HeyTaos · Living in Taos

The Blue Bus and Local Transit

Most newcomers do not know the Blue Bus exists until a neighbor mentions it. It is fare-free, it runs through the heart of town, and it is run by the North Central Regional Transit District, the same agency that connects Taos to Española and Santa Fe. It will not replace a car here, but it covers more ground than people expect, and on a tight week it can save you a tank of gas. Here is what actually runs, where it goes, and what to do when the bus is not.

The route you will actually use

340 Chile Line Red

This is the in-town route, and the one that matters most day to day. It runs Monday through Friday, fare-free, from the Ranchos de Taos Post Office north through the Plaza area to the Taos Pueblo entrance, stopping at Holy Cross Hospital, the Taos Youth and Family Center, Taos County Administration Building, Kit Carson Park, and Taos Mountain Casino along the way. Buses run roughly every 75 minutes from about 7:30 am to 6:45 pm. It does not reach El Prado or Arroyo Seco. For those, you are driving, biking, or waiting for the winter ski shuttle covered below.

View the 340 Chile Line schedule

340 Chile Line Red: Stop Times

Monday through Friday, fare-free
Northbound, Ranchos de Taos Post Office to Taos Pueblo Entrance. Schedule current as of June 2, 2025 revision.
Stop Trips
Ranchos de Taos Post Office 7:30, 8:45, 10:00, 11:15, 12:30, 1:45, 3:00, 4:15, 5:30, 6:45
Taos Visitor Center 7:34, 8:49, 10:04, 11:19, 12:34, 1:49, 3:04, 4:19, 5:34
Holy Cross Hospital 7:38, 8:53, 10:08, 11:23, 12:38, 1:53, 3:08, 4:23, 5:38
Taos County Administration Building 7:54, 9:09, 10:24, 11:39, 12:54, 2:09, 3:24, 4:39, 5:54
Taos Pueblo Entrance 8:08, 9:23, 10:38, 11:53, 1:08, 2:23, 3:38, 4:53, 6:08

Heads up: this is a partial stop list to show the rhythm of the route. The full timetable lists every stop in both directions, including Bertha Street, Cruz Alta, Guadalupe Parking Lot, and Siler Road. Always check the live schedule before you plan around it, since NCRTD revises timetables a few times a year.

MyBlue On-Demand

$1 a ride, book ahead

Door to door, shared ride

How MyBlue Works in Taos

MyBlue is NCRTD's on-demand rideshare, and in Taos it covers a 2-mile radius around the 340 Chile Line, roughly the same Ranchos-to-Pueblo corridor, Monday through Friday from 6 am to 6 pm. It costs $1 a trip, paid in the app or in exact cash on board. Book through the MyBlue North Central RTD app at least 24 hours ahead, up to two weeks in advance, and be at your pickup spot 15 minutes early. It is a shared ride, similar to a transit version of Uber, so expect possible stops for other passengers.

Get the MyBlue app

Outside the Chile Line zone

When MyBlue Will Not Cover You

If you live out past the 2-mile radius, in El Prado proper, further down Highway 68, or up toward Arroyo Seco, MyBlue will not reach you and neither will the 340. That stretch of town runs on cars, bikes, and the seasonal ski shuttle below. Worth knowing before you sign a lease on the edge of the service area expecting a bus to show up.

Check the MyBlue zone map

Getting Out of Town

Santa Fe and Española, by bus

Weekdays, fare-free

300 Taos to Española

The 300 Taos route runs Monday through Friday between Taos and the Española Transit Center, with stops in Pilar, Dixon, Velarde, and Alcalde along the way. It connects with the 200 Santa Fe route without a bus change, so a weekday trip to Santa Fe is possible entirely by Blue Bus, just slow. Plan for the better part of a morning each way.

View the 300 Taos schedule

Saturday and Sunday, fare-free

305 Taos Express

This is the weekend version of the Santa Fe run, since the 300 Taos does not operate on weekends. The 305 Taos Express connects Taos, Española, and Santa Fe on Saturdays and Sundays, fare-free, with no service on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. If you are headed to Santa Fe for a Saturday errand run without a car, this is the one to check.

View the 305 Taos Express schedule

Winter Only: The Ski Shuttle

Seasonal, December to March, fare-free

Wednesday through Sunday in season

341 TSV Green

This is the route that covers El Prado and Arroyo Seco, but only during ski season. The 341 TSV Green runs fare-free from town through El Prado, Arroyo Seco, and Valdez up to Taos Ski Valley, Wednesday through Sunday, typically December through March. The 2025-2026 season ran December 20 through March 22 and has now ended for the year. Park-and-ride options include Kit Carson Park, Loretto, and KTAOS. Confirm exact season dates with NCRTD before you plan around it, since the calendar shifts slightly year to year with the ski area's opening and closing.

View the 341 TSV Green route

What This Means If You Are Moving Here

The honest read: the Blue Bus is genuinely useful if you live and work along the Ranchos-to-Pueblo corridor, which covers most of the Plaza area, the hospital, and the county buildings. Outside that strip, it thins out fast. El Prado and Arroyo Seco only get bus service for a few winter months, and even then, only a few days a week. Nothing here runs evenings or late nights, and nothing runs on Sundays except the 305 Taos Express to Santa Fe.

For day to day life, that means most residents still need a car. The bus is a real backup, not a primary plan, especially if you live outside town proper. Track live arrivals with the MyStop app, or text BB plus your stop number to 321123 for the next departure. For anything the fixed routes do not reach, MyBlue is the better bet, but it still needs a day's notice and stays inside that 2-mile Chile Line zone.

One more thing worth knowing: NCRTD revises schedules a few times a year, usually in spring and again before ski season. Whatever you read here or anywhere else, confirm against the live schedule before you build a commute around it.