Origin
Alamogordo, NM
Night in Alamogordo on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alamogordo, NM to Tularosa, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
12.6 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamogordo, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Tularosa, NM
Bjorn Pierre
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between two Desert Southwest communities, the 12.6-mile trek from Alamogordo to Tularosa is a straightforward choice. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 17 minutes, making this an ideal excursion for a single day. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly trip that requires no overnight planning. Navigating via US 54 and Saint Francis Drive keeps the journey simple and direct. Because the route is entirely local, you won't need to worry about heavy highway traffic, allowing for a relaxed pace as you move through the New Mexico landscape.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 54,70 | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| North White Sands Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Saint Francis Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 54,70
— 9.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alamogordo, NM and Tularosa, NM.
1
Start on North White Sands Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North White Sands Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 54; US 70
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 54,70
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on US 54; US 70
59 ft
·
6 sec
·
Saint Francis Drive
4
Arrive at destination
US 54; US 70
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.90 one way
$3.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.09 | $4.18 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.26 | $4.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Tularosa, NM
Night in Tularosa on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
17m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind on this short connection. Since the route consists of 0% highway driving, you will spend your entire time on surface streets and local connectors. This setup keeps the pace manageable, though you should stay alert for frequent turns as you navigate between the two towns. There is no "longest stretch" to speak of, as the road requires constant engagement and focus on local traffic patterns. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that favors directness over high-speed cruising.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
4 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.5 mi on US 54,70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 54,70 and North White Sands Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alamogordo, NM to Tularosa, NM is easy. At 17m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alamogordo, NM to Tularosa, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.5 miles on US 54,70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NM can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alamogordo, NM to Tularosa, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tularosa, NM before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Explore more options from Alamogordo, NM or browse trips ending in Tularosa, NM.
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