What is special about Taos?

Taos is one of the few places in the United States where three distinct cultures, Spanish, Native American, and Anglo, have coexisted for centuries. The town combines a 1,000-year-old Pueblo, a 125-year-old art colony, world-class skiing, and a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country. It sits at nearly 7,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with the Rio Grande Gorge to the west.

How far is Taos from Albuquerque?

Taos is approximately 130 miles north of Albuquerque. The drive takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes via I-25 North to US 285 to NM 68.

How far is Taos from Santa Fe?

Taos is approximately 70 miles north of Santa Fe. The Low Road (NM 68) takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. The High Road (NM 76) takes 2 to 3 hours but passes through historic mountain villages.

What is the elevation of Taos?

The town of Taos sits at 6,969 feet above sea level. Taos Ski Valley is at 9,207 feet. Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico, is at 13,161 feet.

What is the best time to visit Taos?

Every season has something different. Winter (December through March) is ski season. Spring (April and May) brings warmer weather and fewer crowds but can include mud season on dirt roads. Summer (June through August) is peak tourist season with highs in the 80s. Fall (September through November) offers clear skies, fall foliage, and pleasant temperatures.

Is crime bad in Taos, New Mexico?

Taos is a small town and generally safe for visitors. Like any community, it has some property crime. Use common sense, lock your car, and be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.

What celebrity lives in Taos, NM?

Taos has a long history of attracting notable residents. Julia Roberts has owned property in the area. Dennis Hopper lived in Taos for many years before his death in 2010. The town continues to attract artists, writers, and public figures who value privacy and the landscape.

Is Taos, NM Republican or Democrat?

Taos County has historically voted Democratic in presidential elections. The political culture is shaped by the area's strong Hispanic community, its Native American population, and its arts-oriented Anglo residents. Like many small Western towns, opinions on local issues like land use, water rights, and property taxes cut across traditional party lines.

Town of Taos

HeyTaos · Town of Taos

Town of Taos, New Mexico

The commercial and cultural center of Taos County. Taos Plaza, the galleries, the museums, the restaurants, and the historic core of a town that has been drawing artists, writers, and visitors for over a hundred years.

Taos Plaza

Taos Plaza is the historic center of town, a traditional New Mexico plaza laid out under Spanish colonial planning law. The plaza is surrounded by shops, galleries, and restaurants in historic adobe buildings. Kit Carson Park is one block east. The Historic Taos Inn, with the Adobe Bar and its nightly live music, is on Paseo del Pueblo Norte a block north.

The Plaza area is walkable. The most concentrated gallery and museum district is on Ledoux Street, one block southwest of the Plaza. Bent Street running north from the Plaza has more galleries and restaurants. The John Dunn Shops pedestrian courtyard just north of the Plaza connects to additional galleries and food options.

Walking Distance from Plaza	What's There
Ledoux Street (1 block SW)	Harwood Museum, Blumenschein Home, major commercial galleries
Bent Street (north)	Galleries, restaurants, shops, John Dunn Shops courtyard
Kit Carson Road (east)	Kit Carson Home and Museum, Couse-Sharp Historic Site, galleries
Paseo del Pueblo Norte (north)	Historic Taos Inn, Fechin House museum, galleries toward El Prado
Paseo del Pueblo Sur (south)	Taos Center for the Arts, additional restaurants and services

Neighborhoods

Area	Character
Historic Downtown / Plaza	Commercial core, walkable, galleries, restaurants, hotels
El Prado	Unincorporated strip north on NM-522. Taos Mesa Brewing, Millicent Rogers Museum, airport, commercial services
Ranchos de Taos	4 miles south on NM-68. San Francisco de Asis Church, distinct village identity
Taos Canyon	East on US-64. Summer homes, Carson National Forest access, South Boundary trailhead
Lower Ranchitos	South of Plaza along NM-68. Mixed residential and commercial

Where to Eat

Taos has a strong restaurant scene for a town of 6,500. The concentration of good food near the Plaza is highest in New Mexico outside of Santa Fe. New Mexican, American, Mexican, and a range of international options are all represented within walking distance of the center.

Culture

The Town of Taos holds the majority of the county's museums, galleries, and cultural venues. The Harwood Museum, Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, Blumenschein Home, and Couse-Sharp Historic Site are all within walking distance of the Plaza. The Taos Center for the Arts presents film, theater, and music. The Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn has live music most nights.

Where to Stay

Staying in the Town of Taos puts you within walking distance of the Plaza, the galleries, and the restaurants. The Historic Taos Inn on Paseo del Pueblo Norte is the most storied address in town. Bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, and vacation rentals are concentrated in the historic core and surrounding neighborhoods.

For the full guide to Taos, see the Taos Travel Guide and Taos Culture Guide.

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