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Taos is New Mexico True
An NM road through the windshield of a car

Arriving By Air

Taos Air operated by JSX offers scheduled non-stop service between Taos Regional Airport and Austin and Dallas, Texas, and San Diego and Los Angeles, California.

Larger airports are located in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Santa Fe Airport services two airlines with daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and Phoenix. The Albuquerque International Sunport offers nonstop flights to and from 24 cities across America, including major airline hubs. 

Both Santa Fe and Albuquerque have ample car rental options, so once you’ve finished taking in their delights, you can make your way up to beautiful Taos and the Enchanted Circle at your own pace. Car rentals in Taos include Wheeler Peak Rent-a-Car, located at the Taos Regional Airport, and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, located on the south side of town and accessible by local bus route.

Shuttles, buses, and trains are also available to get you from the airport where you land to your destination in Taos. The North Central Regional Transit District provides a free ground shuttle between Taos Regional Airport and the Town of Taos. The Bus also has a variety of routes, some free of charge, around Taos and the Enchanted Circle as well as services to and from Santa Fe and Albuquerque. 

There are also several private shuttle services that will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Taos, either at a flat rate or per person fee. The New Mexico Rail Runner train provides rail service between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Finally, Taos does have some rideshare options, though they aren’t always the most reliable or economical. This is the old wild west, after all!

Taos Air operated by JSX
Direct air service between Taos and the following:

  • San Diego, California
  • Austin, Texas
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Los Angeles/Burbank, California

Visit TaosAir.com

Santa Fe Airport
Services two airlines with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and Phoenix.
Visit FlySantaFe.com.

Albuquerque International Sunport
Offers nonstop flights to 24 major cities.
Visit ABQSunport.com

Ground Transportation Services

Town to/from Taos Ski Valley Shuttle Service
NCRTD (a.k.a. the “Blue Bus”)
341 TSV Green Line provides fare-free winter shuttle service through Town, El Prado, Arroyo Seco, Valdez to the Taos Ski Valley. Service operates during the ski season. Times and days for 2022/23 are listed here.

Tripcarma
Rideshare program servicing Taos and neighboring rural areas. A convenient and dependable alternative to Uber, tailored specifically to rural living.
Visit Tripcarma.com

Taos Rides LLC Shuttle Service
Serving Albuquerque, Taos, Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire.
Visit taosrides.com or call 575-613-3256.

Uber
Taos does have Uber drivers, but they are very limited. We highly suggest you make a backup plan in case they are not available.

Shuttle Taos
Book South Boundary, Continental Divide, and custom shuttles for your next biking, hiking, or running adventure.
Visit shuttletaos.com or call/text 575-770-4033

Transportation between Santa Fe and Taos

New Mexico Rail Runner
Rail service between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
riometro.org

The Taos Express / NCRTD
The Taos Express provides weekend express service between Taos, Espanola and Santa Fe. All NCRTD buses are ADA compliant and can accommodate two bicycles.

Around Taos

340 Chile Line Red
Providing service throughout the Town of Taos and surrounding communities.
Visit ncrtd.org for Taos area transportation services, routes and schedules.

Rental Car Companies

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1350 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Ste A
575-758-5553
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00AM – 3:00PM. Closed Saturday and Sundays.

Wheeler Peak Rent A Ca​r
24662 US 64
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 776-4904
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00AM- 5:00PM. Closed Sundays.

Scenic Driving Routes to Taos from Santa Fe

Two major routes offer equally beautiful but different experiences on your drive from Santa Fe to Taos.

The High Road

The “High Road” to Taos from Santa Fe travels through forests, past jagged 13,000-foot peaks, and through small, isolated mountain towns. These places retain the flavor of the early Spanish settlers who came here four centuries ago. A scenic drive with beauty, hidden galleries, mountain vistas, and pure New Mexico charm.

The Low Road

The “Low Road” from Santa Fe is the most direct route between Taos and communities to the south. But don’t let the name fool you—the low road does not lack in natural beauty or cultural interest. It follows the Rio Grande through Northern New Mexico’s farming lowlands and, during the summer, local produce farmers set up roadside fruit and vegetable stands. The road then winds its way up through the Rio Grande Gorge, with small villages, galleries, and local wineries and breweries. It provides some of the most stunning scenery around, especially just south of Taos where you are met with a vista of mesa, mountain, and gorge that will take your breath away.

Drive Times

  • Denver: 4 hours 43 minutes
  • Colorado Springs: 3 hours 32 minutes
  • Lubbock: 6 hours 3 minutes
  • El Paso: 6 hours 6 minutes
  • Phoenix: 9 hours 16 minutes
  • Oklahoma City: 9 hours 12 minutes
  • Dallas: 10 hour 34 minutes
  • Austin: 12 hours 28 minutes

Driving Directions

  • ALBUQUERQUE TO TAOS: I-25 to Santa Fe; exit on 599 north to bypass Santa Fe; Hwy. 285 to Hwy. 68 to Taos.
  • BRECKENRIDGE TO TAOS: Hwy. 9 to Fairplay; Hwy. 285 and Hwy. 17 to Alamosa; Hwy. 285 to Tres Piedras; Hwy. 64 to Taos.
  • CRESTED BUTTE TO TAOS: Hwy. 135 to Gunnison; Hwy. 50 to Hwy. 285 to Hwy. 17 to Alamosa; Hwy. 285 to Tres Piedras; Hwy. 64 to Taos.
  • DENVER TO TAOS: I-25 to Colorado Springs to Walsenburg; Hwy. 160 to Fort Garland; Hwy. 159 and Hwy. 522 to Taos.
  • DURANGO TO TAOS: Hwy. 160 to Pagosa Springs; Hwy. 84 to Chama; Hwy. 17 to Antonito; Hwy. 285 to Tres Piedras; Hwy. 64 to Taos.
  • VAIL TO TAOS: I-70 to Copper Mountain; Hwy. 91 to Leadville; Hwy. 24 and Hwy. 17 to Alamosa; Hwy. 285 to Tres Piedras; Hwy. 64 to Taos.
  • WEST TEXAS TO TAOS: I-40 to Clines Corners; Hwy. 285 to I-25 to Santa Fe; Hwy. 285 to Hwy. 68 to Taos.