Best Places to Fly
Your Drone in Albuquerque

The Route 66 Open Space a short drive from downtown Albuquerque is a great space for beginner drone/UAS flyers due with several open areas and only a few trees. It even has a concrete foundation near the entrance to take off and land. From this location, you can capture sweeping views of portions of the Sandia Mountains and the City of Albuquerque at a distance. This open space is adjacent to Route 66 and to the I-40 highway and drone operators should not fly over moving vehicles on either thoroughfare to stay within regulations. Visitors can park just outside the main gate on the dirt path.

Park space in Class G airspace just outside of ABQ Sunport’s airspace. The park has a pool, a tennis court, and two man-made water diversion channels, and a recreational trail that are all fair game to fly over — as long as one is careful not to fly over people when they are present.

The Bear Canyon Park in Albuquerque has a good open space that is perfect for drone flight. It also happens to be in Class G airspace.

The Pat Hurley Park is great if you're up for a short hike, although you can also drive up to it. The park provides a great view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Albuquerque skyline. Despite being a relatively small park, you should be able to fly your drone safely from here.

If you're up for a drive, the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway running across Highway 14 will take you through several mountain vistas and hiking trails with sprinkles of small towns and quirky sights. With the Rio Grande Valley on one side and Mount Taylor on the other, there is no shortage of scenic spots that will tempt you to take out your drone.

At the eastern side of the Sandia Mountains, the Cibola National Forest provides excellent hiking and camping spots. There are lots to do here but a hike up to the Sandia Peak is recommended to get the best views.

The Cibola National Forest is considered a wilderness area, thus drone operations are prohibited. However, you may use the B4UFLY app to find open areas adjacent to Cibola National Forest where drone flight is permitted.

The Balloon Fiesta Park is so-called because it hosts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. While you obviously can't fly a drone here during the event, it's still a great spot to fly a drone around when there is nothing else going on. This is a prime spot for events, so make sure to check the schedule before heading out here with your drone.

The long hike in the Diablo Canyon Recreation Area to the Rio Grande river will take you through quiet trails and unique terrain. It's tempting to take your drone out at any point during the hike, but watch out for any nearby rock climbers. Be ready to drive through 8 miles of dirt road before you even start the hike here.

The concentrated salt deposits of the Laguna del Perro lake make it one of the most unique sights in New Mexico. Not many people flock to this lake, so flying your drone around here should not be a problem. This place is tranquil - mostly devoid of life, but beautiful all the same.