Origin
Bernalillo, NM
Afternoon in Bernalillo on Friday
Local time
3:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bernalillo, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bernalillo, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 17.6-mile drive from Bernalillo, New Mexico, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, will only take about 19 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward trip primarily using local roads like East Avenida Bernalillo and Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, with a brief segment on I-25 South. Given its brevity, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a modest $3. Traveling within the Desert Southwest region, you'll experience the characteristic arid landscapes. This drive is ideal for those looking for a quick and easy transition between these two New Mexico communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The journey involves navigating surface streets for its entirety, meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than settling into a long, straight stretch. The longest uninterrupted drive segment is not applicable due to the nature of this urban and suburban transit. You'll primarily be on East Avenida Bernalillo, transitioning to I-25 South for a short period before heading onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be constantly aware of your surroundings and road changes, typical of local commutes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 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 15.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Central Avenue Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NM 473 / East Avenida Bernalillo.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 5 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 (NM 473 / East Avenida Bernalillo): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NM 473 / East Avenida Bernalillo
Turn right onto NM 473 / East Avenida Bernalillo
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 25 South
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.1 mi into trip
|
~18m 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...
3
16.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Central Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 15.2 mi | 16m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| East Avenida Bernalillo | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Camino del Pueblo | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue Northwest | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 15.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bernalillo, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on NM 313
19 ft
·
2 sec
·
Camino del Pueblo
2
Turn right onto NM 473
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenida Bernalillo
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 25 South
4
Merge onto I 25
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn straight onto Locust Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Locust Street Northeast
7
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
8
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.63 one way
$5.26 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.88 | $5.77 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.12 | $6.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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 Friday
Local time
3:53 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
2 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
22m 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 Bernalillo, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 17.4 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Central Avenue Northeast, East Avenida Bernalillo. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Bernalillo, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.63 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 22m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NM 473 / East Avenida Bernalillo): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bernalillo, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petroglyph National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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