Drive or Fly: Raton, NM to Los Lunas, NM?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for TSM–ABQ. At 252 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 18m

Distance

252.2 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

102 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 42m

23m in the air

Air Distance

194 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raton, NM → TSM 113m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABQ → Los Lunas, NM 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Raton, NM TSM — Taos Regional Airport 75 mi, ~113m drive

Los Lunas, NM ABQ — Albuquerque International Sunport 18 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TSM and ABQ. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 44m

5h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

15 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raton, NM → Raton (RAT) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 304m

Arrival 10m

Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center (ABQ) → Los Lunas, NM 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From RAT — Raton 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ABQ — Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 5m

3h 40m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raton, NM → Raton (Amtrak Station) (RAT6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Albuquerque Bus Station (ABQ6) → Los Lunas, NM 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From RAT6 — Raton (Amtrak Station) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ABQ6 — Albuquerque Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 9 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 18m	4h 42m	6h 44m	5h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$183	$35	$19
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

252.2 mi 4h 18m

via I 25

Alternative (+34 min)

277.2 mi 4h 52m

via I 25, I 40, US 84

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Raton, NM to Los Lunas, NM with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.