Car Rental Albuquerque Airport (ABQ)

Once you’ve collected your hire car at Albuquerque Airport, downtown is less than 10km away via Interstate 25 (I-25). I-25 is a major route that runs from north to south through New Mexico, connecting Santa Fe and Albuquerque with El Paso, just over the Texas border.

Albuquerque is laid out in four quadrants – north-east, north-west, south-east, and south-west – with an easy-to-navigate grid pattern. Lettered streets run east to west and numbered streets run north to south.

The city is located at the point where I-25 intersects I-40, a route which runs east to west across the state through destinations including Grants, Gallup and Santa Rosa. The two interstates meet at an interchange known as Big I. This is one of the busiest stretches of road anywhere in New Mexico, so if you’re planning to use it during your stay, make sure you allow plenty of time for your journey and plan ahead to avoid the busiest times.

Albuquerque also lies on the former Route 66, now known as Central Avenue - you can still spot neon signs that highlight the path of this historic highway. Central Avenue runs through some of the city’s biggest attractions, including the Old Town and the Downtown business district, before continuing east to the University of New Mexico.

As well as exploring the city, car hire at Albuquerque Airport means you can drive just over 100km along I-25 to Santa Fe, or travel south to reach attractions such as the Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge and Gila National Forest.

White Sands National Monument is a few hours south of the city along I-25 and US Route 380, while the Sandia Mountains are just a short drive east along I-40 and New Mexico State Road 536. 

Road rules in Albuquerque are similar to those across the US. You’ll drive on the right-hand side of the road and will have to keep an eye out for speed limit signs throughout your journey.

When you rent a car at Albuquerque Airport, you’ll be able to make the most of your time in the city and even head further afield to explore the spectacular mountainous landscape of New Mexico.

Must-see museums

Start your visit to Albuquerque with a trip to one of its celebrated museums. The National Hispanic Cultural Centre in the historic Barelas neighbourhood houses an art museum, theatre and library, where you’ll find exhibitions and events taking place all year round.

Also well worth a visit is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, where you can browse an impressive collection of pottery and art, shop for Native American handicrafts and sample traditional food at the Pueblo Harvest Café.

Old Town charm

To learn more about the fascinating history of Albuquerque, head to its Old Town, where the first Spanish families settled in 1706. Today, you can still see some of the historic colonial architecture, including the San Felipe de Neri Church, as well as traditional adobe buildings in the Pueblo-Spanish style. As well as its fascinating architecture, this is also a lively part of the city with plenty of shops and restaurants to choose from and live music events regularly held in the central plaza.

Get your kicks…

Today, you can still see parts of the old Route 66 highway alongside I-40 on its path through the city. Known today as Central Avenue, it passes through areas that include the University of New Mexico and the ABQ BioPark, an environmental museum made up of an aquarium, zoo, botanic garden and fishing lakes.

Further east, the trail leads to Nob Hill, home to hip boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Look out for the vintage and modern neon signs, designed to capture the historic appearance of the Mother Road.

Up in the air

If you’re visiting Albuquerque in the fall, you’re in for a real treat. The International Balloon Fiesta takes place in the city every October, with crowds from all over the world travelling to witness the spectacular nine-day event.

This claims to be the world’s most photographed event, and it’s easy to see why. The sight of hundreds of colourful hot air balloons floating above the city as the sun rises over the Sandia Mountains is something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Head for heights

If you’re not lucky enough to witness the balloon festival, there are companies across Albuquerque that offer the chance to take piloted hot air balloon rides over the city all year round. Alternatively, you can head for the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, which transports you over 4km to an observation deck with outstanding views of the Cibola National Forest.

Outdoor action

With car rental in Albuquerque, you’ll be able to take the short drive to the forest, home to trails that are perfect for hiking and mountain biking. Or you could head further afield to Valles Caldera National Preserve, a former privately-owned cattle ranch in the Jemez Mountains.

The 89,000-acre preserve surrounds a dormant volcano and provides an outstanding backdrop for activities including horseback riding and even cross-country skiing. With a hire car, all this and more is within easy reach from Albuquerque.