Origin
Shiprock, NM
Morning in Shiprock on Wednesday
Local time
6:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shiprock, NM to Alamogordo, NM
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
8h 2m
Distance
417.4 mi
672 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$63
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 54m
★
6 AM
8h 3m
8 AM
8h 20m
10 AM
8h 8m
12 PM
8h 7m
3 PM
8h 9m
5 PM
8h 19m
8 PM
7h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shiprock, NM
Airam Dato-on
Alamogordo, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shiprock, NM to Alamogordo, NM covers 417.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, US 491, 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
208.7 miles from Shiprock, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 8h 2m highway drive covering 417.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and US 491. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.7 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 491. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 417.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 491): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 491
Turn right onto US 491
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 491
Keep slight right at fork onto US 491
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
84.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
US 491
Keep slight left at fork onto US 491
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight 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 Shiprock, NM to Alamogordo, NM, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
San Antonio
294.5 mi in
|
~5h 31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 105.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| US 491 | 92.2 mi | 1h 56m |
| 2nd Street | 64.6 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 25 | 63.1 mi | 1h 3m |
| Central Avenue | 43.9 mi | 52m |
| State Road 6 | 30.6 mi | 39m |
| Saint Francis Drive | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| North White Sands Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 105.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shiprock, NM and Alamogordo, NM.
1
Start on this road
126 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
485 ft
·
22 sec
3
Turn right
459 ft
·
23 sec
4
Turn right onto US 491
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 491
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 491
85 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
US 491
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 491
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
US 491
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 40 East: Albuquerque
8
Merge onto I 40
106 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
I 40
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward NM 6: Los Lunas
10
Turn right onto NM 6
31 mi
·
39 min
·
State Road 6
11
Continue on NM 6
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street Northwest
12
Continue on NM 6
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street Southwest
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
14
Merge onto I 25
63 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 25
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
Toward San Antonio
16
Continue on I-25
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I-25
17
Continue on US 380
65 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
2nd Street
18
Turn right onto E Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
E Avenue
19
Turn straight onto US 54
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Central Avenue
20
Continue on US 54
44 mi
·
51 min
·
Central Avenue
21
Take the ramp onto US 54
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Saint Francis Drive
22
Turn straight onto North White Sands Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North White Sands Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
North White Sands Boulevard
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 208.7 miles from Shiprock, NM, or about 3h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 92 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.7 miles or 3h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 208.7 miles or 3h 58m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alamogordo, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shiprock, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shiprock, NM
Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Alamogordo, NM
Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Shiprock, NM.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 105.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 208.7 mi from Shiprock, NM · 3h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
209 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Los Lunas, NMOvernight Options
Night 1
209 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Los Lunas, NM after about 209 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 208.7 miles from Shiprock, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 209 miles or 4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Alamogordo, NM
The final approach into Alamogordo, 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 Alamogordo, NM.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Alamogordo, NM with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.04 one way
$126.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
146 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $69.20 | $138.40 |
| premium | $4.56 | $74.92 | $149.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $92.16 | $184.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.2 | 1 | $43.83 | $20.04 |
| Efficient EV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.52 | $16.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167 | 2 | $58.44 | $26.71 |
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Alamogordo, NM
Morning in Alamogordo on Wednesday
Local time
6:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
14 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
8h 2m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shiprock, NM to Alamogordo, NM covers 417.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 491, 2nd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 209 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 208.7 miles from Shiprock, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 417.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 491): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Shiprock, NM to Alamogordo, NM, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Alamogordo, NM
More from Shiprock, NM
More trips to Alamogordo, NM
Explore more options from Shiprock, NM or browse trips ending in Alamogordo, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.
Explore maps for Shiprock, NM or Alamogordo, NM on MapSof.net.