Trip from Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM

Drive Time

7h 46m

Distance

431.3 mi

694 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$66

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
7h 37m ★
6 AM
7h 46m
8 AM
8h 5m
10 AM
7h 53m
12 PM
7h 51m
3 PM
7h 54m
5 PM
8h 4m
8 PM
7h 41m

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

Downtown Las Cruces, NM, NM

Las Cruces, NM

Mario Spencer

Trip Overview

The drive from Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM covers 431.3 miles and takes about 7h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Church Street, North Main Street, I 25 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.93 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

215.7 miles from Las Cruces, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 46m drive with frequent turns across 431.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Church Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Church Street Unavailable Refreshing
North Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
I 25 North Unavailable Refreshing
NM 6 Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Southwest Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Northwest Unavailable Refreshing
State Road 6 Unavailable Refreshing
Muñoz Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North Church Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Las Cruces, NM and Shiprock, NM.

1

Start on the route

285 ft · 23 sec · the route
2

At the end of the road, turn right

66 ft · 10 sec
3

Turn left onto North Church Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · North Church Street
4

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Main Street

49 ft · 1 sec · North Main Street
5

Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street

2.6 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Albuquerque

0.2 mi · 28 sec · I 25 North: Albuquerque
7

Merge slight left

20 mi · 21 min
8

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 49 sec
9

Merge slight left

176 mi · 2 hr 56 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward NM 6: Los Lunas

0.2 mi · 33 sec · NM 6: Los Lunas
11

Turn left onto Main Street Southwest

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street Southwest
12

Continue on Main Street Northwest

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street Northwest
13

Continue on State Road 6

31 mi · 39 min · State Road 6
14

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 38 sec
15

Merge slight left

105 mi · 1 hr 46 min
16

Take the exit slight right toward Muñoz Boulevard

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Muñoz Boulevard
17

Turn right

7.1 mi · 9 min
18

Take the exit slight right

85 mi · 1 hr 38 min
19

Turn left

0.2 mi · 22 sec
20

Turn left

505 ft · 29 sec
21

Turn left

486 ft · 26 sec
22

Turn left

128 ft · 6 sec
23

Arrive at your destination

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 215.7 miles from Las Cruces, NM, or about 3h 53m into the drive.

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 95 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 215.7 miles or 3h 53m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shiprock, NM than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Las Cruces, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Las Cruces, NM

This is one driving day of about 431.3 miles and 7h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Las Cruces, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 215.7 mi from Las Cruces, NM · 3h 53m into the drive

Downtown Los Lunas, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Lunas, NM

216 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

Socorro, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Lunas, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 215.7 miles from Las Cruces, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Shiprock, NM

The final approach into Shiprock, 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 Shiprock, 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

$65.93 one way

$131.87 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 151 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $72.32 $144.64
premium $4.61 $78.28 $156.56
diesel $5.64 $95.82 $191.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$66

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 150.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 129.4 1 $45.29 $20.70
Efficient EV 107.8 1 $37.74 $17.25
EV Truck/SUV 172.5 2 $60.38 $27.60

Gas CO2

151 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Las Cruces, NM

Afternoon in Las Cruces on Monday

Local time

1:43 PM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Shiprock, NM

Afternoon in Shiprock on Monday

Local time

1:43 PM

MDT

Current temp

33°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

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

7h 46m 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 Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM covers 431.3 miles and takes about 7h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Church Street, North Main Street, I 25 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 215.7 miles from Las Cruces, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $65.93 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 7h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Las Cruces, NM to Shiprock, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM

Plan the drive back the other way.

432 mi 6h 41m

Explore more options from Las Cruces, NM or browse trips ending in Shiprock, NM.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.

Explore maps for Las Cruces, NM or Shiprock, NM on MapSof.net.