Albuquerque - American Southwest - page 238

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1 ORIENTATION

ARRIVING
Albuquerque is the transportation hub for New Mexico, so getting in and out of town is easy.
For more detailed information, see “Getting There & Getting Around,” in chapter 3.
BY PLANE The Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ; & 505/842-4366;
www.cabq.gov/airport) is in the south-central part of the city, between I-25 on the west
and Kirtland Air Force Base on the east, just south of Gibson Boulevard. Sleek and effi-
cient, the airport is served by most national airlines and two local ones. It offers free
Wi-Fi.
Most hotels have courtesy vans to meet their guests and take them to their respective
destinations. In addition, Airport Shuttle of Albuquerque ( & 505/765-1234; www.
airportshuttleabq.com) runs services to and from city hotels. ABQ Ride ( & 505/243-
7433; www.cabq.gov/transit/index.html), Albuquerque's public bus system, also makes
airport stops. There is efficient taxi service to and from the airport, and there are numer-
ous car-rental agencies.
BY TRAIN Amtrak's “Southwest Chief ” arrives and departs daily to and from Los
Angeles and Chicago. The station is at the Alvarado Transportation Center, 300 Second
St. SW (at the corner of Lead and Second; & 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245] or 505/842-
9650; www.amtrak.com).
BY BUS Greyhound/Trailways ( & 800/231-2222; www.greyhound.com) and
TNM&O ( & 505/243-4435; www.tnmo.com) arrive and depart from the Alvarado
Transportation Center, 300 Second St. SW (at the corner of Lead and Second).
BY CAR If you're driving, you'll probably arrive via either the east-west I-40 or the
north-south I-25. Exits are well marked. For information and advice on driving in New
Mexico, see “Getting There & Getting Around,” in chapter 3.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The main office of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is at 20 First
Plaza NW ( & 800/284-2282 or 505/842-9918; www.itsatrip.org). It's open Monday to
Friday 8am to 5pm. There are information centers at the airport, on the lower level at
the bottom of the escalator, open daily 9:30am to 8pm; and in Old Town at 303 Romero
St. NW, Ste. 107, open daily 10am to 5pm. Tape-recorded information about current
local events is available from the bureau after 5pm weekdays and all day Saturday and
Sunday. Call & 800/284-2282.
CITY LAYOUT
The city's sprawl takes awhile to get used to. A visitor's first impression is of a grid of
arteries lined with shopping malls and fast-food eateries, with residences tucked behind
on side streets.
If you look at a map of Albuquerque, you'll notice that it lies at the crossroads of I-25
north-south and I-40 east-west. Focus your attention on the southwest quadrant:
Here, you'll find both downtown Albuquerque and Old Town, site of many tourist
attractions. Lomas Boulevard and Central Avenue, the old Route 66 (US 66), flank
downtown on the north and south. They come together 2 miles west of downtown near

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