New Mexico
Socorro courtesy New Mexico Tech
New Mexico's Scenic Byways
New Mexico boasts 26 scenic byways in total, eight of which are national scenic byways while 18 are state or federal agency scenic byways. New Mexico enacted its state scenic byway program on July 31, 1998, in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the New Mexico State Highway Department. Funding has since also come from SAFETEA- LU (2005).
Key Points
- New Mexico is home to 26 scenic byways, including eight national scenic byways, five federal agency byways, and 13 state scenic byways.
- The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument can be visited along the centuries-old Abo Pass Trail State Scenic Byway.
- El Camino Real National Scenic Byway is the country’s oldest and most used “highway”; the Camino Real brought European colonists to New Spain 22 years before the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock.
- El Camino Real National Scenic Byway stretches over 600 miles through New Mexico and both Northern and Southern California.
- Since 2011 tourism spending has increased by more than $1.1 billion.
- Travel and tourism supports more than 93,000 jobs in the state.
New Mexico Byways
Map Key:
- National Scenic Byways
- Federal Agency Byways
- State Scenic Byways
State Scenic Byways
Byways Provide Access to Public Lands
New Mexico byways provide access to the state’s most spectacular public lands, including 15 national parks, 35 state parks, three national trails, 46 national historic landmarks, and three World Heritage Sites.
About the National Scenic Byways Program
The National Scenic Byways Program, established by Congress in 1991, recognizes historic, scenic, and culturally important roads, all of which promote economic development and tourism in communities around the U.S. There are more than 1,200 byways in all 50 states.
All scenic byways exhibit one or more of six core intrinsic qualities — scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archaeological, or natural. For a road to be named a national scenic byway, it must first be designated a state, tribal, or federal agency scenic byway. Once achieving that, a road may apply for national scenic byway designation, but its intrinsic quality must be of regional significance. All-American Roads are the very best of the national scenic byways, demonstrating at least two intrinsic qualities of national significance.