Albuquerque Scores a 43 for Walkability. Some Neighborhoods Hit 85.

This is the time of year when Albuquerque practically begs you to leave the car at home. October highs sit in the low 70s, the cottonwoods along the river are turning gold, and evenings are cool enough for a light jacket. If you've ever asked where you can actually walk to dinner, these walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods are the answer.

Here is the honest backdrop. As a whole, Albuquerque earns a Walk Score of 43, which puts the city in car-dependent territory. Our Bike Score is a friendlier 61, thanks to miles of paved trails and bike lanes. But citywide numbers hide a lot. A handful of neighborhoods score in the mid-80s, and a few lower-scoring areas make up for it with trail access right out the front door.

How to Read a Walk Score and Bike Score

Walk Score rates an area from 0 to 100 based on how many everyday errands, restaurants, parks, and shops are within walking distance. Bike Score uses the same scale and factors in bike lanes, trails, hills, and how many people ride to work.

• 90 to 100: Daily errands do not require a car

• 70 to 89: Very walkable, with most errands doable on foot

• 50 to 69: Somewhat walkable, with some errands doable on foot

• Under 50: Car-dependent for most errands

The scores for the walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods below come from Walk Score's citywide rankings. They're a great starting point, but they don't measure everything. A trailhead two blocks away or a favorite neighborhood restaurant doesn't always show up in the number.

8 Walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods Worth Exploring

Nob Hill

Walk Score 85  |  Bike Score 90

Nob Hill shares the top Walk Score in the city, and its Bike Score of 90 is the best among Albuquerque's most walkable areas. Central Avenue is the spine here, lined with Route 66 neon, local boutiques, coffee shops, and some of the city's best-known restaurants. The classic Nob Hill Shopping Center anchors the strip, and the side streets are full of 1920s through 1940s homes with tree-lined sidewalks. It's an easy place to park your car at home on Friday and not touch it again until Monday.

Huning Highland and EDo

Walk Score 85  |  Bike Score 77

Huning Highland is one of Albuquerque's oldest neighborhoods, known for its Victorian-era homes just east of downtown. It ties Nob Hill for the top Walk Score and has the highest Transit Score of any neighborhood near the top of the list. The EDo stretch of Central puts restaurants and coffee within a few blocks, including the former railroad hospital that is now Hotel Parq Central. Downtown is an easy walk west, and so is the Rail Yards, which hosts local Sunday markets and other events. 

University Heights and Silver Hill

University Heights: Walk Score 84  |  Bike Score 88

Silver Hill: Walk Score 76  |  Bike Score 83

Just south of UNM, University Heights mixes classic bungalows with the Bricklight District's cluster of cafes and local spots along Harvard Drive. Next door, Silver Hill is a quieter historic district with tree-lined streets that make for a great evening loop. Between the UNM campus, Popejoy Hall and the restaurants along Central, you can fill an entire Saturday without a car.

Barelas

Walk Score 78  |  Bike Score 81

Barelas is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, with roots along the historic Camino Real. It's home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and on Sundays the Rail Yards Market fills the historic rail shops with more than 200 local farmers, food vendors and makers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Heads up: the market's last day of the season is October 25, so there are only a few Sundays left this year. Barelas also sits right next to the Paseo del Bosque Trail, so a ride along the river is never far away.

Uptown

Walk Score 65  |  Bike Score 83

Uptown is proof that walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods aren't just historic districts. ABQ Uptown's open-air shops and restaurants, Coronado Center and Winrock Town Center are all clustered within a short walk of one another, and Winrock's outdoor events give you a reason to linger. With a Bike Score of 83, it's also a solid starting point for rides across the Heights. Our Uptown neighborhood guide goes deeper.

Old Town, Sawmill and the Bosque

Sawmill Area: Walk Score 60  |  Bike Score 82

Huning Castle: Walk Score 65  |  Bike Score 89

Exploring Old Town's plaza, museums, and shops is easy on foot, while the neighboring Sawmill District features Sawmill Market, the city's popular food hall. A few blocks south, the Huning Castle and Country Club area earns a Bike Score of 89 thanks to its spot beside Tingley Beach, the ABQ BioPark and the Paseo del Bosque Trail.

That trail runs about 16 paved, car-free miles along the Rio Grande, and October is prime time for it. The cottonwood canopy turns gold, and the sandhill cranes start arriving for the winter.

Corrales

Village of Corrales, just northwest of Albuquerque

Corrales isn't technically Albuquerque, and it won't top any Walk Score list. It's here anyway, because few places in the metro are better for slow afternoons on foot or by bike. Corrales Road winds past farms, galleries, and local favorites like Wagner Farms and Village Pizza.

The Corrales Bosque Preserve runs along the Rio Grande from the Alameda Bridge north to Siphon Road. Walking, biking, and horseback riding are all allowed; leashed dogs are welcome, and e-bikes are not. For a full itinerary, our guide to a perfect fall day in Corrales has you covered.

Tips for Walking and Biking Albuquerque This Fall

Wherever you land, a little prep makes exploring walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods more fun this time of year.

• Layer up. Mornings can start in the 40s even when afternoons reach the low 70s.

• Hydrate and wear sunscreen. At more than 5,000 feet, the sun is stronger than it feels.

• Watch the clock. Days shorten quickly in October, and daylight saving time ends November 1.

• Plan for goatheads. Those thorns are a fact of life on Burque trails, and tube sealant or thorn-resistant tubes save a lot of roadside repairs.

• Check the rules by trail. Some areas, like the Corrales Bosque Preserve, don't allow e-bikes, and riders yield to walkers and horses.

Finding Your Walkable Albuquerque Neighborhood

Walkability means something different to everyone. For some people it's coffee and dinner within a few blocks. For others, it's a trail at the end of the street. The good news is that walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods come in more varieties than the citywide score suggests, from historic Huning Highland to the trails of the far Northeast Heights.

Curious what day-to-day life looks like in any of these walkable Albuquerque neighborhoods, or which one fits the way you like to spend your weekends? 

The Better with Baron team is happy to share what we know. Contact us to get started.