Farmington and New Mexico in general might not be the obvious spring break destination, but it can actually be the perfect spring getaway: With warm weather, wide open outdoor spaces, and the iconic attractions found within the Four Corners nearby, it has so much to offer this time of year!
If you decide to spend your spring break in our corner of New Mexico, you’ll find endless outdoor activities, culture and history, seasonal events, and family friendly indoor options too.
Let’s look at what makes New Mexico such a great spring break destination and what to plan for during your time here:
Planning your New Mexico spring break
There’s fantastic destinations around New Mexico for a spring getaway — we’ll be focusing on the Four Corners region around Farmington, which is a hub for this area.
In Farmington, you have central access to trails, rivers, nearby historic sites like Aztec Ruins National Monument, and unique landscapes like the Bisti Badlands all available in every direction.
Because there are so many options for visitors to the area, we recommend creating a sort of spring break “game plan” to help organize your visit; some like to be very regimented in their vacations while others are more flexible and like to keep things open but, even if you’re in the latter category, it can be very helpful to at least somewhat narrow things down.
When in doubt, pick one of each! Choose a:
- Recreational outdoor adventure
- Cultural, historical visit
- River or lake day
We love when visitors see this grand spectrum of what northwestern New Mexico has to offer, so always recommend doing at least one of each.
Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention some necessities to be sure you pack before arrival:
- Layers and sun protection
- Sturdy shoes
- Offline maps for remote areas
- Snacks and water when you’re out doing recreational activities
Outdoor spring break activities
It’s impossible to list out all the outdoor activities this part of New Mexico has to offer, so think of these as some good starting points.
If you’re looking for hikes, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is about 40 minutes south of town and has 45,000 acres of landscapes to explore. It’s perfect for either a half- or full-day hike, with both self-guided exploring and guided tours available.
For something within Farmington, the Animas River Trail is over eight miles of trails tucked alongside its namesake river, going through town and out from there.
It’s great for a walk, or you can bike them too if you’re in the mood for something more brisk or want to go out further. You’ll find playgrounds and picnic breaks along the way; it’s a lovely trail system for cycling out and stopping for lunch.
Along the Animas River you’ll also find the Gatewave!
This is one of our newest attractions: an engineered wave on the Animas that lets you surf right on the river. Like famous spots in Munich or Montreal, the Gatewave is a man-made wave harnessing nature-made power to give our home river a surfable recreation area. If you’re not a surfer but still want to get in on the action, there’s also rolling water for body boarding.
Just remember to always check conditions on this live cam before heading out, to make sure you’re prepared.
These are just the very basic starting points for trails but are representative of the diversity of what you’ll find — from close-to-town, easy strolls, to sprawling wilderness adventures.
Water activities near Farmington
Land is only one way to enjoy this part of New Mexico — the rivers and lakes provide endless entertainment too!
Close to us, you have Navajo Lake State Park, which has opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, picnics, and more, including rentals for many activities.
Even closer is the San Juan River, which sports world-class, year-round fishing. Both self-guided fishing and fishing tours are available; if you’re an angler, check out our guide to fishing the San Juan here!
Culture and historic activities in the Four Corners region
Of course, this part of New Mexico has so much cultural history with our Ancestral Puebloan heritage.
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument, for example, is a 30-minute drive northeast of Farmington. Despite the name, which came from American settlers getting the Aztec civilization’s location wrong by about 1,500 miles, these ruins have nothing to do with the Aztecs, and are the remnants of the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people, which includes the Hopi, Taos, and many other groups.
Today, the 1,000-year-old Aztec Ruins is still a sacred space. You’ll find an Ancestral Pueblo great house, as well as the restored ceremonial Great Kiva, plus a modern museum and educational opportunities. Much of the structure of the original community is still in place; it’s both a fascinating opportunity to experience our cultural history, and a space that necessitates treating it with the utmost respect.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is another ancient site, this time northwest of Farmington right over the border in Colorado. You’ll experience a beautiful scenic drive on the way there, then be greeted with historic cliff-dwelling homes. They also have seasonal ranger programs to learn more.
Not only that, but this park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and World Heritage Site.
Mesa Verde is open from 8 AM to 5 PM by default, with extended hours during the summer.
Chaco Culture National Historic Park
Also known as Chaco Canyon, this is the largest excavated prehistoric ruins in North America. It’s located south of Farmington, about an hour and a half, near the aforementioned De-Na-Zin Wilderness.
Along with the educational opportunities, Chaco Canyon also offers camping spots and dark sky views, including ancient Chaco astronomical practices.
Salmon Ruins
This is similarly both a heritage park and a cultural museum. Salmon Ruins is only 10 miles east of Farmington, and was one of the largest colonies of the Chacoan Culture. The site itself further includes reconstructed dwelling features of the 1,000 year-old community.
Family-focused spring break stops
Beyond these sites, Farmington and the surrounding area includes multiple activities that are fun for the whole family.
The E3 Children’s Museum and Science Center is in downtown Farmington and offers hands-on lessons in science that are accessible to kids and just plain fun! And the Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village is close by the Aztec Ruins National Monument, with a look at pioneer life in the American West.
Local food options for fueling your spring break
Because eating is half the fun of a vacation, here are some of our recommendations to get started.
For breakfast: Juniper Coffee has breakfast burritos, blue corn waffles, bowls, and other breakfast foods that fuse local Indigenous ingredients with modern techniques.
When it comes to lunch and/or on-the-go snacks, NutriMeals offers a rotating menu of bowls and on-the-go prepared foods or smoothies, while Ice Age Frozen Yogurt and Coffee has cool-down sweet treats or afternoon pick-me-ups.
And for a sitdown lunch or dinner, we love places like Boon’s Family Thai BBQ, Clancy Pub, and Three Rivers Eatery and Brewhouse.
Really, this corner of New Mexico is just a great spring break destination all around for those who want to get some sun, outdoors, and culture all in one. Just remember to bring layers, time your day trips right, and be prepared for the conditions when you head out into our surrounding wilderness and recreational areas.
Farmington hopes to see you soon!