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Trip from Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 53m

Distance

382.2 mi

615 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 40m ★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
6h 0m
3 PM
6h 4m
5 PM
6h 18m
8 PM
5h 45m

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

Downtown Navajo, NM, NM

Navajo, NM

Ambient Vista

city in and county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States

Las Cruces, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM covers 382.2 miles and takes about 5h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Poplar Avenue, Cleveland Boulevard, Route 12 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.72 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

191.1 miles from Navajo, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 5h 53m drive with frequent turns across 382.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Poplar Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 53m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Poplar Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Cleveland Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
Route 12 Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 264 Unavailable Refreshing
New Mexico State Road 264 Unavailable Refreshing
I 40 East Unavailable Refreshing
NM 6 Unavailable Refreshing
State Road 6 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Poplar Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Navajo, NM and Las Cruces, NM.

1

Start on the route

0.2 mi · 55 sec · the route
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto Poplar Avenue

0.8 mi · 3 min · Poplar Avenue
3

Turn right onto Cleveland Boulevard

1.2 mi · 1 min · Cleveland Boulevard
4

Continue on Navajo Route 12

12 mi · 19 min · Navajo Route 12
5

At the end of the road, turn left onto Navajo Route 12

5.0 mi · 8 min · Navajo Route 12
6

Turn left onto Arizona State Highway 264

0.6 mi · 1 min · Arizona State Highway 264
7

Continue on New Mexico State Road 264

16 mi · 20 min · New Mexico State Road 264
8

Continue straight

7.0 mi · 9 min
9

Take the exit straight toward I 40 East: Albuquerque

0.2 mi · 25 sec · I 40 East: Albuquerque
10

Merge slight left

106 mi · 1 hr 46 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward NM 6: Los Lunas

0.3 mi · 40 sec · NM 6: Los Lunas
12

Turn right onto State Road 6

31 mi · 39 min · State Road 6
13

Continue on Main Street Northwest

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street Northwest
14

Continue on Main Street Southwest

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Main Street Southwest
15

Take the ramp right

0.2 mi · 30 sec
16

Merge slight left

197 mi · 3 hr 17 min
17

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 47 sec
18

Turn right onto North Main Street

2.5 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
19

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Church Street

187 ft · 5 sec · North Church Street
20

Exit the roundabout onto North Church Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · North Church Street
21

Turn right

66 ft · 10 sec
22

Turn left

285 ft · 21 sec
23

Arrive at your 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 191.1 miles from Navajo, NM, or about 2h 56m 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 84 miles or 1h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 191.1 miles or 2h 56m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 57m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Navajo, 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 Navajo, NM

This is one driving day of about 382.2 miles and 5h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Navajo, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 191.1 mi from Navajo, NM · 2h 56m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Lunas, NM

191 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

Gallup, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Lunas, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 191.1 miles from Navajo, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Las Cruces, NM

The final approach into Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces, 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

$57.72 one way

$115.44 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 134 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $63.36 $126.73
premium $4.56 $68.60 $137.20
diesel $5.61 $84.38 $168.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$83–$108

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 133.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 114.7 1 $40.13 $18.35
Efficient EV 95.6 1 $33.44 $15.29
EV Truck/SUV 152.9 1 $53.51 $24.46

Gas CO2

134 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Navajo, NM

Morning in Navajo on Wednesday

Local time

6:17 AM

MDT

Current temp

31°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Las Cruces, NM

Morning in Las Cruces on Wednesday

Local time

6:17 AM

MDT

Current temp

85°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

54 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

5h 53m 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 Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM covers 382.2 miles and takes about 5h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Poplar Avenue, Cleveland Boulevard, Route 12. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 191.1 miles from Navajo, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.72 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 5h 53m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Navajo, NM to Las Cruces, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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