Origin
Chimayo, NM
Evening in Chimayo on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chimayo, NM to Rio Rancho, NM
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
82.5 mi
133 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chimayo, NM
Ken Jacobsen
Rio Rancho, NM
Josh Withers
Trip Overview
The drive from Chimayo, NM to Rio Rancho, NM covers 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25, Pat D'Arco Highway, US 84/285 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.6 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.61 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
41.3 miles from Chimayo, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 82.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and Pat D'Arco Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.6 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 19 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 39.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,227 ft
5,057 ft
Total Climb
1,885 ft
Total Descent
2,677 ft
Highest Point
7,227 ft
~24.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,170 ft
Notable High Points
7,227 ft at ~24.1 miles
+304 ft prominence
6,175 ft at ~44.7 miles
+101 ft prominence
5,603 ft at ~55 miles
+108 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pat D'Arco Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in near US 84; US 285 / Santa Fe Highway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 82.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles (US 84; US 285 / Santa Fe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 84; US 285 / Santa Fe Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 285 / Santa Fe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
70.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Ber...
5
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
US 550
Merge onto US 550
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
82.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
Sara Road Southeast
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Chimayo, NM to Rio Rancho, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.
Bernalillo
70.8 mi in
|
~1h 29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 39.6 mi | 39m |
| Pat D'Arco Highway | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| US 84/285 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Santa Fe Highway | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Taos Highway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| South Saint Francis Drive | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| La Puebla Road | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| North Saint Francis Drive | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 39.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chimayo, NM and Rio Rancho, NM.
1
Start on NM 76
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 76
2
Continue on NM 76
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Cruz Road
3
Turn left onto CR 88
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
La Puebla Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 285
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Santa Fe Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 84; US 285
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Taos Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Continue on US 84; US 285
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 84/285
7
Continue on US 84; US 285
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Saint Francis Drive
8
Continue on US 84; US 285
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Saint Francis Drive
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 25
40 mi
·
39 min
·
I 25
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
12
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft
·
5 sec
13
Merge onto US 550
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 550
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 550
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 550
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
16
Turn left onto NM 528
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Pat D'Arco Highway
17
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sara Road Southeast
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto 35th Circle Southeast
143 ft
·
6 sec
·
35th Circle Southeast
19
Arrive at destination
35th Circle Southeast
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 41.3 miles from Chimayo, NM, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.6 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Rancho, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chimayo, 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 Chimayo, NM
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chimayo, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 39.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.3 mi from Chimayo, NM · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.3 miles from Chimayo, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rio Rancho, NM
The final approach into Rio Rancho, 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 Rio Rancho, NM.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $13.83 | $27.67 |
| premium | $4.61 | $14.97 | $29.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.33 | $36.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.66 | $3.96 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Rio Rancho, NM
Evening in Rio Rancho on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Santa Fe, NM
41 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
9 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
1h 49m 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 Chimayo, NM to Rio Rancho, NM covers 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Pat D'Arco Highway, US 84/285. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.3 miles from Chimayo, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.61 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 demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 82.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles (US 84; US 285 / Santa Fe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Chimayo, NM to Rio Rancho, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 5,057 ft to 7,227 ft elevation with about 1,885 ft of total climbing. There are 3 notable high points along the way.
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