Arriving in Albuquerque
By Car
Two Interstate highways pass through Albuquerque: I-40 goes east-west and I-25 goes north-south. Where they meet is a large intersection called "The Big I". Albuquerque's Central Avenue is part of old Route 66. A minor note of caution: I-25 south of Albuquerque is a "safety corridor" in which state law mandates higher fines for traffic violations. Enforcement is spotty, but take the speed limits seriously anyway.
By Plane
Albuquerque's airport, the Albuquerque International Sunport (IATA: ABQ), is the major air hub for all of New Mexico. The Sunport has service from all major US airlines and their international partners, and is a major hub for Southwest Airlines. One tip: If you're prone to airsickness, try to get flights into this airport that arrive either before noon or after sundown, particularly during late spring and early summer. The high elevation, hot sun, and spring winds combine to produce thermals that can make afternoon arrivals an extremely bumpy proposition. There are no major safety issues (the airport's runways are long, owing to the adjacent Air Force base, with no nearby obstacles to run into), but try telling your stomach that! The rough ride is less of a problem with outbound flights. Incidentally, this airport contains a number of attractive displays of New Mexican arts and crafts as well as one good restaurant (a member of the Garduño's chain, see below under "Eat"), and is a more pleasant place than most airports to kill time while waiting for a flight. The major car rental companies are nearby, with a shuttle from the airport to the large new rental center. The Sunport has charging stations for electronics and completely free wireless internet access.
Airlines and destinations from Albuquerque International Sunport
Concourse A
Northwest: Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Southwest: Amarillo, Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field, Denver, El Paso, Houston Hobby, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tucson.
United: Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington Dulles.
Concourse B
American: Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth.
Continental: Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Newark.
Delta: Atlanta, Salt Lake City.
Frontier: Denver.
USAirways: Phoenix.
Commuter Terminal
Great Lakes Airlines: Clovis, Silver City.
New Mexico Airlines: Alamogordo, Carlsbad, El Paso, Hobbs, Midland/Odessa, Ruidoso.
By Train
Albuquerque is a layover stop along Amtrak's Southwest Chief daily train route. The depot is at the Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown, at 214 First Street SW (in the same building as the Greyhound depot). The westbound train to Los Angeles is scheduled to arrive at 3:55PM and departs at 4:45PM. The eastbound train to Chicago arrives at 12:12PM and departs at 12:55PM. The station has a small cafeteria.
A commuter rail line, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express , connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe and to the smaller communities north and south along the Rio Grande, including Belen, Los Lunas, and Bernalillo. There are three stations in Albuquerque: the Alvarado Transportation Center in Downtown, one in the South Valley on Rio Bravo Blvd, and one in the North Valley/Los Ranchos area just off of Paseo del Norte. The South Valley and Downtown stations have bus connections to the airport. Currently the Rail Runner only runs on weekdays (and mainly at the peak commuting hours at that) with some limited weekend service during the summer and for special events (such as the Balloon Fiesta). Fares are based on how far you ride; a day pass will be in the range of $2-$9. Tickets can be purchased online or from ticket agents on the train.
By Bus
Albuquerque has a fine bus depot at the Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown, 320 First Street SW, which is served by Greyhound +1 505 243-4435, and Autobuses Americanos. The depot has a small cafeteria.
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