Origin
Albuquerque, NM
Evening in Albuquerque on Wednesday
Local time
5:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
57.7 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 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Agua Fria, NM
César O'neill
Trip Overview
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM covers 57.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Avenue Southwest, Oak Street Northeast, I 25 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.71 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
28.9 miles from Albuquerque, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 57.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Avenue Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Avenue Southwest | — | — |
| Oak Street Northeast | — | — |
| I 25 North | — | — |
| Pan American Freeway | — | — |
| Cerrillos Road | — | — |
| Airport Road | — | — |
| Lopez Lane | — | — |
| Agua Fria Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albuquerque, NM and Agua Fria, NM.
1
Start on Central Avenue Northwest
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Central Avenue Northwest
2
Continue on Central Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue Southwest
3
Turn left onto Oak Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Oak Street Northeast
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North: Santa Fe, Oak Street
348 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 25 North: Santa Fe, Oak Street
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 North: Santa Fe
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 25 North: Santa Fe
6
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
52 mi
·
53 min
·
Pan American Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
8
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
9
Turn straight onto Cerrillos Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Cerrillos Road
10
Turn left onto Airport Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Airport Road
11
Turn right onto Lopez Lane
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lopez Lane
12
Turn right onto Agua Fria Street
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Agua Fria Street
13
Turn right
121 ft
·
9 sec
14
Arrive at your destination
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 28.9 miles from Albuquerque, NM, or about 33m into the drive.
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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.9 miles or 33m 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 Agua Fria, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albuquerque, NM
This is one driving day of about 57.7 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Albuquerque, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.9 mi from Albuquerque, NM · 33m 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
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Albuquerque, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Agua Fria, NM
The final approach into Agua Fria, 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
$8.71 one way
$17.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.57 | $19.13 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.36 | $20.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.74 | $25.48 |
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 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $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
Agua Fria, NM
Evening in Agua Fria on Wednesday
Local time
5:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Placitas, NM
29 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Agua Fria, NM covers 57.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Avenue Southwest, Oak Street Northeast, I 25 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.9 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 $8.71 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.
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Albuquerque, NM to Agua Fria, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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