Getting Around, Santa Fe Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Santa Fe, New Mexico - NM, USA)

For all its charms as a tourist destination and as the state capital, you would expect Santa Fe to be a little easier to reach. However, the main way to directly access the city of Santa Fe is to travel by car.

Albuquerque is only 64 miles / 102 km from Santa Fe, and there are a number of transport and travel options to the city from around the United States. Here is some useful information about the travel options and public transport both in and around Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF) / Arriving by Air

Santa Fe Municipal is a small airport with limited services to other regional airports and a regular Great Lakes Aviation service between Denver. Most visitors to Santa Fe use Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) and then travel to the city by car, a 1-hour journey, or by shuttle bus, a 1-hour, 20-minute journey. Albuquerque International Sunport has many daily scheduled flights to all major cities throughout the United States.

Car Rental

Both Santa Fe and Albuquerque have representatives of all the major US car rental transport agencies, including Budget, Avis, Dollar, Hertz and National, with Santa Fe having the local Classy Car Rentals in addition. It is simple to travel to Santa Fe from Albuquerque International Sunport - just drive north along I-25 until you see the exit. A SUV or another 4WD vehicle is recommended if you intend to do a little exploring.

Book your Santa Fe Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Greyhound's affiliate, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma Coaches, serves Santa Fe from cities and towns throughout the region, with several coaches operating daily from Albuquerque. It is advisable to book well ahead if you intend to travel during the peak season. An extensive network of routes around the city is operated by Santa Fe Trails, the local bus company. Buses in Santa Fe travel every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on weekends.

Trains

The region's only Amtrak station is located at Lamy, a virtual ghost town located just 18 miles / 29 km from Santa Fe. This station is served by Amtrak's daily Southwest Chief, which travels from Chicago to Los Angeles via Kansas City. The Southwest Chief also stops in Albuquerque.

Taxis

Santa Fe's taxi service is almost non existent. The local Capital City Cab Company monopolizes the service and only provides call-outs for a flat rate, based on the distance you wish to travel.