Last Updated on September 2, 2026 by Kristin
Visiting El Paso? Having a car will allow you to explore a variety of cities, small towns and national parks. Here are the best road trips from El Paso.
Fabulous Road Trips from El Paso
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
119 miles / 1 hr. 45 mins.
For a relaxing road trip relatively close to El Paso, check out the uniquely named spa destination of Truth or Consequences. The city dotted with hot springs is full of art galleries, making it the perfect destination for a laid-back weekend. Truth or Consequences is also the starting point for the 154-mile Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway, which passes by lakes, and includes both desert and mountain landscapes. For more information and recommendations about what to see, visit the Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway Visitor Center in town. If you have time, make a pit stop in Las Cruces, New Mexico, which features several museums and a well-known farmers market.
Roswell, New Mexico
205 miles / 3 hr. 25 mins.
Best known for its science fiction lore, Roswell is home to several museums and activities that pay homage to aliens and UFOs. The most popular destinations in Roswell are arguably the International UFO Museum and the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, but the city also offers several other types of activities. Check out the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, take a walk through wetlands at the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge or check out sinkholes in Bottomless Lakes State Park.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
328 miles / 4 hr. 41 mins.
It’s easy to feel inspired in New Mexico’s capital city. Bask in the beauty of the Pueblo architecture and the natural majesty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Enjoy the scent of roasting green chiles. Spend your time in Santa Fe browsing the shops and galleries around downtown’s Plaza or visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. >> Recommended hotels in Santa Fe
Big Bend National Park
330 miles / 5 hr. 38 mins.
Sprawling across 800,000 acres of West Texas, Big Bend National Park is as diverse as it is remote. Comprised of stretches of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Chisos Mountains, and the waters of the Rio Grande, the park is also home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife and offers spectacular stargazing. The wide-open spaces in this area create a challenge, though. There is only one hotel within the park, along with a few campgrounds, and most towns with hotels are at least 20 miles away. >> Recommended hotels near Big Bend National Park
Phoenix, Arizona
430 miles / 5 hr. 57 mins.
The “it’s a dry heat” experience of a desert getaway is even better when you’re lounging next to a glittering resort pool. In the Phoenix area, having a good pool at your hotel is an absolute necessity—both for enjoying that desert air and for having an easy way to soak up the mountain scenery. >> Recommended hotels in Phoenix
