Chaparral, NM to Chimayo, NM is 346.2 miles and takes about 6h 23m via I 25 and Taos Highway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, primarily traversing New Mexico. Expect a mostly highway experience for the bulk of your trip, transitioning to more rural roads as you approach your destination. It's a straightforward, single-day trip with a manageable duration and cost, making it a practical option for a quick journey through the state.
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
173.1 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
281.5 mi
4h 46m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.6 mi
17m
Taos Highway
12.2 mi
14m
O'Hara Road
8 mi
11m
Santa Fe Highway
6.3 mi
9m
East Lisa Drive
4.7 mi
9m
La Puebla Road
2.8 mi
6m
North Saint Francis Drive
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 281.5 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~704 veh/hr typical
· worst 861
Quietest
2 AM
~57 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Chimayo, 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
255 mi·4 hr 18 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 84, US 285 North
13
Keep slight left at fork
4.2 mi·8 min
Toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanola, Taos
14
Continue on US 84; US 285
2.4 mi·3 min·North Saint Francis Drive
15
Continue on US 84; US 285
12 mi·14 min·Taos Highway
16
Continue on US 84; US 285
6.3 mi·9 min·Santa Fe Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto La Puebla Road
2.8 mi·6 min·La Puebla Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto NM 76
1.7 mi·3 min·Santa Cruz Road
19
Continue on NM 76
1.8 mi·3 min·Route 76
20
Arrive at destination
NM 76
Trip Plan
Given the 6 hour 23 minute drive time, departing in the morning is advisable to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire trip. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 281.5 miles on I 25, you can plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps stopping mid-way through that long interstate segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $47, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Chaparral. As you transition from I 25 to the Taos Highway, be aware of potential changes in speed limits and road conditions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.1 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 281.5 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 76 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.1 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chimayo, 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 346.2 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 281.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 314.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
314.8 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanola, Taos
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84, US 285 North: Los Alamos, Espanol...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.06 one way
$96.12 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$53.77
$107.54
premium
$4.29
$58.46
$116.92
diesel
$4.80
$65.37
$130.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.9
1
$36.35
$16.62
Efficient EV
86.6
0
$30.29
$13.85
EV Truck/SUV
138.5
1
$48.47
$22.16
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Chaparral, NM
Late night
in Chaparral on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 12 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 1:55PM MDT until July 15 at 3:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Chimayo, NM
Late night
in Chimayo on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
87°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 1:55PM MDT until July 15 at 3:00PM 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petroglyph National Monument
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 262.6
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
The Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. Most of this development took...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 334.2
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$25
near mile 334.2
Pecos is a natural and cultural crossroads through which hunters, gatherers, traders, missionaries, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers, and other travelers passed and lived. Follow in their footsteps and...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 322.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 82% of the drive on major roads like I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 281.5 miles on I 25, offering a consistent cruising experience for a significant portion of the trip. The shift to surface roads, like the Taos Highway, will occur after you've covered the majority of the mileage. Keep an eye out for the transition from high-speed interstate travel to more winding, two-lane roads as you near Chimayo.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 281.5 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near NM 213 / War Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 346.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,312 ft3,903 ft
Total Climb
3,610 ft
Total Descent
1,614 ft
Highest Point
7,312 ft
~321.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,410 ft
Notable High Points
4,865 ft at ~123.6 miles+46 ft prominence
7,312 ft at ~321.4 miles+1,243 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chaparral, NM and Chimayo, NM, road signs point toward Albuquerque, Espanola and Taos.
Chimayó is a small town in North Central New Mexico. At the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Chimayó is most well-known for its famed church that has a reputation for delivering miracles. Originally a Spanish farming settlement, Chimayó is part of a string of villages along NM 76 that haven't changed much over the course of time, offering a unique look at life in such a setting.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 346.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 281.5 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Chimayo, NM before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
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 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; at 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument, Manhattan Project National Historical Park and Bandelier National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chimayo, NM before the return drive.
