Over by Grants (I-40 E toward ABQ): El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground; there is a private campgound near by as well. Near Grants or can be reached from Gallup. We went from Gallup to Zuni Pueblo then to El Morro (we lingered too long at the Pueblo and didn't get to hike the trial at El Morro, got there too late in the day; its a neat trail too, we had hiked it before). Of course one could go to it from Grants as well.
Sites & Sights I-40, ABQ, Plus Santa Fe Area.
The ABQ Aquarium is really neat, small but excellent.
Santa Fe, not on I-40, but easy detour to the area, then drop down US 285 S to I-40 again.
Here's an old post of one of our more recent visits to a National Park in New Mexico as well as a State Park (even a BLM Campground).
Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't area of New Mexico -A Trip Report 2012.
Los Alamos is a very neat small city in itself. Free bus system with very neat buses. Very pretty setting up in the high country. Somewhat of a gated community as well. We only drove through & stopped at a SuperMarket. A nice town.
http://www.visit.losalamos.com/http://www.losalamosnm.us/transit/Pages/default.aspx More on the AreaLonger detour back to I-40, Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas,
Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path. However, one can use NM 3 to cut down to the I-40 from Villanueva. We did that one visit.
Off of US 550, Just minutes North of Albuquerque (off of I-25, exit 242) in Bernalillo:
The
Coronado Campground is a Bernalillo city campground (used to be a state part) at the entrance to the State Monument. Wasn't a bad site some years ago, haven't been there in some time as I mentioned. It was a state park when we had spent time there. Sets off the Hwy a little.
Cochiti Lake COE campground, between ABQ & Santa Fe:
Cochiti Lake CG
