Origin
Silver City, NM
Afternoon in Silver City on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver City, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Drive Time
5h
Distance
235.8 mi
379 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver City, NM
Drei Kubik
Albuquerque, NM
Samir Smier
Trip Overview
Stretching 235.8 miles across the heart of the Desert Southwest, this journey from Silver City to Albuquerque is a straightforward trek that fits perfectly into a single day. You should plan for about 5 hours of total drive time, making it an efficient way to transition between these two New Mexico hubs. With a estimated fuel cost of $36, the trip is budget-friendly and requires only one primary stop to break up the travel. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, the route offers a consistent pace that minimizes stress. Because both cities are firmly situated in the Desert Southwest, you will experience a cohesive landscape throughout your transit. It is an ideal distance for a one-day commitment, allowing you to arrive in Albuquerque with plenty of time to spare.
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
117.9 miles from Silver City, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 90% of your time spent on major routes like I-25, NM-152, and Wrights Cabin Road. You will settle into a long, steady rhythm once you reach the interstate, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 160 miles. While the local segments require more attention, the vast majority of the drive consists of wide-open highway travel. Expect the road personality to shift from tighter, localized corridors to the high-speed, predictable flow of the interstate system. Navigating this path feels like a classic desert transit, characterized by long horizons and consistent pavement conditions that demand steady focus behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 160 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and NM 152. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Broadway.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 74.5 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Broadway
Turn right onto West Broadway
Navigation decision point
5
74.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
234.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr 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 224
Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue...
6
234.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m in
|
Lead Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / none lanes.
7
235.6 mi into trip
|
~5h in
|
Central Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 160 mi | 2h 40m |
| NM 152 | 51.3 mi | 1h 24m |
| Wrights Cabin Road | 14.3 mi | 34m |
| Silver Heights Boulevard | 7.5 mi | 14m |
| North Hudson Street | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Lead Avenue Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 160 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver City, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on North Cooper Street
24 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Cooper Street
2
Turn right onto West Broadway
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto NM 90
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Hudson Street
4
Continue on US 180
7.5 mi
·
14 min
·
Silver Heights Boulevard
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left onto NM 152
18 mi
·
29 min
·
NM 152
6
Continue on NM 90; FR 756
14 mi
·
34 min
·
Wrights Cabin Road
7
Continue on NM 152
34 mi
·
55 min
·
NM 152
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Merge onto I 25
160 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 25
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 224
Toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on Oak Street Southeast
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
Oak Street Southeast
12
Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lead Avenue Southeast
Use the left / none lanes.
13
Turn right onto 2nd Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
2nd Street Southwest
14
Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Central Avenue Northwest
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour drive, try departing Silver City early in the morning to avoid midday heat and heavy traffic near your destination. Since you have 235.8 miles to cover, plan your single designated stop around the transition point where you merge onto I-25 to ensure you are fueled up for the 160-mile stretch. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial local road segments, as services may be more spaced out than on the main interstate. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the manageable duration allows you to adjust your pace based on real-time traffic conditions. Prioritize checking your tire pressure before leaving, as the high-speed interstate segments will be the most demanding part of your vehicle's journey.
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 117.9 miles from Silver City, NM, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160 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 80 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.9 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
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 Silver City, 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 Silver City, NM
This is one driving day of about 235.8 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Silver City, 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 I 25 for about 160 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.9 mi from Silver City, NM · 2h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.9 miles from Silver City, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 160 miles.
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.
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
$36.05 one way
$72.10 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $39.54 | $79.08 |
| premium | $4.61 | $42.80 | $85.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.39 | $104.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.76 | $11.32 |
| Efficient EV | 59 | 0 | $20.63 | $9.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.3 | 1 | $33.01 | $15.09 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Albuquerque on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°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
1 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Silver City, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 235.8 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 25, NM 152, Wrights Cabin Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.9 miles from Silver City, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.05 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 74.5 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Silver City, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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