Trip from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

243.8 mi

392 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 32m ★

6 AM

4h 46m

8 AM

5h 13m

10 AM

4h 55m

12 PM

4h 53m

3 PM

4h 57m

5 PM

5h 12m

8 PM

4h 38m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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village in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Wikimedia Commons

city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States

Artesia, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM covers 243.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 8th Street, Coronado Freeway, Southeast Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on 8th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.82 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

121.9 miles from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
8th Street	91.9 mi	1h 41m
Coronado Freeway	57.6 mi	1h
Southeast Main Street	29.9 mi	35m
US Highway 285	27.4 mi	31m
Oak Street	14.5 mi	17m
Roswell Highway	7.1 mi	8m
North Main Street	6.9 mi	14m
2nd Street Northwest	2.4 mi	4m

Longest stretch: 8th Street — 91.9 mi, about 1h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM and Artesia, NM.

Start on Guadalupe Trail Northwest

49 ft · 4 sec · Guadalupe Trail Northwest

Turn right onto Bledsoe Road Northwest

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bledsoe Road Northwest

Turn right onto 4th Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 1 min · 4th Street Northwest

Turn left onto Osuna Road Northwest

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Osuna Road Northwest

Turn straight onto Osuna Road Northwest

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Osuna Road Northwest

Turn right onto NM 47

2.4 mi · 4 min · 2nd Street Northwest

Turn left onto NM 47

1.1 mi · 2 min · Candelaria Road Northwest

Turn right onto University Boulevard Northeast

0.6 mi · 1 min · University Boulevard Northeast

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa

Merge onto I 40

58 mi · 1 hr · Coronado Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe

Keep slight left at fork

470 ft · 15 sec

Turn right onto US 285

27 mi · 31 min · US Highway 285

Continue on US 60; US 285

14 mi · 17 min · Oak Street

Continue on US 54; US 60; US 285

92 mi · 1 hr 41 min · 8th Street

Continue on US 285

6.9 mi · 14 min · North Main Street

Turn slight left onto US 285

30 mi · 35 min · Southeast Main Street

Continue on US 285

7.1 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway

Continue on US 285

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street

Turn right onto US 82

0.3 mi · 33 sec · West Main Street

Arrive at destination

US 82

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 121.9 miles from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM, or about 2h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 121.9 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 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 Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

This is one driving day of about 243.8 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 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 8th Street for about 91.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Rosa, NM

122 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

Edgewood, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Rosa, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.9 miles from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 8th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15053450829

Visit website

Main Event Albuquerque

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Albuquerque, New Mexico

2.8 mi

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15053450829

Visit website

Main Event Albuquerque

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+15058844928

Visit website

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hours: 4–8 pm

+15059104389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Bledsoe Road Northwest

Turn right onto Bledsoe Road Northwest

Navigation decision point

5.4 mi into trip | ~11m in

Turn left toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa

Navigation decision point

Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa

5.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 40 / Coronado Freeway

Merge onto I 40 / Coronado Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

63.4 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Take the exit toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe

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

Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe

63.7 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.82 one way

$73.64 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$40.42	$80.84
premium	$4.56	$43.76	$87.52
diesel	$5.61	$53.83	$107.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	73.1	0	$25.60	$11.70
Efficient EV	61	0	$21.33	$9.75
EV Truck/SUV	97.5	1	$34.13	$15.60

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Afternoon in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque on Saturday

Local time

1:56 PM

MDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Artesia, NM

Afternoon in Artesia on Saturday

Local time

1:56 PM

MDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

43°F

Santa Rosa, NM

122 mi in

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

26 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

4h 45m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Petroglyph National Monument

National Monument

Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour Free

Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

243.8 mi in 4h 45m — 35% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: 8th Street.

35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on 8th Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bledsoe Road Northwest.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bledsoe Road Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (I 40 / Coronado Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Fe along the way.

Santa Fe

63.4 mi in | ~1h 13m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 243.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (35%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on 8th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NM can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Artesia, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM or browse trips ending in Artesia, NM.

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Trip from Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM to Artesia, NM

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Main Event Albuquerque

Roswell Welcome Sign

Open Space Visitor Center

Jungle Jam

Cibola National Forest

Wildlife West Nature Park

New Mexico Escape Room

Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Artesia, NM

Same local time

26 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 45m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Petroglyph National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Will I have cell service along this route?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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