Hey Guys!
This Santa Fe to Silver City road trip takes you through some of the most unique landscapes in New Mexico, including lakes, hot springs towns, national forest drives, and historic mining areas.
This guide follows the exact route I took and includes the best stops along the way, from Elephant Butte State Park to Silver City.
Contents
- Elephant Butte State Park
- Truth or Consequences
- Where to eat
- Gila National Forest
- Santa Rita Mine
- Silver City – Where to Stay
This post continues our time exploring the beautiful state of New Mexico!
The drive from Santa Fe to Silver City takes approximately 5 hrs.
Our drive took us back through Albuquerque where we spotted tons of hot air balloons in the sky!
The hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque lasts for an entire week — so no matter when you visit, chances are you’ll spot colorful balloons floating across the sky every single day you’re in town!
It’s such an amazing sight to witness!
As we were passing through Belen, NM, we passed hundreds of pecan trees ….this was part of the Four Daughters Pecan Orchard.
We also passed patches on the ground that looked just like snow!
The views on this drive were so beautiful!
Mountains that went on for miles!
After a for a couple of hours, we pulled over at a rest stop to stretch our legs.
We spotted this sign that showed the points of interest in the area.
We also spotted this huge Soaptree yucca tree!
After our quick stop, we continued our drive.
And I continued my photoshoot of the incredible scenery along the way!
Elephant Butte State Park (Lake Views & Swimming in New Mexico)
After about 3 hrs of driving, we arrived to our first stop of the day, Elephant Butte State Park.
I had seen pictures of this place during my research and had to add it to our itinerary but boy were the pictures misleading!
The pictures showed an amazing lake with cool rock formations but when we arrived, there was hardly any water in the lake at all!
The views weren’t bad but I was expecting to see a huge lake!
We actually drove to a boat ramp and there was literally no water at all to be found!!
It was the strangest thing ever!
The park looked well maintained and had picnic tables, RV hookups, etc but I couldn’t figure out what the draw would be for this place!
I later researched it when we got home and read that the lake is actually a man made reservoir on the Rio Grande that was built in the early 1900’s mainly for irrigation, flood control and water supply….not for recreation.
The reservoir depends on rain and snowmelt from Colorado …..the southwest has been in a long term drought and for this reason, the lake can dry up.
Even when there is water, a lot of it is released downstream to farms and communities …especially during irrigation season.
So, do your research if you ever plan on visiting this area or you could be sorely disappointed!
Tip: There is marina located here where you can rent boats, kayaks are more
However, the views were beautiful but I wouldn’t recommend stopping here unless the lake isn’t dried up!
Tip: We had the historic Elephant Butte Dam on the list but decided to skip it. I do wish we would have seen it.
Read reviews here
Truth or Consequences – (Small Historic Town full of Hot Springs)
After leaving here, we continued to our next stop which would be the small town of Truth or Consequences.
Truth or Consequences, known as Hot Springs until 1950, is a small resort town with a year-round population of slightly more than 6,000.
The little town got its big name in 1950 as part of a publicity scheme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Truth or Consequences, Ralph Edwards’ hugely successful game show on NBC radio.
Once the new name was adopted, Edwards traveled to town annually, celebrity friends in tow, for nearly 50 years to celebrate “Truth or Consequences Fiesta.”
The town is very small with some quirky little shops!
We passed the historic El Cortez Theater.…the theater dates back to the early 1940’s but some sources say it was built around 1933.
I loved all the colorful murals on the sides of some of the buildings!
We passed the popular Giddy Up Cafe — sadly it is now permanently closed.
After checking out the small town, we made our way to the Riverbend Hot Springs.
This was the main reason we were here…..to soak in one of the many hot springs!
This town sits on a natural geothermal system with tons of hot mineral underground.
Historically, there were around 40 bathhouses before WWII,….there are now around 10 main hot spring businesses operating in the small town.
Even Ted Turner has a hotel and bathhouse located here called, the Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa.
The historic hotel was built in 1929 and sits directly on natural geothermal mineral springs with private soaking baths. It was purchased by Ted Turner in 2013.
I chose Riverbend because it sits right along the Rio Grande….so, instead of feeling like a typical spa, it feels very open and scenic.
You can also book a private tub with views of the Rio Grande and the nearby mountain range and that’s just what I did!
When you arrive, you will check in with the front desk.
If you reserved a bath robe or any extras when you made your reservations, you will be given those at the time you check in.
Tip: You will be asked to leave your car keys with the front desk attendant
After getting checked in, you are taken to an outdoor sitting area where you will wait until your soaking tub is ready.
There were information plaques that talked about the history of the hot springs.
In the seating area, there was a mural along the wall with a phone stand set up perfectly so you could snap your own photo in front of it — such a fun little touch!
Tip: There are showers where you can shower & change before getting into the hot springs….this is encouraged.
After waiting a few minutes, we were taken to our private soaking tub…..just look at this view!!
I decided to book two different soaking tubs to see if there was a difference in the views.
The first tub we soaked in was the Tewa. 
You book in 50 min increments ….so, you can book one tub for more than one session or you can book multiple tubs if you want to try them all out!
The tubs do range in temperature….I think it’s anywhere from 95 degrees to 108! Their website tells you what the temperature of the tub is before you book.
The pools are constructed of concrete, tile and/or stone. Each features an overhead cold shower, misters (in the Summer months), riverside curtains, and 2 chaise loungers.
Booking a private tub means you get a small, secluded soaking pool all to yourself.
The water is pumped directly from the natural geothermal springs beneath the town and stays somewhere between 95-108 degrees….so, it’s warm enough to relax into but keep in mind, you can get dehydrated so make sure to have plenty of water with you!
Each private tub area is designed for privacy — ours had floor to ceiling walls with a curtain to block you from the water. because the water is public and you may just see people floating down the river.
These tubs are also a quiet zone….so, you shouldn’t be hearing anyone talking next to you…and if you do, you. can press a button and it notifies the front desk that the person beside you is being too loud….I personally loved that idea!!
Of course we had to take 798 pictures of us in and around the hot springs! 😉
It was so much fun! It was actually a highlight of our trip and I would highly recommend it!
Read reviews here
Tip: Riverbend also has RV spaces, hotel rooms, public soaking areas, a gift shop and more
If you get hot during your soak, there’s a bucket of cold water above your head and a mister you can turn on….it definitely comes in handy!!
It was so peaceful and relaxing!
After our time was up, we gathered our things and headed to the next soaking tub….which was literally next to the Tewa….it was called the Apache.
Tip: There is a timer in the room that is counting down your time so it was really nice not having to keep up with it ourselves
This pool was a bit deeper and a bit hotter than the Tewa…
The views were obviously the same since the rooms were right next to each other.
I actually preferred the Tewa but both were nice.
Each room had a phone stand you could use to take pictures so we definitely took advantage of that! 😉
After our time was up, we headed to the front desk to turn in our robes and collect our keys.
Where to eat
We then headed to find something to eat.
We found a place in town called Johnny B’s.
Johnny B’s is one of those classic small-town diners that feels like a staple more than a tourist stop.
It’s a family owned American/Mexican style diner on the main highway through town that serves breakfast all day as well as lunch and dinner.
It’s not fancy at all — more like a roadside comfort food spot where locals and travelers. mix.
Inside, it has that very small town diner feel ….no frills.
We both ordered a burger and it was really good!
After our burger, we decided to get a small cup of ice cream from their cute little ice cream parlor.
So good!
Read reviews here
After our late lunch, we continued our drive to Silver City….which was a little over 2 hrs away.
The views along the way were gorgeous!
Mountains that went on for miles!
The landscapes in New Mexico are so diverse!
As usual, I took way too many pictures!
Driving through Hillsboro
The scenic drive to historic Hillsboro leads you along the Geronimo Trail, into the foothills of the Black Range mountains.
Hillsboro was founded in April,1877, when two prospectors discovered a series of gold deposits on the east side of the Black Range Mountains along Percha Creek. A tent city quickly filled with over 300 miners, store owners, adventuresome women and children.
Today, there are only about 150 people that live here.
A few minutes later, we spotted a historic marker so we pulled over to check it out.
It was the location of the Percha Creek bridge.
The bridge was built in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The views surrounding the bridge were beautiful!
After this quick stop, we continued our drive.
Views along the way
We started seeing lots of unique rock formations.
Just look at these views!
Gila National Forest (Scenic Drives, Hiking, & Wilderness in New Mexico)
We spotted a sign that said we were entering Gila National Forest.
Gila National Forest covers roughly 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, high desert, canyons, and forested plateaus in southwestern New Mexico. It was established in the early 1900’s and is one of the largest national forests in the Southwest.
One of the forest’s most important distinctions is that it contains the Gila Wilderness, designated in 1924 as the first officially protected wilderness area on earth!
The Gila Wilderness remains roadless, meaning there are no paved or maintained roads inside the boundaries — only trails, rivers, and backcountry routes.
The forest is defined by dramatic elevation changes, ranging from about 4,000 ft to over 10,000 ft.
On this drive you will see a variety of trees including the Ponderosa pine, juniper and many more!
Tip: The forest is also known for natural hot springs scattered throughout the remote canyons.
This place was absolutely beautiful and felt so remote! We rarely saw another vehicle on this drive!
We pulled over several times to take pictures!
Tip: This place is also known for the Gila Cliff Dwellings which are cliff homes that were built around 1280-1300 CE by the Mogollon people but sadly it was closed due to the government shutdown!! The shutdown really affected our trip!! 🙁
Gila National Forest offered something increasingly rare; a landscape where nature still dominates, and human presence feels secondary…..and I loved that!
As we continued our drive, we came upon a recent crash site which reminded us just how dangerous this place could be if you weren’t paying attention to the road!
Portions of the road had limited visibility and were very curvy so I could see how an accident could easily happen if you aren’t paying close attention.
Continuing our drive
The views were so dramatic!!
I wished we had had more time to explore this area.
We saw a sign that led up the mountain to an overlook so decided to check it out.
There were signs at the top that talked about the area…
The views were beautiful!
There was also a sign that talked about the Silver Fire of 2013.
The fire was caused by a lighting strike and burned over 138,000 acres!
After reading some of the signs and checking out the views, we headed back to the main road to continue our drive.
Not even 1 minute later, as we rounded a curve, I happened to glance to my right and spotted a bear!
I couldn’t believe it! I yelled for my husband to stop and back up lol! He didn’t think I’d actually seen a bear — but I quickly proved him wrong!
It was a beautiful black bear!
It is the only species of bear in the Gila National Forest. Their numbers are unknown and sightings are rare because this area is so vast so it definitely made for an unforgettable moment!
Click here to see a list of animals that are found in the forest
After taking 239 pics of the bear, we continued our drive.
And as usual, I continued my non stop photo shoot of the scenery! 😉
We were entering a place called San Lorenzo Canyon Area.
This area is one of the most visually striking drives in and around the Gila National Forest.
As we drove through the San Lorenzo area, the landscape shifted dramatically.
The road wound between towering rock formations and canyon walls, closing in around us as we followed each curve!
It felt like entering a different world — one shaped by time, erosion, and the rugged beauty of Gila.
These walls and rock formations were shaped by volcanic activity, and erosion from water and wind that carved out the narrow canyons.
The views were simply spectacular!!
Around each curve, a different view unloaded!
It was like a different scene kept unfolding before our eyes — towering rock walls, narrow passages, and glimpses of the rugged terrain beyond!
We spotted a pullover so decided to stop and take a few pictures of the scenery.
After snapping a few pictures, we continued our drive.
A few minutes later, we spotted a rattlesnake in the middle of the road and just had to stop to take a picture!
New Mexico is home to 10 distinct rattlesnake species, including the common western diamondback, prairie rattlesnake, and the endangered New Mexico ridge nose rattlesnake.
I don’t recommend you ever get close to a rattlesnake unless you know for sure that it’s dead!
Santa Rita Mine Viewpoint (Historic Mining Area Near Silver City)
About 15 mins later, we arrived to the area of Santa Rita and noticed the mountains looked like they had been mined.
Tip: About 30 mins from here is the Faywood Hot Springs
As we continued our drive, we realized this was a massive copper mining operation!
We spotted a pullover and decided to check it out.
The pullover included some information plaques that talked about the mine.
This is called the Chino Mine also known as the Santa Rita Mine.
The mine is a massive open pit copper mine and is one of the oldest open pit copper mines in North America.
The open pit operations began around 1910.
The size is hard to grasp unless you see it for yourself!
The main pit is roughly 2.8 miles long and over 1300 ft deep!
It’s considered one of the largest open pit mines in the world!
From the overlook, it looked like a massive terraced crater….the colors of the mine were amazing!
One of the most fascinating parts of its story is that the original town of Santa Rita once sat where the pit is today.
As the mine expanded, the town was moved multiple times….eventually, it was completely abandoned in 1967.
The huge mining equipment looked tiny against the scale of the pit.
There’s a famous rock formation called the “Kneeling Nun” that overlooks the mine.
The “Kneeling Nun” is about 1-2 miles from the mine pit…it often appears off to the side or above the mine. It’s a thin vertical spire that resembles a person kneeling in prayer.
We didn’t see it from the overlook.
Silver City (Historic, Southwest Town & Travel Base) – Where to Stay
After leaving here, we continued our drive to Silver City.…we were now only 30 mins from Silver City.
Finally, at around 7 pm, we arrived to our AirBnb.
We rented a one bed, one bath apartment that had been restored.
It was so cute and quaint!
We absolutely loved it!
It had so much character!
We were so excited to see that our host had left us a bag of chips and salsa because we were starving!
Atter sitting outside for a while, we called it a night.
If you only have 1 day to spend driving from Santa Fe to Silver City, here’s the best order to follow:
- Elephant Butte State Park
- Truth or Consequences
- Gila National Forest
- Santa Rita Mine
- Silver City
This route gives you a mix of scenic landscapes, unique towns, and historic sites in one day.
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for Day 6!
Read Day 1 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 1 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025
Day 2 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 2 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025
Day 3 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 3 – Albuquerque to Sante Fe – Oct. 2025
Day 4 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 4 – Santa Fe – Oct 2025
And click here to see links to all of my blog posts
Read reviews for the church, 
