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.
• At the edge of Santa Fe, St. Francis Dr. becomes U.S. 84/285.
• After passing Pojoaque, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos.
• Continue up 502 toward 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 Hwy 501, through Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• At the next stop sign, turn left 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 Fairway.  Left at next stoplight on Hwy 84/285.  
• At stoplight near Ford Dealership turn right on Hwy 30.  Follow 30 through Santa Clara Pueblo to junction with Hwy 502.  Merge right onto 502 toward Los Alamos. 
• Bear right 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 approx 45 miles.
• Take exit 276-B to US599. Continue for 13 miles.
• Bear left to merge onto U.S. 84/285 towards Los Alamos.
• After passing Pojoaque, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos.
• At the top of a big uphill climb bear right 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 (approx 2.5 hours, not recommended on snowy days)

• Take I-25 north towards Santa Fe for approx. 15 miles.
• Take exit 242 to United States 550 towards Rio Rancho.
• At San Ysidro, exit onto New Mexico 4.
• Travel over the Jemez Mountains through Jemez Springs and past the turnoff for Los Alamos (NM 501).  Continue straight on Hwy 4. 
• 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.