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Trip from Chaparral, NM to Gallup, NM

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

6h 42m

Distance

374 mi

602 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 31m ★
6 AM
6h 43m
8 AM
7h 6m
10 AM
6h 51m
12 PM
6h 49m
3 PM
6h 52m
5 PM
7h 5m
8 PM
6h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

vegetation zone

Chaparral, NM

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of McKinley County, New Mexico, United States

Gallup, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Chaparral, NM to Gallup, NM covers 374 miles and takes about 6h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 25, I 40, State Road 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 202.6 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.48 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

187 miles from Chaparral, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 42m highway drive covering 374 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and I 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 202.6 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 24 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 202.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and I 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near NM 213 / War Road.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

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 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These 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

5
31.7 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
5
372.4 mi into trip | ~6h 39m in

Take the exit toward Miyamura Drive, Montoya Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Miyamura Drive, Montoya Boulevard
5
374 mi into trip | ~6h 42m in | I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist / East Historic Highway 66

Turn right onto I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist / East Historic Highway 66

Navigation decision point

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 Chaparral, NM to Gallup, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.

Albuquerque

31.7 mi in | ~43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 25 202.6 mi 3h 24m
I 40 103.4 mi 1h 44m
State Road 6 30.7 mi 39m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 17.6 mi 17m
O'Hara Road 8 mi 11m
East Lisa Drive 4.7 mi 9m
Main Street Northwest 1.4 mi 2m
Prescott Anthony Drive 1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 25 — 202.6 mi, about 3h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chaparral, NM and Gallup, 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

176 mi · 2 hr 56 min · I 25
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Toward NM 6: Los Lunas
13

Turn left onto NM 6

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street Southwest
14

Continue on NM 6

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street Northwest
15

Continue on NM 6

31 mi · 39 min · State Road 6
16

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
17

Merge onto I 40

103 mi · 1 hr 44 min · I 40
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward Miyamura Drive, Montoya Boulevard
19

Turn left onto NM 609

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Ford Drive
20

Continue on NM 609

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Miyamura Overpass
21

Turn right onto East Aztec Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Aztec Avenue
22

Turn right onto NM 610

0.1 mi · 15 sec · South 2nd Street
23

Turn right onto I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist

68 ft · 2 sec · East Historic Highway 66
24

Arrive at destination

I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 187 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.6 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 82 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 187 miles or 3h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gallup, 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 374 miles and 6h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 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 202.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 187 mi from Chaparral, NM · 3h 22m into the drive

Downtown Socorro, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Socorro, NM

187 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

Doña Ana, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Socorro, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 187 miles from Chaparral, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 202.6 miles.

Arriving in Gallup, NM

The final approach into Gallup, 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 Gallup, 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

$56.48 one way

$112.97 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 131 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $62.00 $124.01
premium $4.56 $67.13 $134.26
diesel $5.61 $82.57 $165.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$56

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 130.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 112.2 1 $39.27 $17.95
Efficient EV 93.5 1 $32.73 $14.96
EV Truck/SUV 149.6 1 $52.36 $23.94

Gas CO2

131 kg

EV CO2

44 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Chaparral, NM

Afternoon in Chaparral on Wednesday

Local time

3:10 PM

MDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gallup, NM

Afternoon in Gallup on Wednesday

Local time

3:10 PM

MDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

83°F

Socorro, NM

187 mi in

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

13 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

6h 42m 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 Chaparral, NM to Gallup, NM covers 374 miles and takes about 6h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, I 40, State Road 6. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 187 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 $56.48 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Chaparral, NM to Gallup, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.

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