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Trip from Santa Fe, NM to Lee Acres, NM

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

200.5 mi

323 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 32m ★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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capital city of New Mexico, United States

Santa Fe, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lee Acres, NM, NM

Lee Acres, NM

Alican Helik

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Fe, NM to Lee Acres, NM covers 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 550, I 25, West Broadway Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 151.5 miles on US 550. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.28 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

100.3 miles from Santa Fe, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 200.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 550 and I 25. The longest continuous stretch is about 151.5 miles on US 550.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 550 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 550 and I 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cathedral Place.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 45m drive. You will face about 8 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 45.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These 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

5
45.3 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Ber...
5
45.6 mi into trip | ~50m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
45.6 mi into trip | ~50m in | US 550

Merge onto US 550

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Santa Fe, NM to Lee Acres, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.

Bernalillo

45.3 mi in | ~49m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 550 151.5 mi 2h 50m
I 25 41.3 mi 41m
West Broadway Boulevard 3.2 mi 3m
Old Pecos Trail 2.9 mi 5m
Old Santa Fe Trail 0.6 mi 1m
Cathedral Place 0.2 mi <1m
US 64 0.1 mi <1m
East Alameda Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 550 — 151.5 mi, about 2h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Fe, NM and Lee Acres, 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

41 mi · 41 min · I 25
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward NM 165 East, US 550 North: Placitas, Bernalillo
9

Keep slight right at fork

240 ft · 5 sec
10

Merge onto US 550

1.7 mi · 3 min · US 550
Use the right lane.
11

Continue on US 550

150 mi · 2 hr 47 min · US 550
12

Turn left onto US 64

3.2 mi · 3 min · West Broadway Boulevard
13

Continue on US 64

0.1 mi · 16 sec · US 64
14

Arrive at destination

US 64

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 100.3 miles from Santa Fe, NM, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.5 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 44 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.3 miles or 1h 52m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lee Acres, 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 200.5 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Santa Fe, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 550 for about 151.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.3 mi from Santa Fe, NM · 1h 52m into the drive

Downtown Jemez Pueblo, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jemez Pueblo, NM

100 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

Bernalillo, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jemez Pueblo, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.3 miles from Santa Fe, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 550 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.5 miles.

Arriving in Lee Acres, NM

The final approach into Lee Acres, 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 Lee Acres, NM.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Aztec Ruins National Monument

National Monument

Aztec Ruins has some of the best-preserved Chacoan structures of its kind. Learn more about the ancestral Pueblo people in the park's museum and explore the Aztec West great house to see exceptionally...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 200.5
View on nps.gov
Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyph National Monument

National Monument

Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 48.4
View on nps.gov
Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Pecos is a natural and cultural crossroads through which hunters, gatherers, traders, missionaries, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers, and other travelers passed and lived. Follow in their footsteps and...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through hiking & biking trails, rang...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour $25 near mile 159
View on nps.gov
Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument

National Monument

Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour $25 near mile 20.7
View on nps.gov
Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Manhattan Project National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. Most of this development took...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour Free near mile 13.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.28 one way

$60.56 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $33.24 $66.48
premium $4.56 $35.99 $71.97
diesel $5.61 $44.27 $88.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.2 0 $21.05 $9.62
Efficient EV 50.1 0 $17.54 $8.02
EV Truck/SUV 80.2 1 $28.07 $12.83

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Santa Fe, NM

Evening in Santa Fe on Thursday

Local time

7:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee Acres, NM

Evening in Lee Acres on Thursday

Local time

7:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

67°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

5 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

3h 45m 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 Lee Acres, NM covers 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 550, I 25, West Broadway Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.3 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 $30.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 45m drive. You will face about 8 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 45.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Santa Fe, NM to Lee Acres, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Bernalillo along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Aztec Ruins National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument and Pecos National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.

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Return Trip

Lee Acres, NM to Santa Fe, NM

Plan the drive back the other way.

60.3 mi 1h 11m

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