Getting Around

If you have only 2 hours to visit:

Heading to Albuquerque or Socorro from Mountainair?

Stop by the park's main visitor center in Mountainair and watch the 14-minute educational film about the history of our three culturals; use the restrooms and take in the museum and bookstore.

Then head out to Abó (9 miles west on US Highway 60) and tour the site by walking the 1/2-mile trail and viewing the ruins. Abó has a visitor center, restroom, bookstore, picnic area, and easy walking trails.

When you leave Abó, take Highway 60 west to I-25 at the Bernardo Exit. There, you can proceed north (for Albuquerque) or south for Socorro.

If you are headed to Albuquerque and wish to take the East Mountain drive,

Stop by the park's main visitor center in Mountainair and watch the 14-minute educational film about the history of our three culturals; use the restrooms and take in the museum and bookstore.

Then head north from Mountainair on NM Highway 55 to the small village of Punta de Agua (8 miles) and turn left on the blacktop road to the ruins. It's a short mile drive.

Quarai has what many believe to be the most scenic ruins of our four Spanish Mission ruins. It also offers restrooms, a museum, a picnic area, and walking trails, including the 1-mile dirt Spanish Corral Trail, which loops through piñon-juniper forest.

Heading to Alamogordo or White Sands, NM, from Mountainair?

Stop by the park's main visitor center in Mountainair and watch the 14-minute educational film about the history of our three culturals; use the restrooms and take in the museum and bookstore.

Before leaving, make sure you have plenty of gas, water, and snacks. There are no services for 83 miles.

Then head out to Gran Quivira on South NM Hwy 55 and tour the site by walking the 1/2-mile trail and viewing the ruins.

Don't miss the excellent museum inside the visitor center. It's our best collection of Native artifacts. Gran Quivira has a large bookstore, restrooms, picnic tables, and awesome views from high atop the mesa.

If you have 4-6 hours to visit:

Heading to Albuquerque or Socorro from Mountainair?

Visit the park's main visitor center in Mountainair and watch the 14-minute educational film about the history of our three cultural sites;use the restroom, and check out the well-stocked bookstore.

Then head out to Quarai and tour the site by walking the 1/2-mile trail and viewing the ruins.

Then come back through town, grab lunch or makings for a picnic, and head over to Abó. The sites are open from 5:00pm daily in the summer and from 4:00pm daily in the winter. All have restrooms, museums and bookstores, picnic areas, and easy hiking trails.

If you have 8 hours (a full day) to visit:

Visit the park's main visitor center in Mountainair and watch the 14-minute educational film about the history of our three cultural sites; use the restroom and check out the museum and bookstore.

Then head out to Gran Quivira and tour the site by walking the 1/2-mile trail and viewing the ruins. Don't miss the excellent museum inside the visitor center.

Then come back through town and grab lunch.

Then head up to Quarai; lastly, take the 20-minute drive to Abó. The sites are open from 5:00pm daily in the summer and from 4:00pm daily in the winter. All have restrooms, museums and bookstores, picnic areas, and easy hiking trails.