Origin
Shiprock, NM
Afternoon in Shiprock on Monday
Local time
1:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM
Drive Time
6h 41m
Distance
432 mi
695 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 29m
★
6 AM
6h 41m
8 AM
7h 5m
10 AM
6h 50m
12 PM
6h 47m
3 PM
6h 51m
5 PM
7h 4m
8 PM
6h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Las Cruces, NM
Mario Spencer
Trip Overview
The drive from Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM covers 432 miles and takes about 6h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40 East, NM 6, State Road 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
216 miles from Shiprock, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 41m drive with frequent turns across 432 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 East 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NM 6 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Road 6 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Church Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 40 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shiprock, NM and Las Cruces, NM.
1
Start on the route
128 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
486 ft
·
23 sec
3
Turn right
459 ft
·
23 sec
4
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
5
Keep slight right
85 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
6
Keep slight left
7.6 mi
·
10 min
7
Take the exit straight toward I 40 East: Albuquerque
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 40 East: Albuquerque
8
Merge slight left
106 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward NM 6: Los Lunas
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
NM 6: Los Lunas
10
Turn right onto State Road 6
31 mi
·
39 min
·
State Road 6
11
Continue on Main Street Northwest
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street Northwest
12
Continue on Main Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street Southwest
13
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
14
Merge slight left
197 mi
·
3 hr 17 min
15
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
16
Turn right onto North Main Street
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Church Street
187 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Church Street
18
Exit the roundabout onto North Church Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Church Street
19
Turn right
66 ft
·
10 sec
20
Turn left
285 ft
·
21 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 216 miles from Shiprock, NM, or about 3h 20m 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 95 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Las Cruces, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shiprock, NM
This is one driving day of about 432 miles and 6h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Shiprock, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 216 mi from Shiprock, NM · 3h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
216 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 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 216 miles from Shiprock, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Las Cruces, NM
The final approach into Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces, 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
$66.04 one way
$132.08 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
151 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $72.44 | $144.87 |
| premium | $4.61 | $78.41 | $156.81 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $95.98 | $191.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.36 | $20.74 |
| Efficient EV | 108 | 1 | $37.80 | $17.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 172.8 | 2 | $60.48 | $27.65 |
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 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
Las Cruces, NM
Afternoon in Las Cruces on Monday
Local time
1:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
13 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
6h 41m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Las Cruces, NM covers 432 miles and takes about 6h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40 East, NM 6, State Road 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 216 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 $66.04 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Shiprock, NM to Las Cruces, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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