Origin
Lee Acres, NM
Night in Lee Acres on Friday
Local time
10:24 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lee Acres, NM to Santa Fe, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lee Acres, NM
Alican Helik
Santa Fe, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lee Acres, NM to Santa Fe, NM is 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 11m via Pan American Freeway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within the familiar Desert Southwest region, making it an easy, same-day journey. The drive primarily utilizes major freeways and boulevards, offering a direct and efficient path. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this route is ideal for travelers looking for a quick connection between these New Mexico locations without extensive detours.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 83% of the journey on major roads like the Pan American Freeway and Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 49.9 miles on the Pan American Freeway, suggesting a consistent, high-speed driving experience for a significant portion of the trip. Expect a profile that favors efficient travel over winding scenic byways. The route is designed for directness, minimizing time spent on slower, more local roads as you approach Santa Fe.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pan American Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pan American Freeway and 2nd Street Northwest. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near NM 423 / Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (NM 423 / Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (Pan American Freeway Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (I 25 / Pan American Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
NM 423 / Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest
Merge onto NM 423 / Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
Pan American Freeway Northeast
Turn left onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 25 / Pan American Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / Pan American Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lee Acres, NM and Santa Fe, NM, road signs point toward Espanola and Taos.
Espanola
55.7 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Taos
55.7 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pan American Freeway | 49.9 mi | 50m |
| 2nd Street Northwest | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Cerrillos Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Vineyard Road Northwest | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fairway Road Northwest | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Galisteo Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Solar Road Northwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pan American Freeway
— 49.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee Acres, NM and Santa Fe, NM.
1
Start on Fairway Road Northwest
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairway Road Northwest
2
Turn left onto Solar Road Northwest
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Solar Road Northwest
3
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
230 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
4
Turn right onto Vineyard Road Northwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vineyard Road Northwest
5
Turn left onto NM 47
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
2nd Street Northwest
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NM 423 East: Paseo Del Norte
7
Merge onto NM 423
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
497 ft
·
10 sec
·
Pan American Freeway Northeast
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
10
Merge onto I 25
50 mi
·
50 min
·
Pan American Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 84, US 285 North
12
Keep slight left at fork
3.4 mi
·
6 min
Toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanola, Taos
13
Take the exit
504 ft
·
13 sec
14
Turn straight onto Cerrillos Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cerrillos Road
15
Continue on Galisteo Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Galisteo Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto West San Francisco Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West San Francisco Street
17
Arrive at destination
East San Francisco Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.1 mi from Lee Acres, NM · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Lee Acres, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.11 one way
$18.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.00 | $19.99 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.82 | $21.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Night in Santa Fe on Friday
Local time
10:24 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
1h 11m 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 Lee Acres, NM to Santa Fe, NM covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pan American Freeway, 2nd Street Northwest, Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.1 miles from Lee Acres, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.11 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (NM 423 / Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northwest): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (Pan American Freeway Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (I 25 / Pan American Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lee Acres, NM and Santa Fe, NM, road signs point toward Espanola and Taos.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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