Origin
Albuquerque, NM
Afternoon in Albuquerque on Thursday
Local time
12:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albuquerque, NM to Carnuel, NM
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
17m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Carnuel, NM covers 12.9 miles and takes about 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Coronado Freeway, Central Avenue Southwest, Pan American Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.2 miles on Coronado Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 17m highway drive covering 12.9 miles, with most of the trip on Coronado Freeway and Central Avenue Southwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.2 miles on Coronado Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Coronado Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Coronado Freeway and Central Avenue Southwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 12.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
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 9 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 Carnuel, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Rosa along the way.
Santa Rosa
2 mi in
|
~4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coronado Freeway | 9.2 mi | 10m |
| Central Avenue Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pan American Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Historic Route 66 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Oak Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue Northwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Coronado Freeway
— 9.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albuquerque, NM and Carnuel, 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
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Coronado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 170
Toward NM 333: Carnuel
11
Turn left onto NM 333
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue Southeast
12
Continue on NM 333
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Historic Route 66
13
Arrive at destination
NM 333
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.95 one way
$3.90 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.32 | $4.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Carnuel, NM
Afternoon in Carnuel on Thursday
Local time
12:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
37 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
17m 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 Albuquerque, NM to Carnuel, NM covers 12.9 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Coronado Freeway, Central Avenue Southwest, Pan American Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 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 $1.95 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 12.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
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 Carnuel, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Rosa along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Carnuel, NM
Explore more options from Albuquerque, NM or browse trips ending in Carnuel, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.
Explore maps for Albuquerque, NM or Carnuel, NM on MapSof.net.