Origin
Agua Fria, NM
Afternoon in Agua Fria on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Agua Fria, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
57.6 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Agua Fria, NM
César O'neill
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Agua Fria, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 57.6 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25, Cerrillos Road, Lopez Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.9 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
28.8 miles from Agua Fria, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 7m highway drive covering 57.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and Cerrillos Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.9 miles on I 25.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Cerrillos Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Agua Fria Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Agua Fria Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Airport Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Agua Fria Street
Turn left onto Agua Fria Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Airport Road
Turn left onto Airport Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Centra...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 51.9 mi | 53m |
| Cerrillos Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Lopez Lane | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Locust Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Airport Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Agua Fria Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue Northwest | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 51.9 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Agua Fria, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on this road
123 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Agua Fria Street
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Agua Fria Street
3
Turn left onto Lopez Lane
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lopez Lane
4
Turn right onto Airport Road
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Airport Road
5
Turn slight left
182 ft
·
11 sec
6
Turn left
22 ft
·
7 sec
7
Turn left onto Airport Road
486 ft
·
11 sec
·
Airport Road
8
Turn right onto NM 14
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cerrillos Road
9
Take the ramp
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 25 South: Albuquerque
10
Merge onto I 25
52 mi
·
53 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Locust Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Locust Street Northeast
13
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
14
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 28.8 miles from Agua Fria, NM, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 13 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.8 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albuquerque, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Agua Fria, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Agua Fria, NM
This is one driving day of about 57.6 miles and 1h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Agua Fria, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 51.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.8 mi from Agua Fria, NM · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.8 miles from Agua Fria, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albuquerque, NM
The final approach into Albuquerque, NM usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.70 one way
$17.40 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.34 | $20.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.72 | $25.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.06 | $3.69 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Albuquerque, NM
Afternoon in Albuquerque on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Agua Fria, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 57.6 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Cerrillos Road, Lopez Lane. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.8 miles from Agua Fria, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Agua Fria Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Airport Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Agua Fria, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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