Origin
Chaparral, NM
Afternoon in Chaparral on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chaparral, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
258 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaparral, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chaparral, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 258 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, O'Hara Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 223.7 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.96 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
129 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 36m highway drive covering 258 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 223.7 miles on I 25.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 223.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near NM 213 / War Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 258 miles you will encounter 11 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 5.6 miles (NM 213 / War Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (NM 404 / O'Hara Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 256.7 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
5.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
NM 213 / War Road
At end of road, turn left onto NM 213 / War Road
Navigation decision point
6
5.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
NM 404 / O'Hara Road
Enter roundabout onto NM 404 / O'Hara Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
256.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr 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 224
Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue...
6
257 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
Lead Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
257.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 36m in
|
Central Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 223.7 mi | 3h 46m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 17.6 mi | 17m |
| O'Hara Road | 8 mi | 11m |
| East Lisa Drive | 4.7 mi | 9m |
| Prescott Anthony Drive | 1 mi | 3m |
| Lead Avenue Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| War Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 223.7 mi, about 3h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaparral, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on Prescott Anthony Drive
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Prescott Anthony Drive
2
Turn left onto East Lisa Drive
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
East Lisa Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto NM 213
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
War Road
4
Enter roundabout onto NM 404
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
O'Hara Road
5
Continue on NM 404
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
O'Hara Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
18 mi
·
17 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
9
Continue on I 25
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 25
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
11
Merge onto I 25
198 mi
·
3 hr 18 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 224
Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Oak Street Southeast
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
Oak Street Southeast
14
Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lead Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 2nd Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
2nd Street Southwest
16
Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Central Avenue Northwest
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
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 129 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.7 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 57 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129 miles or 2h 24m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albuquerque, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chaparral, 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 Chaparral, NM
This is one driving day of about 258 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Chaparral, 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 I 25 for about 223.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129 mi from Chaparral, NM · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129 miles from Chaparral, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 223.7 miles.
Arriving in Albuquerque, NM
The final approach into Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, 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
$38.96 one way
$77.93 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $42.77 | $85.55 |
| premium | $4.56 | $46.31 | $92.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.96 | $113.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.09 | $12.38 |
| Efficient EV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.58 | $10.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.12 | $16.51 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Albuquerque, NM
Afternoon in Albuquerque on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
1 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 36m 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 Chaparral, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 258 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, O'Hara Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129 miles from Chaparral, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.96 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 258 miles you will encounter 11 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 5.6 miles (NM 213 / War Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (NM 404 / O'Hara Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 256.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Chaparral, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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