Origin
Las Vegas, NM
Morning in Las Vegas on Thursday
Local time
10:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Las Vegas, NM to Aztec, NM
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
264.7 mi
426 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Las Vegas, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Aztec, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Las Vegas, NM to Aztec, NM covers 264.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 550, I 25, North 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 151.5 miles on US 550. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.98 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
132.3 miles from Las Vegas, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 264.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 51m highway drive covering 264.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 550 and I 25. The longest continuous stretch is about 151.5 miles on US 550.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 550 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 550 and I 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near NM 104 / East University.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (NM 104 / East University): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.6 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
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NM 104 / East University
Turn left onto NM 104 / East University
Navigation decision point
5
104.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m 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
104.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
104.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
US 550
Merge onto US 550
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
256.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
|
US 550 / North 1st Street
Turn left onto US 550 / North 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Las Vegas, NM to Aztec, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.
Bernalillo
104.4 mi in
|
~1h 45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 550 | 151.5 mi | 2h 50m |
| I 25 | 103.1 mi | 1h 43m |
| North 1st Street | 8 mi | 13m |
| National Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East University | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Chaco Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 550
— 151.5 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Las Vegas, NM and Aztec, NM.
1
Start on Bridge Street
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bridge Street
2
Continue on National Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
National Avenue
3
Turn right onto 4th Street
284 ft
·
12 sec
·
4th Street
4
Turn right onto I 25 Bus
218 ft
·
11 sec
·
Grand Avenue
5
Turn left onto NM 104
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East University
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
7
Merge onto I 25
103 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
I 25
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
9
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft
·
5 sec
10
Merge onto US 550
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 550
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on US 550
150 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 550
12
Turn right onto US 64; US 550
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Broadway Boulevard
13
Turn left onto US 550
8.0 mi
·
13 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East Chaco Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Chaco Street
15
Turn left
161 ft
·
11 sec
16
Arrive at destination
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 132.3 miles from Las Vegas, NM, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.5 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 58 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aztec, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Las Vegas, 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 Las Vegas, NM
This is one driving day of about 264.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Las Vegas, 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 US 550 for about 151.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 132.3 mi from Las Vegas, NM · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.3 miles from Las Vegas, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 550 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.5 miles.
Arriving in Aztec, NM
The final approach into Aztec, 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 Aztec, 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
$39.98 one way
$79.95 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $43.88 | $87.77 |
| premium | $4.56 | $47.51 | $95.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.44 | $116.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.79 | $12.71 |
| Efficient EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.16 | $10.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.9 | 1 | $37.06 | $16.94 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Aztec, NM
Morning in Aztec on Thursday
Local time
10:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 51m 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 Las Vegas, NM to Aztec, NM covers 264.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 550, I 25, North 1st Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.3 miles from Las Vegas, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.98 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 is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (NM 104 / East University): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Las Vegas, NM to Aztec, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Aztec, NM
More trips to Aztec, NM
Explore more options from Las Vegas, NM or browse trips ending in Aztec, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.
Explore maps for Las Vegas, NM or Aztec, NM on MapSof.net.