Origin
Artesia, NM
Night in Artesia on Wednesday
Local time
11:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Artesia, NM to Aztec, NM
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 57m
Distance
411.8 mi
663 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 49m
★
6 AM
7h 58m
8 AM
8h 15m
10 AM
8h 4m
12 PM
8h 2m
3 PM
8h 5m
5 PM
8h 14m
8 PM
7h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Aztec, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Artesia, NM to Aztec, NM covers 411.8 miles and takes about 7h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 550, South Main Street, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 151.5 miles on US 550. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.19 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
205.9 miles from Artesia, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Artesia, NM to Aztec, NM covers 411.8 miles and takes about 7h 57m, 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 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 550 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 180.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 411.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 180.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 236.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.6 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
180.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
236.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward San Mateo Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward San Mateo Boulevard
6
236.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
|
San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
251.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 242
Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Ber...
7
251.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Artesia, NM and Aztec, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.
Bernalillo
251.4 mi in
|
~4h 51m
Rio Rancho
251.4 mi in
|
~4h 51m
Coronado Historic Site
251.6 mi in
|
~4h 51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 550 | 151.5 mi | 2h 50m |
| South Main Street | 113.3 mi | 2h 13m |
| I 40 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Southeast Main Street | 30 mi | 35m |
| Shenrick Street | 27.5 mi | 31m |
| Pan American Freeway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| North 1st Street | 10.1 mi | 15m |
| Roswell Highway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
US 550
— 151.5 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Aztec, NM.
1
Start on US 82
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on US 82
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 285
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
4
Continue on US 285
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
5
Continue on US 285
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
6
Continue on US 285
113 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
South Main Street
7
Continue on US 60; US 285
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Shenrick Street
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 40
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 161
Toward San Mateo Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
353 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pan American Freeway Northeast
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 25
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Pan American Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 242
Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
17
Continue on US 550
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 550
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 550
150 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 550
19
Turn right onto US 64; US 550
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Broadway Boulevard
20
Turn left onto US 550
8.0 mi
·
13 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto East Chaco Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Chaco Street
22
Turn left
161 ft
·
11 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 205.9 miles from Artesia, NM, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.5 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 91 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 205.9 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aztec, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Artesia, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Artesia, NM
This is one driving day of about 411.8 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Artesia, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 550 for about 151.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 205.9 mi from Artesia, NM · 3h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
206 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 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 205.9 miles from Artesia, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 550 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.5 miles.
Arriving in Aztec, NM
The final approach into Aztec, 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 Aztec, NM.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.19 one way
$124.38 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
144 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $68.27 | $136.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $73.91 | $147.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $90.92 | $181.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 123.5 | 1 | $43.24 | $19.77 |
| Efficient EV | 103 | 1 | $36.03 | $16.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 164.7 | 2 | $57.65 | $26.36 |
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Aztec, NM
Night in Aztec on Wednesday
Local time
11:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Artesia, NM to Aztec, NM covers 411.8 miles and takes about 7h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 550, South Main Street, I 40. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 205.9 miles from Artesia, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 411.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 180.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 236.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.6 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Artesia, NM and Aztec, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.
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