Origin
Rio Rancho, NM
Morning in Rio Rancho on Friday
Local time
11:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Rancho, NM to Pecos, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Rancho, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Pecos, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rio Rancho, NM to Pecos, NM covers 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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 $11.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m 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 27m drive with frequent turns across 74.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rio Rancho, NM to Pecos, NM is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Pecos, 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 | — | — |
| South Main 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 Pecos, 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
56 mi
·
56 min
11
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
12
Turn left
505 ft
·
12 sec
13
At the end of the road, turn right
5.9 mi
·
9 min
14
Turn right onto South Main Street
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
15
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 Rio Rancho, NM · 43m 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 Rio Rancho, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pecos, NM
The final approach into Pecos, 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
$11.24 one way
$22.47 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.33 | $24.67 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.35 | $26.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
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 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $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
Pecos, NM
Morning in Pecos on Friday
Local time
11:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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 Pecos, NM covers 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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 37.2 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 $11.24 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 Pecos, NM is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Pecos, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rio Rancho, NM to Pecos, 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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