Albuquerque 2028
Chile Con Carne: Albuquerque, NM
yodaughter and Noam
Rated among the Best Places to Go in 2026 by Frommer’s, as well as Condé Nast Traveler and Afar magazines, Albuquerque also offers an ideal location for the 188th National Puzzlers’ League convention.
We have been looking at the weekend of July 6–9, in anticipation that you will be able to extend an already long Independence Day/Canada Day weekend. The three candidate hotels are The Hotel Albuquerque, the DoubleTree , and Embassy Suites, with tentative room rates between $149–$169 per night (single/double occupancy). All are located in the downtown area, about 10 minutes from the airport, we mean, sunport.
The Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is served by many airlines, with direct flights to 22 different cities. Current airport transportation costs are $11 for airport shuttle (one person, one way) and approximately $20 + tip for taxi/Uber/Lyft (one way). For attendees who drive in, Albuquerque is at the intersection of two interstate highways, I‑40 and I‑25, and you can also get your kicks on Route 66. Train aficionados can ride Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles.
In addition to many opportunities to explore Albuquerque’s rich cultural history and array of outdoor activities, of particular interest to many Krewe are its multiple escape room venues, restaurants and bars, and minor-league Isotopes baseball (the 2028 schedule was unavailable at press time).
The New Mexico Rail Runner also extends its service to Santa Fe, should you wish to make a day trip to the City Different to visit Meow Wolf, museums, art markets, or the opera, among other highlights. The one-way fare from Downtown Albuquerque to Downtown Santa Fe is $9 each way, and a day pass, which can be used round trip, is $10. (The “doors closing” signal is Looney Tunes’s Road Runner’s “beep-beep.”) Albuquerque’s location also makes it a scenic drive of several hours to other attractions such as Taos and national parks from Arches to Zion.
Albuquerque has a high desert climate at mile-high altitude, with over 300 days of sunshine per year. July has an average high of 92°F/33°C and an average low of 64°F/18°C. But as they say, it’s a dry heat; the average humidity is low at only 42%. Pack your sunscreen and your lip balm.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Land of Enchantment in 2028!