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Trip from Los Chavez, NM to Albuquerque, NM

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

38m

Distance

29.5 mi

48 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 36m

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

Downtown Los Chavez, NM, NM

Los Chavez, NM

RDNE Stock project

city and county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States and the largest city in the state

Albuquerque, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 29.5-mile drive from Los Chavez to Albuquerque, New Mexico, is easily manageable in about 38 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. With a highway share of 89%, you'll spend most of your time on major roadways, experiencing a classic Desert Southwest landscape. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, which is quite budget-friendly for such a short journey. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and efficient transfer between these two New Mexico locations without needing an overnight stop.

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

14.8 miles from Los Chavez, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for this drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major roads like I-25 and NM-314. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch at 20.6 miles on I-25, offering a consistent pace. The journey transitions smoothly from smaller local roads like Main Street Northwest into these faster thoroughfares. This means you'll primarily be navigating well-maintained highways, with minimal time spent on slower, more winding local routes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 20.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and NM 314. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near I 25.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (Lead Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
7.7 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 25

Merge onto I 25

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.2 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 224 Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue...
6
28.5 mi into trip | ~35m in | Lead Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
3
29.2 mi into trip | ~37m in | 2nd Street Southwest

Turn right onto 2nd Street Southwest

Navigation decision point

7
29.4 mi into trip | ~38m in | Central Avenue Northwest

Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 25 20.6 mi 21m
NM 314 5.2 mi 9m
Main Street Northwest 0.9 mi 1m
Lead Avenue Southeast 0.7 mi 1m
Main Street Southwest 0.6 mi 1m
NM-314 N 0.5 mi <1m
2nd Street Southwest 0.2 mi <1m
Central Avenue Northwest 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 25 — 20.6 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Chavez, NM and Albuquerque, NM.

1

Start on Square Deal Road

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Square Deal Road
2

Turn left onto NM 314

5.2 mi · 9 min · NM 314
3

Continue on NM 314

0.5 mi · 59 sec · NM-314 N
4

Turn left onto NM 6

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street Southwest
5

Continue on NM 6

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street Northwest
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
7

Merge onto I 25

21 mi · 21 min · I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 224 Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on Oak Street Southeast

523 ft · 19 sec · Oak Street Southeast
10

Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lead Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto 2nd Street Southwest

0.2 mi · 33 sec · 2nd Street Southwest
12

Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Central Avenue Northwest
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Central Avenue Northwest

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of this 38-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning could help you avoid any potential rush hour traffic as you approach Albuquerque. With only 29.5 miles and a low fuel cost of approximately $5, you won't need extensive planning for fuel or multiple rest stops. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from NM-314 onto I-25, as this is where the majority of your driving will occur and where you'll cover your longest stretch.

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 14.8 miles from Los Chavez, NM, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 29.5 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 14.8 miles or 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Los Chavez, 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 Chavez, NM

This is one driving day of about 29.5 miles and 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Los Chavez, 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 20.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.8 mi from Los Chavez, NM · 20m into the drive

village in and county seat of Valencia County, New Mexico, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Lunas, NM

15 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

Rio Rancho, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Lunas, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.8 miles from Los Chavez, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Albuquerque, NM

The final approach into Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, 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

$4.46 one way

$8.91 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $4.89 $9.78
premium $4.56 $5.29 $10.59
diesel $5.61 $6.51 $13.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.9 0 $3.10 $1.42
Efficient EV 7.4 0 $2.58 $1.18
EV Truck/SUV 11.8 0 $4.13 $1.89

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Los Chavez, NM

Morning in Los Chavez on Wednesday

Local time

6:23 AM

MDT

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albuquerque, NM

Morning in Albuquerque on Wednesday

Local time

6:23 AM

MDT

Current temp

82°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

45 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

38m 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 Chavez, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 29.5 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, NM 314, Main Street 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 14.8 miles from Los Chavez, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.46 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 38m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (Lead Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Los Chavez, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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