Origin
La Cienega, NM
Late night in La Cienega on Wednesday
Local time
3:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Cienega, NM to Santa Fe, NM
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
25m
Distance
16.7 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Fe, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Cienega, NM to Santa Fe, NM covers 16.7 miles and takes about 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25, Entrada la Cienega, Cerrillos Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.1 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.52 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
8.4 miles from La Cienega, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 25m highway drive covering 16.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and Entrada la Cienega. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.1 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 11 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 10.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Entrada la Cienega. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega
Turn right onto CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward US 84, US 285 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84, US 285 North
6
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanola, Taos
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanol...
5
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
West San Francisco Street
At end of road, turn right onto West San Francisco Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Cienega, NM and Santa Fe, NM, road signs point toward Espanola and Taos.
Espanola
12.1 mi in
|
~16m
Taos
12.1 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| Entrada la Cienega | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Cerrillos Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Camino Capilla Vieja | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Galisteo Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West San Francisco Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East San Francisco Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 10.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Cienega, NM and Santa Fe, NM.
1
Start on Camino Capilla Vieja
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Camino Capilla Vieja
2
Turn right onto CR 50F
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Entrada la Cienega
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto I 25
10 mi
·
10 min
·
I 25
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 84, US 285 North
6
Keep slight left at fork
3.4 mi
·
6 min
Toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanola, Taos
7
Take the exit
504 ft
·
13 sec
8
Turn straight onto Cerrillos Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cerrillos Road
9
Continue on Galisteo Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Galisteo Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto West San Francisco Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West San Francisco Street
11
Arrive at destination
East San Francisco Street
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 8.4 miles from La Cienega, NM, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.1 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 16.7 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Fe, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Cienega, 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 La Cienega, NM
This is one driving day of about 16.7 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from La Cienega, 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 10.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from La Cienega, NM · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from La Cienega, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Santa Fe, NM
The final approach into Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, 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
$2.52 one way
$5.04 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.77 | $5.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.00 | $5.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.69 | $7.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 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 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
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
Santa Fe, NM
Late night in Santa Fe on Wednesday
Local time
3:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°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
33 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
25m 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 La Cienega, NM to Santa Fe, NM covers 16.7 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Entrada la Cienega, Cerrillos 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 8.4 miles from La Cienega, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.52 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 25m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between La Cienega, NM and Santa Fe, NM, road signs point toward Espanola and Taos.
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