Chaparral, NM to Belen, NM is 225 miles and takes about 4h 3m via I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward journey through New Mexico. Expect a highway-focused drive that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable route for most travelers. Plan for a budget of around $34 for fuel, making it an economical choice.
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
112.5 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
189.6 mi
3h 11m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.6 mi
17m
O'Hara Road
8 mi
11m
East Lisa Drive
4.7 mi
9m
I 25 Business
2.3 mi
4m
Prescott Anthony Drive
1 mi
3m
War Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Reinken Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 189.6 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~380 veh/hr typical
· worst 496
Quietest
1 AM
~40 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaparral, NM and Belen, NM.
1
Start on Prescott Anthony Drive
1.0 mi·3 min·Prescott Anthony Drive
2
Turn left onto East Lisa Drive
4.7 mi·9 min·East Lisa Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto NM 213
0.2 mi·22 sec·War Road
4
Enter roundabout onto NM 404
26 ft·0 sec·O'Hara Road
5
Continue on NM 404
8.0 mi·11 min·O'Hara Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
18 mi·17 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
9
Continue on I 25
26 mi·28 min·I 25
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
11
Merge onto I 25
164 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 25
12
Take the exit onto I 25 Business
2.3 mi·4 min·I 25 Business
Toward I 25: Belen
13
Turn left onto West Reinken Avenue
121 ft·13 sec·West Reinken Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
West Reinken Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 3m duration and 225-mile distance, this route is easily completed in a single day. Starting in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility. The longest stretch is nearly 190 miles on I 25, so plan your fuel stops accordingly. While there's only one suggested stop, you might want to consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on that long stretch of I 25, as services can be spaced out in this region.
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 112.5 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.6 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 50 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 8m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belen, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chaparral, 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 Chaparral, NM
This is one driving day of about 225 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Chaparral, 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 189.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 222.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~3m in|East Lisa Drive
Turn left onto East Lisa Drive
Navigation decision point
5
5.6 mi into trip|~13m in|NM 213 / War Road
At end of road, turn left onto NM 213 / War Road
Navigation decision point
6
5.9 mi into trip|~13m in|NM 404 / O'Hara Road
Enter roundabout onto NM 404 / O'Hara Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
31.7 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
4
222.7 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|I 25 Business
Take the exit onto I 25 Business toward I 25: Belen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 25: Belen
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.23 one way
$62.47 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$34.95
$69.89
premium
$4.29
$37.99
$75.99
diesel
$4.80
$42.48
$84.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.3
0
$19.69
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.50
$14.40
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Chaparral, NM
Night
in Chaparral on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 7 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:40AM MDT until July 18 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:40AM MDT until July 19 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Belen, NM
Night
in Belen on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 0 to 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:40AM MDT until July 18 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:40AM MDT until July 19 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey on major roads like I 25. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 189.6 miles on I 25, which means consistent speeds and minimal local traffic for a significant portion. While the main roads are highways, keep an eye out for the transition onto O'Hara Road. The drive offers efficiency for covering distance, with the majority of your time spent on well-maintained interstate.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189.6 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near East Lisa Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (East Lisa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (NM 213 / War Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (NM 404 / O'Hara Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,962 ft3,898 ft
Total Climb
1,309 ft
Total Descent
576 ft
Highest Point
4,962 ft
~128.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,064 ft
Notable High Points
4,384 ft at ~64.3 miles+59 ft prominence
4,362 ft at ~96.4 miles+2 ft prominence
4,962 ft at ~128.6 miles+59 ft prominence
4,922 ft at ~160.7 miles+20 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chaparral, NM to Belen, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Albuquerque
31.7 mi in|~43m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Belen is a town in central New Mexico, 30 miles south of Albuquerque. Belen was founded in 1740 as a small Spanish settlement. Nearly a century ago the town became the center of railroad operations in New Mexico, creating its nickname "The Hub City".
The longest stretch is about 189.6 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (East Lisa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (NM 213 / War Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (NM 404 / O'Hara Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Belen, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
