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Fall Road Trips in New Mexico

Routes

30

Avg Distance

461 mi

Avg Drive

8h 46m

Destinations

17

New Mexico in the fall offers a striking variety of high-altitude drives, with 30 routes averaging 460 miles and nearly 9 hours. You'll find climbs reaching over 7,200 feet and plenty of park access to enjoy the changing landscape. This season is ideal for experiencing the expansive skies and dramatic terrain.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.89/gal

Diesel: $6.28/gal

Typical trip cost

$64–$82

One-way, ~461 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~161 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-10-19

Climate through the year: New Mexico

New Mexico peaks at around 91°F in Jul and cools to 47°F / 27°F in Dec. Wettest month is Jul at ~1.6 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month High °F Low °F Rain in Snow in
Jan 48 26 0.4 1.4
Feb 54 30 0.4 1.5
Mar 63 36 0.5 0.7
Apr 70 43 0.5 0.3
May 80 52 0.4 —
Jun 90 62 0.6 —
Jul 91 67 1.6 —
Aug 89 65 1.3 —
Sep peak 83 58 1.2 —
Oct peak 71 46 0.9 0.3
Nov peak 57 34 0.6 0.9
Dec 47 27 0.5 2.8

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for NM — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Fall hazards: what the data says

Recent seismic activity (last 7 days)

4 earthquakes M3.0+ — strongest M3.8 in New Mexico.

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Historical context — not a real-time advisory. Always check local road conditions before departing.

Planning Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in New Mexico that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 461 miles).
Current regular gas averages $3.89/gallon in New Mexico (week of 2026-10-19). Diesel: $6.28/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $64 and $82. Source: US Energy Information Administration.
Across Sep, Oct, Nov, New Mexico typically sees daytime highs in the 57–83°F range with about 0.9 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.
USGS logged 4 earthquakes above M3.0 (strongest M3.8) in the last 7 days. Always check current road and weather conditions before departing.
Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.
Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

Editor's pick

Clayton, NM → Sunland Park, NM

532.6 mi 9h 28m Score: 9/10 ~$82 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

This 532-mile route boasts a drive score of 9, with high-altitude sections and climbs up to 6,895 feet. With park access, it's a solid choice for experiencing New Mexico's expansive fall scenery.

Editor's pick

Hobbs, NM → Waterflow, NM

509.5 mi 10h 14m Score: 9/10 ~$78 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Score a 9 on this 509-mile drive, featuring excellent EV coverage with 27 DC fast chargers. The terrain includes high-altitude climbs reaching 7,278 feet and access to parks, making it a convenient and scenic option.

Editor's pick

Hobbs, NM → Farmington, NM

493.9 mi 9h 51m Score: 9/10 ~$76 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

This 493-mile trip offers a mixed highway and surface drive with a score of 9. It reaches elevations of 6,810 feet and includes park access, providing a good overview of the state's diverse fall landscapes.

Hobbs, NM → Spencerville, NM

492.5 mi 9h 52m Score: 9/10 ~$75 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Clayton, NM → Las Cruces, NM

492.5 mi 8h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$75 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sunland Park, NM → Raton, NM

490.7 mi 8h 25m Score: 8/10 ~$75 fuel

Through: Albuquerque

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hobbs, NM → Aztec, NM

488.7 mi 9h 46m Score: 9/10 ~$75 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hobbs, NM → Lee Acres, NM

483.6 mi 9h 36m Score: 9/10 ~$74 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Gallup, NM → Jal, NM

482.8 mi 9h 17m Score: 9/10 ~$74 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Bloomfield, NM → Hobbs, NM

479 mi 9h 33m Score: 8/10 ~$73 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Farmington, NM → Lovington, NM

471.6 mi 9h 25m Score: 8/10 ~$72 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sunland Park, NM → Shiprock, NM

471.2 mi 8h 30m Score: 7/10 ~$72 fuel

Through: Albuquerque

5 tricky spots

Chaparral, NM → Shiprock, NM

466.9 mi 8h 31m Score: 7/10 ~$71 fuel

Through: Albuquerque

5 tricky spots

Black Rock, NM → Hobbs, NM

462.3 mi 9h 27m Score: 9/10 ~$71 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Upper Fruitland, NM → Carlsbad, NM

458.5 mi 8h 53m Score: 8/10 ~$70 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hobbs, NM → Gallup, NM

453.8 mi 8h 45m Score: 9/10 ~$69 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Las Cruces, NM → Raton, NM

450.8 mi 7h 41m Score: 8/10 ~$69 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Columbus, NM → Farmington, NM

447.5 mi 8h 37m Score: 8/10 ~$69 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Aztec, NM → Carlsbad, NM

447.5 mi 8h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$69 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Artesia, NM → Shiprock, NM

444.7 mi 8h 41m Score: 9/10 ~$68 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hobbs, NM → Navajo, NM

442.9 mi 9h 46m Score: 7/10 ~$68 fuel
5 tricky spots

Deming, NM → Shiprock, NM

442.2 mi 8h 17m Score: 7/10 ~$68 fuel
5 tricky spots

Aztec, NM → Chaparral, NM

435 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10 ~$67 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Bloomfield, NM → Sunland Park, NM

430.7 mi 7h 42m Score: 9/10 ~$66 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Anthony, NM → Farmington, NM

428.7 mi 7h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$66 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Carlsbad, NM → Zuni Pueblo, NM

426 mi 8h 26m Score: 9/10 ~$65 fuel

Through: San Rafael

5 tricky spots High drive quality

White Sands, NM → Farmington, NM

424.9 mi 7h 42m Score: 8/10 ~$65 fuel

Through: Albuquerque → Bernalillo → Rio Rancho +1 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Black Rock, NM → Carlsbad, NM

422.5 mi 8h 19m Score: 9/10 ~$65 fuel

Through: Santa Fe

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sunland Park, NM → Navajo, NM

421.6 mi 7h 45m Score: 8/10 ~$65 fuel

Through: Albuquerque

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Las Cruces, NM → Waterflow, NM

420.1 mi 7h 40m Score: 8/10 ~$64 fuel

Through: Bernalillo → Rio Rancho → Coronado Historic Site

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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