Origin
Pecos, NM
Afternoon in Pecos on Friday
Local time
12:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
74.3 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pecos, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Rancho, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Glorieta Highway, US 550 North, Pat D'Arco Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 74.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 15m drive with frequent turns across 74.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Glorieta Highway 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM is easy. At 1h 15m 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 Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glorieta Highway | — | — |
| US 550 North | — | — |
| Pat D'Arco Highway | — | — |
| Sara Road Southeast | — | — |
| 35th Circle Southeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Glorieta Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pecos, NM and Rio Rancho, NM.
1
Start on South Main Street
210 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto Glorieta Highway
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Glorieta Highway
3
Turn left
125 ft
·
4 sec
4
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
5
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
56 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
7
Keep slight right
240 ft
·
6 sec
8
Merge slight left
1.7 mi
·
3 min
9
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
10
Take the exit slight left
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
11
Turn left onto Pat D'Arco Highway
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Pat D'Arco Highway
12
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sara Road Southeast
13
Turn left onto 35th Circle Southeast
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
35th Circle Southeast
14
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.2 mi from Pecos, NM · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Pecos, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rio Rancho, NM
The final approach into Rio Rancho, 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
$11.22 one way
$22.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.32 | $24.64 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.40 | $32.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Rio Rancho, NM
Afternoon in Rio Rancho on Friday
Local time
12:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Agua Fria, NM
37 mi in
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
9 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
1h 15m 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 Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glorieta Highway, US 550 North, Pat D'Arco Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.2 miles from Pecos, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.22 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 Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM is easy. At 1h 15m 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 Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Pecos, NM to Rio Rancho, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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