Planning a trip to Santa Fe
Arriving
By Plane -- Many people heading to Santa Fe choose to fly into the Albuquerque International Sunport, the state’s largest airport. This is especially worthwhile if you are also visiting Albuquerque. The Sunport is about 66 miles from Santa Fe, a straight shot via I-25. All major car rental companies operate out of Albuquerque Sunport; if you don’t want to drive yourself, Groome Transportation (www.groometransportation.com; tel. 505/474-5696) runs shuttles daily from the Sunport to Santa Fe and back again at a cost of $38 per person one-way. New Mexico Rail Runner Express (see below) also runs to Santa Fe, at a cost of $9 per person, with a free shuttle bus taking travelers from the airport to the train.
If you plan to skip Albuquerque, you can save time (but pay a bit more) by flying into the Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF; www.santafenm.gov/airport; tel. 505/955-2900) just outside the southwestern city limits off Airport Road. The airport has non-stop service from Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix with American Airlines (www.aa.com; tel. 800/433-7300), plus non-stop service from Denver with United Airlines (www.united.com; tel. 800/864-8331). From the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Roadrunner Shuttle (www.rideroadrunner.com; tel. 505/424-3367) takes visitors anywhere in Santa Fe and throughout most of northern New Mexico. A ride for one from the Santa Fe Airport to Santa Fe Plaza costs $60. Many Santa Fe hotels offer free shuttles from the airport.
By Train -- Daily train service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is provided by New Mexico Rail Runner Express (www.riometro.org; tel. 866/795-7245). Amtrak (www.amtrak.com; tel. 800/872-7245) has a daily east-west train, the Southwest Chief, running from Chicago to Los Angeles, which stops in Lamy, about 20 miles from Santa Fe. Roadrunner Shuttle (see above) provides transportation between downtown Santa Fe and the train station. Cost is $40 per person one-way; reservations are necessary.
By Car -- I-25 skims past Santa Fe’s southern city limits, connecting it along one continuous highway from Billings, Montana, to El Paso, Texas. I-40, the state’s major east–west highway, which bisects Albuquerque, affords coast-to-coast access. (From the west, motorists leave I-40 in Albuquerque and take I-25 north; from the east, travelers exit I-40 at Clines Corners and continue 52 miles to Santa Fe on US 285.) For those coming from the northwest, the most direct route is via Durango, Colorado, on US 160, entering Santa Fe on US 84.
Fast Facts
Car Rentals—Avis has an outlet at the Santa Fe Airport (tel. 505/471-5892) and another at 1946 Cerrillos Rd. (tel. 505/820-7943) shared with Budget (tel. 505/984-1596). Hertz has an outlet at the airport (tel. 505/471-7189) and also at 2010 Cerrillos Rd. (tel. 505/438-4650). Enterprise is located at 3961 Cerrillos Rd. (tel. 505/424-1134).
Cellphones—Cellphone coverage is good within the city limits but spotty in rural areas. Santa Fe has a law prohibiting the use of hand-held cellphones by drivers, which most drivers ignore.
Currency Exchange—You can exchange foreign currency at Wells Fargo at 241 Washington Ave. (tel. 505/984-0500).
Doctors—For a medical emergency, dial tel. 911. For other medical issues a highly-rated urgent care facility is Railyard Urgent Care, 831 S. St. Francis Dr. (www.railyardurgentcare.com; tel. 505/501-7791), open daily 8am to 7pm.
Emergencies—For police, fire, or medical emergencies, dial tel. 911.
Hotlines—Available hotlines include UNM Poison and Drug Info Center (tel. 800/222-1222) and Sexual Assault (tel. 505/986-9111).
Internet Access—Head to the Santa Fe Public Library and its two branch libraries for free Wi-Fi. See addresses below.
Libraries—The Santa Fe Public Library is half a block from the plaza, at 145 Washington Ave. (www.santafelibrary.org; tel. 505/955-6781). The Oliver La Farge Branch library is at 1730 Llano St., just off St. Michael’s Drive, and the Southside Library is at 6599 Jaguar Dr., at the intersection of Country Club Road.
Newspapers—The New Mexican—Santa Fe’s daily paper—is the oldest newspaper in the West. Its main office is at 202 E. Marcy St. (www.santafenewmexican.com; tel. 505/983-3303). The weekly Santa Fe Reporter, 132 E. Marcy St. (www.sfreporter.com; tel. 505/988-5541), published on Wednesdays and available at stands all over town, is often more controversial, and its entertainment listings are excellent.
Police—In case of emergency, dial tel. 911. For all other inquiries, contact the Santa Fe Police Department, 2515 Camino Entrada (www.santafenm.gov/police; tel. 505/428-3710). The Santa Fe County Sheriff, with jurisdiction outside the city limits, is at 35 Camino Justicia (www.santafecountynm.gov/sheriff; tel. 505/986-2455).
Post Offices—The main post office is at 120 S. Federal Place, 2 blocks north and 1 block west of the plaza. It’s open Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm. The Coronado Station branch is at 2071 S. Pacheco St., and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm. For additional locations, see www.usps.com or call tel. 800/275-8777.
Taxis—There are no taxicab companies currently operating in Santa Fe, but both Uber (www.uber.com) and Lyft (www.lyft.com) operate their ride-share businesses in the city.
Getting Around
The best way to see downtown Santa Fe, especially the plaza area, is on foot. Free walking-tour maps are available at Visitor Information Centers, and several guided walking tours are available.
By Bus
Santa Fe’s public bus system, Santa Fe Trails (www.santafenm.gov/transit; tel. 505/955-2001), has ten routes; although primarily geared to the needs of Santa Fe residents, they are also an economical way for visitors to get around the city, with buses serving the plaza area, Museum Hill, and Cerrillos Road. One trip for adults costs $1; a one-day pass costs $2, and a 31-day pass costs $20. Rates are half that for seniors 60 and older and people with disabilities, and youths up to age 18 and U.S. military veterans ride free. Fares must be paid in cash on the buses; checks and credit cards are accepted at the bus system office, 2131 Rufina Street. Visitors can pick up a map from any of the Visitor Information Centers. Most buses operate Monday to Friday 6am to 10pm and Saturday 8am to 8pm. There is limited service on Sunday and holidays.
By Car
Overall, you’ll probably need a car in Santa Fe—there are quite a few places you’ll want to go where driving yourself makes the most sense—but when exploring the plaza area, it’s best to leave the car parked and do so on foot.
Street parking is difficult to find during summer months, especially near the plaza, but the city has about 1,850 off-street parking spaces in downtown Santa Fe. Metered parking may be costlier during special events, but the basic fee is $2 per hour and it is collected 8am to 6pm Monday through Saturday; free Sundays and major holidays. A metered lot within walking distance of the plaza is at 100 E. Water Street a block south, open 24 hours, and there are two nearby parking garages, open daily 7am to midnight: at 216 W. San Francisco St. 2 blocks west, and at the convention center, 119 S. Federal Place 2 blocks north. At the Santa Fe Railyard, there’s a parking garage at the north end, and a lot toward the south. Santa Fe Visitor Information Centers (see above) can give you a printed guide to Santa Fe parking areas, and you can get specific directions at www.santafenm.gov/parking_lots_and_garages.
The State Highway and Transportation Department has a toll-free Road Advisory Hotline (tel. 511 or 800/432-4269) and also a website—www.nmroads.com—that provides current information on road closures and driving conditions.
The State Highway and Transportation Department has a toll-free hot line (tel. 800/432-4269) that provides up-to-the-hour information on road closures and conditions.
Driving Warning — New Mexico has one of the highest per-capita rates of traffic deaths in the nation (mostly due to drunk driving), and also a high rate of uninsured motorists. It’s a good idea to be especially cautious while driving, especially at intersections.
By Bicycle
Riding a bicycle is somewhat challenging in downtown Santa Fe due to its narrow streets and limited number of bike paths. However, it is a good way to get around for experienced city riders. You can rent bikes from Mellow Velo, 132 E. Marcy St. (www.mellowvelo.com; tel. 505/995-8356) and Bike-N-Sport, 504C Cordova Rd. (www.nmbikensport.com; tel. 505/820-0809).
