NPS Photo

Access to the park today is relatively easy compared to the past.

Directions from Santa Fe

1 hour each way

• Take Saint Francis Drive north toward Los Alamos and Pojoaque.
• At the edge of Santa Fe, St. Francis Dr. becomes U.S. 84/285.
• After passing Cuyumunge, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos.
• Bear left and exit onto New Mexico 4 towards White Rock. Continue for 12 miles, passing White Rock.
• Bandelier’s entrance is on your left. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.

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Directions from Los Alamos

30 minutes each way

• Take Diamond Drive towards Los Alamos National Laboratory, passing Los Alamos Medical Center. Cross Otowi Bridge and bear right.
• After passing the light, continue towards the Laboratory Vehicle Access Portal. Take the lane indicated by the right-most green arrow. Stop at the booth until the officer waves you through.
• Continue up West Jemez Road, through Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• At the next stop sign, turn right onto New Mexico 4, following the sign towards Bandelier National Monument.
• Bandelier’s entrance is on your left. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.

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Directions from Taos

1.5 hours each way

• Take New Mexico 68 (Paseo del Pueblo Sur) south for 47 miles.
• In Espanola, turn right onto East Paseo de Onate (U.S. 84/285)
• Travel 3/4 mile on U.S. 84/285 road across the Rio Grande
• Bear left and exit onto New Mexico 4 towards White Rock. Continue for 12 miles, passing White Rock.
• Bandelier’s entrance is on the left. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.

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Directions from Albuquerque

Approximately 2 hours each way

• Take I-25 north towards Santa Fe for 60 miles.
• Take exit 27-B to United States 599, the Santa Fe Relief Route. Continue for 10 miles.
• Bear right to merge onto U.S. 84/285 towards Pojoaque and Los Alamos.
• After passing Cuyumunge, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos.
• Bear left and exit onto New Mexico 4 towards White Rock. Continue for 12 miles, passing White Rock.
• Bandelier’s entrance is on the left. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.

Scenic Route

• Take I-25 north towards Santa Fe for 20 miles.
• Take exit 232 to United States 550 towards Rio Rancho.
• At San Ysidro, exit onto New Mexico 4.
• After passing Cuyumunge, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos.
• Bandelier’s entrance is on the right. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.

This route passes Jemez Pueblo State Monument, several beautiful geological features and small towns. The road is paved, but goes above 9000 feet and is often not passable in the winter.

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Directions from White Rock

20 minutes each way

• Turn onto New Mexico 4 towards Bandelier, passing Sherwood and Piedra Loop. Continue for 12 miles.

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Bandelier’s entrance is on your left. Have your fee (usually $12 per car ­– see Reservations and Fees for details) ready.