Santa Fe to Taos to Great Sand Dunes NP

Thanks everyone.

Great advice on the route and great suggestions for things to do and places to stay.

Stuart

We drove east on US 64 from Tres Piedras to Taos last summer. The road is very bumpy--lots of patches and virutally no shoulder. But it is only about 27 miles so it can be one just be patient. US 85 north into CO was OK. We tow a 39 foot 5th wheel with 12 years of experience on the roads of the US and Canada.

Either route Alamosa or Fort Garland the road is fine nothing crazy at all. There is a campground with full hookups right outside the park I think it is called Oasis. It is not bad at all. Their little store also rents boards and sleds to ride the dunes if you like. I can tell you from experience that you can go dang fast so if you do try it start on something a bit shorter before you go big.
The Alligator farm while certainly tired as someone put it is a nice side trip and we found it interesting but don't expect Sea World. Who would have thought about Alligators in the San Luis Valley especially since Alamosa is routinely one of the coldest locations in the state in the winter time which is maybe 15 miles away (and the gators are all out doors no indoor heat for them).
A couple other short side trips right there is a short hike to Zapata Falls as well as Fort Garland museum or whatever it is called where they have the original Fort. It is nothing crazy just an interesting snapshot in history.

Since you are going to Taos, staying on NM 522 to Fort Garland is fine. You can stay in Alamosa, we usually stay at the KOA and then it's a short drive to the Great Sand Dunes NP. We have only been there one evening so I don't know what the campground is like.

Going through Taos is annoying when its busy but still not a problem. Weekdays are best. At times they have talked about a bypass route around Taos, but I don't think anything has been done.

David