6-Day Road Trip from Houston to New Mexico for Foodies

1. Day 1: Houston, TX to Junction, TX
   4 hours 14 minutes (290 miles)

   Start your foodie road trip with amazing BBQ at Killen's Barbecue in Houston, known for their brisket and homemade sausage. Make a pit stop in San Antonio for puffy tacos at Fat Tummy Empanadas. End the night in Junction with a local craft beer at Island Bar & Grill.

2. Day 2: Junction, TX to Marfa, TX
   2 hours 30 minutes (140 miles)

   Begin your day with a classic breakfast taco at Carmen's Café in Junction, TX. Drive 2 hours to the art town of Marfa, and stop for lunch at Stellina, which offers wood-fired pizzas and homemade pastas. Spend the afternoon exploring the famous Prada Marfa installation, then treat yourself to a gourmet dinner at Cochineal.

3. Day 3: Marfa, TX to Albuquerque, NM
   7 hours 9 minutes (440 miles)

   Start early and grab a coffee and pastry at Do Your Thing before hitting the road. Drive 4 hours to Roswell, known for its UFO sightings and stop at Big D's Downtown Dive for a delicious southern-style lunch. Drive 2.5 hours more to Albuquerque and have dinner at The Grove Café & Market, serving fresh and flavorful farm-to-table cuisine.

4. Day 4: Albuquerque, NM
   0 miles

   Spend the day discovering the culinary scene of Albuquerque. Start the day with the likes of Dutch babies and lemon ricotta pancakes at Indigo Crow Cafe. For a unique take on New Mexican cuisine, stop for lunch at El Modelo, known for their tamales and green chile sauce. Lastly, end the night with farm-to-table grilled meats at Artichoke Cafe.

5. Day 5: Albuquerque, NM to Santa Fe, NM
   1 hour (65 miles)

   Start your day with breakfast burritos and tamales at the iconic Frontier Restaurant before driving one hour to Santa Fe. Walk around downtown Santa Fe and have lunch at the historic The Shed, known for their traditional New Mexican dishes. Spend the afternoon visiting art galleries and have dinner and drinks at Bar Alto, a rooftop tapas bar in the historic district.

6. Day 6: Santa Fe, NM to Taos, NM
   1 hour 30 minutes (75.2 miles)

   End your trip with a drive to the charming town of Taos. Have breakfast at Michael's Kitchen, serving traditional Southwestern breakfast dishes. Walk around town and visit the Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have lunch at Marta's Kitchen, known for their green chili cheeseburgers. End the trip on a sweet note with chocolate truffles at Chokola.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Killen's Barbecue (1 hour, $20-30)
• Fat Tummy Empanadas (30 minutes, $15-20)
• Island Bar & Grill (1 hour, $10-20)
• Carmen's Café (45 minutes, $5-10)
• Stellina (1.5 hours, $30-40)
• Cochineal (2 hours, $50-60)
• Do Your Thing (30 minutes, $5-10)
• Big D's Downtown Dive (1 hour, $10-15)
• The Grove Café & Market (2 hours, $30-40)
• Indigo Crow Cafe (1 hour, $15-25)
• El Modelo (1 hour, $10-15)
• Artichoke Cafe (2 hours, $40-50)
• Frontier Restaurant (1 hour, $10-15)
• The Shed (1 hour, $20-30)
• Bar Alto (2 hours, $40-50)
• Michael's Kitchen (1 hour, $10-15)
• Marta's Kitchen (1 hour, $10-15)
• Chokola (30 minutes, $5-10)
Total Estimated Costs: $355-495

Useful Tips

If you have more time, add a visit to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico or the Big Bend National Park in Texas. If you have less time, skip Marfa and head straight to Albuquerque. Make sure to check restaurant opening and closing times and plan accordingly.