Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
232.4 mi
374 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamogordo, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, NM
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
This 232.4-mile drive from Alamogordo, NM, to Laguna, NM, will take approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 54, I-25, and US 380, this route offers a highway-focused experience, with 84% of the journey on major roads. It's a perfectly manageable day trip, making it ideal for a single-day adventure. With an estimated fuel cost of $35, you can plan your budget accordingly. Both your starting and ending points are within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes throughout.
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
116.2 miles from Alamogordo, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 380 | 64.6 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 25 | 63.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| US 54 | 44 mi | 52m |
| State Road 6 | 30.7 mi | 39m |
| I 40 | 11.7 mi | 11m |
| US 54,70 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| North White Sands Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Main Street Northwest | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alamogordo, NM and Laguna, NM.
Start on North White Sands Boulevard
Continue on US 54; US 70
Turn left onto US 54
Turn left onto E Avenue
Turn left onto US 380
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 25
Take the exit
Turn left onto NM 6
Continue on NM 6
Continue on NM 6
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Continue on NM 124
Enter roundabout onto NM 124
Continue on NM 124
Turn left onto BIA 502
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour 32-minute duration, this drive is comfortably completed in a single day, meaning you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 232.4 miles and refuel if necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 64.6-mile stretch on US 380, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated $35 fuel cost is a good baseline for your budget, but it's always wise to have a little extra.
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.
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 51 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.2 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, NM than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alamogordo, 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 Alamogordo, NM
This is one driving day of about 232.4 miles and 4h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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.
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116.2 miles from Alamogordo, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 380 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 231.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 54
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward NM 6: Los Lunas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward NM 124: Laguna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Enter roundabout onto NM 124
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$35.10 one way
$70.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $38.53 | $77.06 |
| premium | $4.56 | $41.71 | $83.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.31 | $102.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.40 | $11.16 |
| Efficient EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.34 | $9.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93 | 1 | $32.54 | $14.87 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Alamogordo on Sunday
Local time
10:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
10:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
83°F
Socorro, NM
116 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...
National Park
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this 232.4-mile journey. You'll spend about 84% of your time on major thoroughfares like US 54, I-25, and US 380. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.6 miles on US 380, offering a good opportunity to settle in. This route is designed for steady progress, allowing you to cover ground efficiently as you transition from one New Mexico destination to another.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 380 and I 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near US 54.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (US 54): Navigation decision point; at 122 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 185.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 232.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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