Last Updated on September 1, 2022 by Left Lane

During the Christmas, and New Years Holidays. I decided to take a Cross Country Solo Road Trip. Stopping in many major U.S. Cities along the way. Namely doing whatever activity I wanted along the way. One of the more interesting activities happened during my 1 night stay in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Read on to check out my guide to Road Tripping in New Mexico.
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Where To Stay
Starting the morning off in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Where I had spent the previous night. I stayed at the recently built Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oklahoma City Airport hotel.


Pancakes Anyone?
Another perk of staying at the Holiday Inn Express is the free breakfast included with your stay. Meaning that’s one less meal You have to find during your travels throughout the day.


It most certainly was not my last encounter with one. As a few other hotels I stayed at during my trip also had these automatic pancake making devices. Just press the button, place your plate at the end, and in about 1 minute flat you have 2 fluffy, freshly made pancakes on your plate
Solo On The Highway
When I hit the road, I had about an 8 hour drive ahead of me. Once I left Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, until I made it to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s around a 550 mile Road Trip.

After my quick detour, I kept on trucking until I made the Texas state line.

My first stop in the state of Texas was at a rest area in the city of Pampa. This is the Gray County Safety Rest Area. Powered by modern Green Energy, via a Wind Turbine. Gray County rest area offers up some amazing views of the surrounding rock outcroppings, and grasslands.




Next Stop New Mexico!
A Gas stop, or two later. Just as I reached the 1000 miles from home mark of my Solo Road Trip. I pulled across the State Line into Bard New Mexico.


Battle Scars
Also my vehicle didn’t make the whole 1000 miles from home mark unscathed. My trusty Red Pickup named “Cheyenne” as I call her. Took a little battle damage.

Just before I left the Oklahoma City, City Limits. There was a piece of debris in the Highway. It appeared to be a piece of siding off a mobile home, or something very similar.
Soon as I approached it on the Highway, and prepared to drive to the side of it. An 18-Wheeler moved over from the lane to my right at the last second for no apparent reason. The wind turbulence off the back of this Semi-Truck picked the piece of siding up off the road. Then sent it flying at the front of my pickup truck. Striking it, as I did 70 mph on the interstate

Home For 1 Night
A little over 2 hours after entering New Mexico, I finally pulled into my destination for the night, Albuquerque! When I was at the Gas Station in Santa Rosa I also booked a 1 Night Stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Albuquerque.



They were sold out of the original room I booked. As it was close to a major holiday, everyone in the country was on the move trying to get someplace. All things considered, I was still quite happy with the room I received as a substitute.
After Check-In, parking my pickup, and getting my luggage up to the room as quickly as possible. Then I headed back down to the main lobby for dinner at Lounge 201.

The room I had came with a Mountain View. As it was nighttime when I arrived. I would have to impatiently wait until morning to get my first view of Albuquerque in the daylight.
It’s A New Day!


After soaking up the view of the surrounding city. From my room on the 10th Floor. I headed down for breakfast from the Icon Bistro. To use my breakfast voucher provided by the DoubleTree hotel.

After breakfast, I quickly checked out, so I could get my day’s activities under way. Which included a hike, and a whole lot more driving.
Petroglyph National Monument

You can’t leave Albuquerque without visiting the Ancient Petroglyph’s. Which were left behind by the Ancestral Pueblo, and Spanish Settlers.
Petroglyph’s are images carved, pecked, or engraved into rock using a stone chisel, and hammer stone. They are commonly mixed up with Pictographs, which are rock paintings.
The Petroglyph’s at Petroglyph National Monument date back as far as the 10th Century B.C, all the way up to 1700 A.D. With the majority of them being created in the 1300 A.D to 1700 A.D time zone.
Let’s Do Some Hiking
There are four hikes that can be done at the Petroglyph National Monument. The hike I chose was the Boca Negra Canyon hike. Which included 3 Trails: the Mesa Point Trail, the Macaw Trail, and the Cliff Base Trail.



When Hiking the Mesa Trail, you’ll most definitely want some good foot wear. The hike to the top of the Mesa Trail will take you 5280’ feet above sea level. It’s an extremely rocky trail, with plenty of spots to cause an ankle, or leg injury. Be careful when hiking, follow the trail, and wear the proper hiking attire.

Let’s See Some Petroglyph’s!
These petroglyph’s contain symbols that were important in the Pueblo, and Spanish cultures. As well as depictions of animals, and people.
The names of all these Petroglyph’s aren’t known, so for the sake of fun I’ll give them a few names of my own 😂! My made up names will be identified with a ( * ). Without further ado, here are the Petroglyph’s from the Mesa Point Trail:




















Mesa Point Trail


Macaw Trail
After carefully making my way back down the Mesa Point Trail. I headed over to the Macaw Trail. To see the Featured Photo Petroglyph of the Boca Negra Canyon.


Solo Road Trip Adventures
If you liked this Blog Post, and want to see some of the other locations I visited. You can check out what else I saw during my 5100 mile Solo Road Trip. By Clicking one of the two links included below.


The Roving Gypsy
Thanks for reading my Travel Blog, I hope you enjoyed this Solo Road Trip as much as I did. Like what you read, and want more, or have a suggestion for me? Follow, Share, and Comment to let me know.