Origin
Rio Rancho, NM
Evening in Rio Rancho on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Rancho, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Agua Fria, NM
César O'neill
Trip Overview
The drive from Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM covers 50.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sara Road Southeast, Pat D'Arco Highway, Rio Rancho Boulevard Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
25.3 miles from Rio Rancho, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 50.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sara Road Southeast 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 Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sara Road Southeast | — | — |
| Pat D'Arco Highway | — | — |
| Rio Rancho Boulevard Northeast | — | — |
| Cerrillos Road | — | — |
| Airport Road | — | — |
| Lopez Lane | — | — |
| Agua Fria Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sara Road Southeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Rancho, NM and Agua Fria, NM.
1
Start on 35th Circle Southeast
144 ft
·
8 sec
·
35th Circle Southeast
2
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sara Road Southeast
3
Turn left onto Pat D'Arco Highway
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Pat D'Arco Highway
4
Continue on Rio Rancho Boulevard Northeast
351 ft
·
6 sec
·
Rio Rancho Boulevard Northeast
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
6
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
7
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
8
Continue straight
1.0 mi
·
1 min
9
Take the exit slight left
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
10
Merge slight left
35 mi
·
34 min
11
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
12
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
13
Turn straight onto Cerrillos Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Cerrillos Road
14
Turn left onto Airport Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Airport Road
15
Turn right onto Lopez Lane
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lopez Lane
16
Turn right onto Agua Fria Street
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Agua Fria Street
17
Turn right
121 ft
·
9 sec
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 25.3 miles from Rio Rancho, NM, or about 31m 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 11 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.3 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Agua Fria, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rio Rancho, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rio Rancho, NM
This is one driving day of about 50.7 miles and 1h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Rio Rancho, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.3 mi from Rio Rancho, NM · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Rio Rancho, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Agua Fria, NM
The final approach into Agua Fria, 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
$7.66 one way
$15.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.41 | $16.81 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.10 | $18.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.19 | $22.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Agua Fria, NM
Evening in Agua Fria on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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 3m 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 Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM covers 50.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sara Road Southeast, Pat D'Arco Highway, Rio Rancho Boulevard Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.3 miles from Rio Rancho, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.66 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 Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rio Rancho, NM to Agua Fria, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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