Origin
Los Alamos, NM
Morning in Los Alamos on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
47m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Alamos, NM
MIGUEL ANGEL CABAÑAS
Santa Fe, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 36.4-mile drive from Los Alamos to Santa Fe, New Mexico, is estimated to take about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like Diamond Drive, Canyon Road, and Central Avenue, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a modest $6. Given its brevity and the turn-heavy local drive profile, this route is best enjoyed without needing an overnight stay. It's a straightforward connection within the Desert Southwest region, offering a quick transition between two New Mexico destinations.
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
18.2 miles from Los Alamos, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. You won't encounter long stretches of uninterrupted driving; instead, your journey will be characterized by frequent turns and navigation through local streets. The main roads you'll follow include Diamond Drive, Canyon Road, and Central Avenue. This dynamic suggests a more engaging driving experience, akin to navigating through towns rather than a monotonous highway cruise. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch further emphasizes the stop-and-go, locally focused nature of this drive.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Diamond Drive 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Canyon Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Fe Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Taos Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 84 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Saint Francis Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Diamond Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Alamos, NM and Santa Fe, NM.
1
Start on Orange Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Orange Street
2
Turn left onto Diamond Drive
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Diamond Drive
3
Turn left onto Canyon Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Canyon Road
4
Continue on Central Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Road
154 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Road
6
Exit the roundabout onto East Road
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
East Road
7
Continue straight
2.8 mi
·
4 min
8
Continue straight
8.7 mi
·
11 min
9
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
10
Merge slight left onto Santa Fe Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Fe Highway
11
Continue on Taos Highway
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Taos Highway
12
Continue on US 84/285
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 84/285
13
Continue on North Saint Francis Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Saint Francis Drive
14
Take the exit slight left toward Guadalupe Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Guadalupe Street
15
Continue on North Guadalupe Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Guadalupe Street
16
Turn left onto West San Francisco Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
West San Francisco Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
With a travel time of just 47 minutes and a fuel cost around $6, this route offers significant flexibility. There are no designated stops provided, so you can depart whenever it suits you. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour congestion in Santa Fe, especially if you plan to explore the city upon arrival. Since this is a short trip, you can easily adapt your schedule. A specific tip: pay close attention to your navigation as you transition onto Canyon Road and Central Avenue in Santa Fe, as these are active local streets with many intersections.
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 18.2 miles from Los Alamos, NM, or about 23m 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 36.4 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.2 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
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 Los Alamos, 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 Los Alamos, NM
This is one driving day of about 36.4 miles and 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Los Alamos, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from Los Alamos, NM · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Los Alamos, 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
$5.50 one way
$10.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.03 | $12.07 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.53 | $13.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Santa Fe on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 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
1 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
47m 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 Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM covers 36.4 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Diamond Drive, Canyon Road, Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.2 miles from Los Alamos, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.50 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.
The drive from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Alamos, NM to Santa Fe, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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