Origin
Albuquerque, NM
Late night in Albuquerque on Wednesday
Local time
4:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
241.2 mi
388 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 26m
★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 49m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM covers 241.2 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 8th Street, Coronado Freeway, Southeast Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on 8th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.6 miles from Albuquerque, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM covers 241.2 miles and takes about 4h 39m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 91.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 241.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North: Santa Fe, Oak Street
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe, Oak Street
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
8
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
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 226B-A
Toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
8
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226A
Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Fe along the way.
Santa Fe
60.8 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Street | 91.9 mi | 1h 41m |
| Coronado Freeway | 58.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| Southeast Main Street | 29.9 mi | 35m |
| US Highway 285 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Oak Street | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| Roswell Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| North Main Street | 6.9 mi | 14m |
| North 1st Street | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
8th Street
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albuquerque, NM and Artesia, NM.
1
Start on Central Avenue Northwest
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Central Avenue Northwest
2
Continue on Central Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue Southwest
Use the left / uturn / straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto Oak Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Oak Street Northeast
4
Take the ramp
347 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe, Oak Street
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 25
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
Pan American Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 226B-A
Toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 226A
Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Coronado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
11
Keep slight left at fork
470 ft
·
15 sec
12
Turn right onto US 285
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US Highway 285
13
Continue on US 60; US 285
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Oak Street
14
Continue on US 54; US 60; US 285
92 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
8th Street
15
Continue on US 285
6.9 mi
·
14 min
·
North Main Street
16
Turn slight left onto US 285
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
17
Continue on US 285
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
18
Continue on US 285
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
19
Turn right onto US 82
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 82
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.6 miles from Albuquerque, NM, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.6 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Artesia, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albuquerque, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albuquerque, NM
This is one driving day of about 241.2 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Albuquerque, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 8th Street for about 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.6 mi from Albuquerque, NM · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.6 miles from Albuquerque, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 8th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.
Arriving in Artesia, NM
The final approach into Artesia, NM usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Artesia, NM.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.43 one way
$72.85 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $39.99 | $79.98 |
| premium | $4.56 | $43.29 | $86.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.25 | $106.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.33 | $11.58 |
| Efficient EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.77 | $15.44 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Artesia, NM
Late night in Artesia on Wednesday
Local time
4:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Roswell, NM
121 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
36 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM covers 241.2 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Street, Coronado Freeway, Southeast Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.6 miles from Albuquerque, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 241.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Fe along the way.
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