The 🏜️ Desert tag marks routes that traverse arid landscapes, dry basins, and sunbaked terrain typical of the American Southwest and similar regions. These drives are often defined by sparse vegetation, rugged rock formations, and expansive, unbroken horizons under intense sunlight.
Desert-tagged segments offer a unique visual experience—shifting sands, red rock mesas, or salt flats depending on the location. They can be starkly beautiful but also challenging due to heat, limited shade, and fewer services along the way.
Drive Interstate 40 from Albuquerque to Gallup, New Mexico — a 123-mile journey through high desert mesas, volcanic landscapes, and historic Route 66 country. Experience sweeping Southwest scenery, lava fields near Grants, and the rugged beauty leading to Gallup.
Drive 61 miles west along Interstate 40 from Clines Corners to Albuquerque, New Mexico. This scenic high-desert journey crosses the Estancia Basin before approaching the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande corridor.
Drive 54 miles west on Interstate 40 from Santa Rosa to Clines Corners, New Mexico, crossing wide-open high desert plains, historic travel corridors, and one of the Southwest’s classic crossroads along I-40.
Drive 37 miles west on Interstate 40 from Glenrio to Tucumcari, New Mexico. Experience wide-open High Plains, historic Route 66 parallels, Tucumcari Mountain views, and classic neon Americana along this scenic desert interstate segment.
Drive the historic and scenic Arizona State Route 66 from Seligman to Kingman. This iconic segment of Historic U.S. Route 66 travels through desert plains, ghost towns, and tribal lands, showcasing classic Americana and the rugged beauty of Arizona’s high desert.
Travel 64 miles through one of the most iconic landscapes in America as U.S. Route 163 takes you from Kayenta, Arizona to Bluff, Utah. Explore Monument Valley, Forrest Gump Point, Mexican Hat, and more on this unforgettable scenic highway.
Drive 82 miles across the Navajo Nation on U.S. Route 160 from Tuba City to Kayenta, Arizona. Explore scenic desert landscapes, roadside stops, and historic points of interest along this vital east-west corridor in the American Southwest.
Cruise east on Interstate 40 from Tijeras to Edgewood, New Mexico, for 12 miles of high-desert scenery, roadside history, and mountain views just outside of Albuquerque. Explore Zuzax, Sedillo Hill, and the growing town of Edgewood along the way.
Travel 23 miles through New Mexico’s rugged high desert along County Road 7950 from Nageezi to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. A challenging but rewarding route offering panoramic views and ancient history.
Drive 43 miles south along US Highway 491 from Utah to Cortez, Colorado, passing through Dove Creek, Yellow Jacket, and Lewis in Colorado’s high desert farmland. This quiet, scenic stretch offers access to archaeological sites and panoramic rural views in the heart of…
Cruise across the high desert of central New Mexico on Interstate 40 from Edgewood to Clines Corners. This 31-mile stretch includes Moriarty, a historic Route 66 stop, and long desert vistas before arriving at the legendary Clines Corners travel center.
Travel the historic Route 66 along New Mexico State Road 333 from Albuquerque to Tijeras. Explore the Musical Highway, scenic views of the Sandia Mountains, and remnants of Americana in this short but memorable desert drive.
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