Drive or Fly: South Valley, NM to Las Vegas, NM?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for ABQ–SAF. At 132 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 27m

Distance

132 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

53 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 34m

11m in the air

Air Distance

91 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Valley, NM → ABQ 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAF → Las Vegas, NM 73m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

South Valley, NM ABQ — Albuquerque International Sunport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Las Vegas, NM SAF — Santa Fe Municipal Airport 49 mi, ~73m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ABQ and SAF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 1m

3h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Valley, NM → Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 181m

Arrival 10m

Las Vegas Amtrak Station → Las Vegas, NM 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Las Vegas Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 27m	3h 34m	4h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$124	$18
Carbon footprint	53 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Valley, NM to Las Vegas, NM with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.