They are presently repaving part of the route between here and Santa Fe. That section will be smooth. Big trucks often use the route you will be taking. It isn’t until you go up into the Jemez Mts. Which is further down the same road the Visitor Center is located on that the roads begin to get bad and mountainous. You should be fine! Enjoy your trip!

Camp in Bandolier. It's quite close and the place is interesting culturally and very scenic.

I don't think so. From what I remember, we saw so much, it was a small area like a local park with just a path overlooking the scenery. I would look at the Los Alamos visitor website which Trip Advisor won't let be type in or the chamber of commerce because we saw it during a tour from Los Alamos. Hope this helps! The number at the chamber of commerce is 661-4816 and there is an email address for Nancy.