Origin
Santa Fe, NM
Late night in Santa Fe on Wednesday
Local time
3:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
64 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Fe, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 25, Old Pecos Trail, Central Avenue Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.6 miles on I 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.67 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
32 miles from Santa Fe, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 11m highway drive covering 64 miles, with most of the trip on I 25 and Old Pecos Trail. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.6 miles on I 25.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Old Pecos Trail. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cathedral Place.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 11m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cathedral Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Alameda Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (Old Santa Fe Trail): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cathedral Place
Turn right onto Cathedral Place
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Alameda Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Alameda Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Old Santa Fe Trail
Turn left onto Old Santa Fe Trail
Navigation decision point
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Centra...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 58.6 mi | 1h |
| Old Pecos Trail | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Old Santa Fe Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cathedral Place | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Alameda Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East San Francisco Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 58.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Fe, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on East San Francisco Street
294 ft
·
11 sec
·
East San Francisco Street
2
Turn right onto Cathedral Place
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cathedral Place
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Alameda Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Alameda Street
4
Turn left onto Old Santa Fe Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Santa Fe Trail
5
Continue on Old Pecos Trail
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Pecos Trail
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 25 South: Albuquerque
7
Merge onto I 25
59 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Locust Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Locust Street Northeast
10
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
11
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
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 32 miles from Santa Fe, NM, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.6 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 64 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albuquerque, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM
This is one driving day of about 64 miles and 1h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Fe, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 25 for about 58.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32 mi from Santa Fe, NM · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32 miles from Santa Fe, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albuquerque, NM
The final approach into Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, 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
$9.67 one way
$19.33 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.61 | $21.22 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.49 | $22.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.13 | $28.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.10 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Albuquerque, NM
Late night in Albuquerque on Wednesday
Local time
3:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
10 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 11m 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 Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, Old Pecos Trail, Central Avenue Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32 miles from Santa Fe, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.67 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 11m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cathedral Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Alameda Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (Old Santa Fe Trail): Navigation decision point.
The route from Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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