Travel Information
To make the most out of your trip to Albuquerque, please see the travel info below. Click here for a PDF version.
Beyond the conference, enjoy Albuquerque’s rich history, local cuisine, unique attractions, warm hospitality, and discounts. Click here to learn more about local attractions in Albuquerque.
High Altitude
Please note that Albuquerque is a high-altitude city sitting at about 5,300 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level - just like Denver! Keep in mind the following:
- Physical Adjustment: It may take a day or two for your body to adjust, and you might feel tired more easily during physical activity.
- Hydration is Key: Dry air accelerates dehydration, so drink plenty of water and/or electrolyte drinks.
- Sun Protection: UV rays are stronger at higher altitudes, making sunscreen and sunglasses essential.
- Alcohol: Alcohol can affect you more quickly. If you’re coming from sea level, expect one drink to feel more like two.
Weather
- Temperature: Average daytime highs range from mid-80s to low-90s°F (29-34°C), with some days exceeding 100°F. Evenings cool down significantly with lows often in the upper 50s to low 60sF (14-18C).
- Conditions: June is historically one of the driest and sunniest months. It is mostly sunny, with roughly 77% to 85% of the day featuring clear skies.
- Humidity & Rain: Humidity is very low, making the heat feel less intense, although the monsoon season technically does not start until mid-to-late June. June has an average chance of precipitation of 8%, or about 0.25 inches. Drink plenty of water!
Packing Tips: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for the day, but include a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings. Sun protection, including sunscreen and hats, is essential given the high level of sun exposure.
Airport
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Ground Transportation
- Lyft or Uber should cost $10-15 for a ride under 15 minutes from the airport to the Clyde Hotel.
- ABQ RIDE route 50 (public transit) connects the airport to Clyde and is free. The schedule varies, though the ride between the airport and the hotel should be less than 30 minutes. Please note that this public transportation is free. If you are not accustomed to riding public transit in a larger metropolitan area, please opt for a taxi or rideshare.
Local Access
- Taxi cabs are available at the airport, but you may have to call for one elsewhere in the city. Services such as Lyft and Uber are more frequently used.
- ABQ Ride (public transit buses)
- Free to all riders.
- New Mexico Rail Runner Express
A commuter railroad connecting Belen and Santa Fe by way of Albuquerque. https://www.riometro.org/174/Downtown-Albuquerque. A round-trip/day pass fare from the Downtown Albuquerque station to Santa Fe is $10. From any of the Santa Fe stations, you will need to take a bus (free) to your final destination.
New Mexican Cuisine
State question: Red or green? We’re talking about chile here. Generally green is hotter but not always. You can always ask for chile on the side. Ask your server which is hotter on any given day - it can vary widely. Feeling adventurous and want to sound like a New Mexican? Go for “Christmas” - half red and half green!
“Chile” is a vegetable with edible, spicy pods. “Chili” is a stew-like combination of meat (usually), beans, and a tomato base, that can be spooned over chips or eaten directly, also known as Chili con Carne”. “Chilli” is not a word.
New Mexican Food Glossary:
Adovada - pork that has been marinated in red chile and slow cooked. Usually cubed but sometimes shredded, it is served in burritos, enchiladas, etc.
Bizcochito - the New Mexico state cookie! Flaky, shortbread like cookie with anise seeds and topped with cinnamon sugar.
Calabacitas - diced and sauteed summer squash, onions, tomatoes.
Carne - flesh of animals. Can be beef, pork, lamb, veal, or goat.
Chile rellenos - whole chiles, deseeded and stuffed with various ingredients, primarily cheese, then battered and deep fried.
Desebrada - beef cooked in liquid and shredded.
Enchilada - flat or rolled corn tortillas, filled with cheese and other ingredients - the sky’s the limit - topped with enchilada sauce (red or green?) and cheese.
Fajitas - strips of chicken or beef, marinated and cooked with bell peppers and onions. Often served sizzling, with flour tortillas, and some combination of shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo.
Frijoles - pinto beans. Frijoles refritos are a mashed or pureed version, also known as refried beans.
Flan - custard baked on top of a caramel mixture, then turned upside down for serving.
Frito Pie - an invention of the Woolworth’s store on Santa Fe Plaza. Fritos layered with any combination of chili (meat, beans in a tomato based sauce), cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, salsa.
Green Chile Cheeseburger - yep, a burger with cheese, green chile, and whatever else the establishment thinks goes on a burger.
Guacamole - (wok a molay) a sauce and dip made with avocados. Generally includes some combination of salt, pepper, lime or lemon juice, garlic, onion, tomatoes, chile or jalapenos.
Horchata - a milky drink primarily made from rice, water, cinnamon, sugar, and sometimes dairy (whole milk, evaporated milk, or sweetened condensed milk).
Huevos Rancheros - eggs (usually fried) on tortillas, topped with chile sauce and cheese. Fried potatoes and frijoles are the usual sides.
Jalapeños - small, spicy variety of chili pepper. May be used sliced and raw, pickled, or candied (my favorite!).
Machaca - dry roasted beef, shredded and served in tacos, enchiladas, and burritos.
Menudo - tripe stew, usually served with lemon wedges and Mexican Oregano and tortillas on the side.
Natillas - rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon. Also called Arroz Dulce.
Nopales - strips of prickly pear cactus.
Pico de Gallo - literally, “chicken scratch”. Made with chopped tomatoes, onions, chile or jalapenos.
Piñon - nuts from the Piñon tree.
Posole - hominy stew, often made with pork, served with red chile sauce and Mexican oregano and tortillas on the side.
Sopapilla - fried dough pocket, served with honey. Bite a hole in one corner and drizzle the honey inside, rotating to coat. Eat over a plate because the honey drips.
Tamale - ground corn paste (masa) wrapped around a filling, often shredded pork with red chile, wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Usually served with red or green chile sauce and shredded cheese.
Resources
All restaurant options listed are within a 20-minute walk of the Clyde Hotel.
Coffee options
- Burning Daylight Coffee, 6:30 am -7:00 pm (Mon-Fri), 8:30 am-5:00 pm (Sat-Sun)
- Espresso Fino, 7:00 am-4:00 pm (Mon-Fri), 8:00am-Noon (Sat-Sun)
- Little Bear (in the Clyde Hotel), 7:00 am-2:00 pm
- Munch ‘N Mocha, 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Dining out
- In the Clyde Hotel
- 1922 Bar & Lounge, 4:00-11:00 pm - Happy hour 4:00-5:00 pm, Mon-Fri
- Carrie’s Restaurant, 7:00-10:30 am (breakfast) - 11:30 am-1:30 pm (lunch)
- Little Bear, 7:00 am-2:00 pm (coffee)
- Mercantile Cafe Express, 7:30 am-2:00 pm
- Artichoke Cafe, 11:00 am-9:00 pm (Mon-Thu), 11:00 am-10:00 pm (Fri), 5:00 pm-10:00 pm (Sat)
- Modern, upscale American eatery and art gallery. Reservations recommended.
- Canvas Artistry, 11:00 am-1:30 am (Fri-Sat), 11:00 am-10:00 pm (Thu, Sun)
- Restaurant, bar, coffee shop, tap room, live music, artists painting live - eclectic and lively.
- Debajo Tapas ABQ, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm (Tue-Thu), 5:00 pm-9:30 pm (Fri-Sat)
- Offering Spanish tapas in an industrial-style space with weathered woods and a brick-lined bar.
- Dog House Drive In, 10:30 am-9:00 pm (Mon-Sat)
- No-frills, old-school take-out spot known for unfussy burgers, chili cheese dogs, fries & shakes. Featured in “Better Call Saul”.
- DWTNR (Downtowner) Cocktail Bar & Lounge, 7:00 am-10:00 pm - Happy hour all day, Thu
- Great restaurant inside the Arrive hotel. The ambiance matches the hotel’s classy 70s vibe.
- Ex Novo, 11:30 am-10:00 pm
- Modern industrial, boho vibe serving inventive, upscale pub grub.
- Farina Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 11:00 am-9:00 pm (Mon-Sat)
- Creative pies served in rustic-chic digs.
- Grove Cafe & Market, 8:00 am-2:00 pm (Tue-Sun)
- Relaxed American eatery offering organic, locally grown ingredients for breakfast & lunch.
- La Finca Bowls, 11:00 am-3:00 pm (Mon-Fri)
- Mellow choice for health-conscious eats. Gluten-free and vegan options served in low-key digs with a patio.
- Le Troquet, 11:30 am-1:30 pm - 5:30 pm-9:00 pm (Wed-Sat), 11:30 am-1:30 pm - 5:30 pm-8:30 pm (Tue)
- Traditional French brasserie fare with seasonal dishes and white tablecloths in a cozy, rustic space.
- Library Bar & Grill, 9:00 pm-2:00 am (Wed, Fri, Sat)
- Note: If you plan to go here, we strongly suggest you check their website.
- Lulu Kitchen, 11:00 am-9:00 pm (Mon-Fri), 3:00 pm-9:00 pm (Sat)
- The best Chinese food in Albuquerque, NM.
- Monroe’s Restaurant, 10:00 am-8:00 pm (Mon-Sat), 10:00 am-9:00 pm (Sun)
- Relaxed mainstay for New Mexican favorites.
- Oni, 11:30 am-8:00 pm (Tue-Thu), 11:30 am-9:00 pm (Fri-Sat)
- Lauded eatery offering locally sourced Japanese-style noodles & snacks with a Southwestern twist.
- Range Cafe, 7:30 am-3:00 pm
- Vibrant spot for New Mexican-inspired diner eats.
- Slate Street Cafe, 9:00 am-2:00 pm - 4:30 pm-8:30 pm (Wed-Sat), 9:00 am-2:00 pm (Sun, Tue)
- Hip eatery with an urban vibe features comfort cuisine along with an upstairs wine loft.
- Stackers Burger Co., 11:00 am-9:00 pm (Sun-Wed), 11:00 am-9:30 pm (Thu), 11:00 am-10:00 pm (Fri-Sat)
- The best smash burgers in Albuquerque.
- Sushi Hana, 11:00 am-9:30 pm (Tue-Thu), 11:00 am-10:00 pm (Fri), 12:00 pm-9:00 pm (Sat-Sun)
- Contemporary Japanese spot with a wide range of nigiri, rolls, and sashimi, plus tempura and bento boxes.
- Tucanos Brazilian Grill 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Mon-Thu), 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (Fri-Sat), 11:00 am – 9:00 pm (Sun)
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- Brazilian Grill with authentic churrasco, where skewers of perfectly grilled meats are brought directly to your table in continuous rotation.
- Vamos con Gloria, 11:00 am-8:00 pm (Mon, Thu, Fri)
- Takeout only New Mexican restaurant.
Resources
Independent Bookstores
Travel times noted are approximate, using the Clyde Hotel as your starting point. Courtesy of ASIS&T member Karen Botkin.
- Some of Albuquerque’s Best Bookstores from Visit Albuquerque
- Bookcase Used Books (10 min drive / 20 min by bus)
- Books on the Bosque (20 min drive / 30 min by bus)
- Bookworks (15 min drive / 45 min by bus)
- Downtown Books (10 min walk)
- Friends of the Public Library Bookshop (5 min walk)
- Mecca Records & Books (5 min drive / 20 min walk / 10 min by bus)
- Organic Books (10 min drive / 30 min by bus)
- Quirky Used Books and More (15 min drive / 30 min by bus)
Nearby Attractions
Travel times noted are approximate, using the Clyde Hotel as your starting point.
- ABQ BioPark
- Aquarium (10 min drive / 45 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- Botanic Garden (10 min drive / 45 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- Zoo (5 min drive / 30 min walk / 15 min by bus)
- Electric Playhouse (15 min drive / 45 min by bus)
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (10 min drive / 45 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- Old Town Albuquerque (5 min drive / 30 min walk / 15 min by bus)
- Albuquerque Museum of Art and History (10 min drive / 35 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe (10 min drive / 40 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- Explora! Science & Learning Museum (10 min drive / 35 min walk / 25 min by bus)
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (10 min drive / 35 min walk / 20 min by bus)
- National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (15 min drive / 50-60 min by bus)
- Public Library (main branch - 5 min walk)
- St. Francis Xavier Parish (5 min drive / 25 min walk / 25 min by bus)
- University of New Mexico (5 min drive / 40 min walk / 15 min by bus)
Further afield
- Los Alamos (1 hr, 40 min drive)
- National UFO Historic Records Center (40 min drive) - contact Heather Kotula of the local arrangements committee at hkotula@accessinn.com for transportation options.
- Sandia Peak Tramway (30 min drive) - check hours before you go. Expect a minimum of 3 hours with travel time, or longer if you stay for a meal.
- Santa Fe (1 hr drive / 1 hr, 40 min by New Mexico Rail Runner Express) - Expect a minimum of 3 hours with travel time.
Tours
- Breaking Bad RV Tours - they will pick you up at the hotel. contact Heather Kotula of the local arrangements committee at hkotula@accessinn.com if you are interested.
- Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon (15 min drive)