes turn golden (passengers, it's your job to capture some incredible photos).
On arrival, settle into your cosy home for the next two nights. After a well-deserved rest, spend the rest of the day enjoying your new setting and take a stroll through the city to stretch your legs after a long day on the road.
A remote desert town of just 2,000 people, Marfa is a haven for artists, free spirits and cowboys at heart. It's also a draw for film fans, with movies like Giant, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood shot in the area.
After breakfast, head out for a day of sightseeing. First up: The Block. Built by famous visual artist and theorist Donald Judd as a city-within-a-city, The Block is a collection of buildings and spaces exhibiting impressive artworks. We’re talking everything from a ranch and a library to several workshops.
Swap art for astronomy this afternoon and head to the McDonald Observatory. This 6,500ft-high complex belongs to the University of Austin and is one of the most important (and fascinating) observatories in the region.
Kick off the day with a two-hour drive south to Terlingua, a small resort tucked away between two beautiful parks: Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Your home for the next two nights is a charming, well-located guesthouse, offering easy access to both parks. Expect excellent hiking trails, breathtaking vistas and diverse wildlife. After a delicious dinner, enjoy some well-deserved shut-eye, as tomorrow will bring plenty of adventure.
After breakfast this morning, meet a friendly local guide for a Jeep ride into the heart of Big Bend National Park. Sitting pretty inside the Chihuahuan Desert, this national park is tucked far away from the traditional tourist trail, so you can soak in the expansive desert landscapes without the crowds. Bliss.
Once you’ve rejoined civilisation back in Terlingua, it’s time to hop into your hire car and hit the road again. You’ve come about as far south as south goes in Texas, so naturally, you’ll now be heading north to New Mexico.
Your first destination in the second state of this itinerary is Carlsbad, a lovely city and gateway to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. After the five-hour drive, check in for the night in a small and comfortable hotel in the city centre and spend the rest of today relaxing.
Another day, another national park. Today you’re off to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a natural wonder full of fantastic fauna and flora. The park also shelters over 100 square miles of underground cavities, forming a fascinating landscape of stalactites, and is home to a whopping 120 caves.
After touring the site with your private guide, return to Carlsbad and continue three hours northwest to Alamogordo, the gateway to White Sands National Monument. On arrival, check in for the night in a classic hotel in the city centre before exploring your surroundings….
Science enthusiasts can visit the New Mexico Museum of Space, which details the state’s role in America’s space programme. Is history more your thing? Opt for the Holloman Air Force base or the Alamogordo Test Range in the Jornada del Muerto desert, the site of the world's first atomic bomb test.
Today, swap the wild desert landscape of southern Texas for the vibrant cityscapes of Santa Fe, a drive that takes around four hours and passes through the heart of central Texas. Our favourite stop along the way? The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. It’s home to three missions founded by the Spanish in 1598, set on land once inhabited by Native Americans.
Your home for the next two nights in bustling Santa Fe is a charming hotel showcasing both Hispanic and Native American influences. Kick back and relax, ready for a jam-packed day of exploring tomorrow.
Today is all about Santa Fe, a city known for its historic architecture and rich Native American heritage. Stroll past the central Plaza and admire the Palace of the Governors, a former royal palace that invites visitors to explore New Mexico’s regal roots. The surrounding streets are a rhapsody of art and culture, with local vendors selling everything from jewellery and clothing to pottery and paintings.
And don’t forget about the art galleries; Canyon Road boasts over 100 of them. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is one of our favourites – visit to trace the origins of various Native American groups and marvel over modern and ancient ceramics. For something a little more contemporary, pop into the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, which houses the world’s most extensive collection of her modern art.
Your journey across New Mexico continues with an hour-and-a-half drive north to Taos, a historic town in New Mexico’s high desert. You’ll pass over the dizzying steel Rio Grande Bridge, measuring 560ft tall and 600ft long. From the pedestrian crossing, enjoy breathtaking views to the west across the desert Taos Plateau and jagged gorge walls (top tip: don’t look down if you’re scared of heights).
On arrival in Taos, check in for the night in a cosy motel and spend the rest of today discovering the region’s Native American roots. We recommend heading to Taos Pueblo, an ancient Native American village, home to a tribe that has lived there for over a thousand years. While you’re in Taos, the 1815 San Francisco de Asis church, built from mud, straw and sun-dried adobe bricks, is also worth a visit.
Wave goodbye to Taos and set off on a two-and-a-half-hour drive south to your final destination in New Mexico: Albuquerque. En route to this vibrant city, stop at the Bandelier National Monument to explore the ruins of the ancient Anasazi Native American civilisation. The site’s museum showcases fascinating archaeological finds and reconstructions of Native Americans’ daily lives.
On arrival in Albuquerque, settle in for two nights in your final property, a beautiful lavender farm and estate on the outskirts of the city. The rest of today is yours to spend relaxing in this enchanting setting. Unpack and explore the estate before rounding off your evening with a delicious farm-to-fork dinner.
It’s your last full day in the USA, and there’s not a moment to waste.
If you’re keen to dig further into the state’s Native American past, we can recommend our favourite Pueblo Indian villages in the region. Or visit the Petroglyph National Monument, a lava field nestled in a sweeping desert park home to more than 24,000 ancient petroglyphs. And for panoramic views of Albuquerque and the surrounding area, head to the Sandia Peak Gondola at the top of the Sandia Mountains.
Sadly, the time has come to bid farewell to the Wild West landscapes of Texas and New Mexico and embark on your journey home. After one last delicious breakfast at the lavender farm this morning, head to the airport in Albuquerque, drop off your hire car and take the opportunity to stock up on any last-minute souvenirs in the departure lounge. Most flights back to the UK leave in the early afternoon and take around 12 hours, including a layover in a major American city, so you’ll spend tonight on board and arrive home tomorrow.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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