Spanning 313.3 miles, this trek from Chaparral to Grants takes roughly 5 hours and 42 minutes of pure road time. Because the journey remains entirely within the Desert Southwest, you will experience a consistent landscape as you navigate across New Mexico. With a fuel budget of approximately $48, this trip is manageable as a single-day drive if you start early. You will primarily utilize I-25, I-40, and State Road 6 to reach your destination. While it is certainly possible to power through in one go, planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the long stretch of highway driving.
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
156.7 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
202.6 mi
3h 24m
I 40
41 mi
41m
State Road 6
30.7 mi
39m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.6 mi
17m
O'Hara Road
8 mi
11m
East Lisa Drive
4.7 mi
9m
I 40 Business
3 mi
4m
Main Street Northwest
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 202.6 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaparral, NM and Grants, 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
176 mi·2 hr 56 min·I 25
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward NM 6: Los Lunas
13
Turn left onto NM 6
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street Southwest
14
Continue on NM 6
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street Northwest
15
Continue on NM 6
31 mi·39 min·State Road 6
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
17
Merge onto I 40
41 mi·41 min·I 40
18
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·I 40 Business
Toward I 40, NM 547: Grants, Mount Taylor
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 Business
2.8 mi·4 min·I 40 Business
Toward Grants
20
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·5th Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto San Jose Drive
397 ft·17 sec·San Jose Drive
22
Keep slight right at fork onto San Jose Drive
0.1 mi·27 sec·San Jose Drive
23
Arrive at destination
San Jose Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 313.3-mile trip, aim to hit the road early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion. Since the route includes one recommended stop, use that time to refuel and stretch your legs, especially after completing the 202.6-mile I-25 segment. Because you are traveling through the New Mexico desert, ensure your vehicle is prepared for long stretches between service areas and keep an eye on your fuel gauge relative to your $48 budget. Flexibility is your best asset on this drive; by keeping your pace steady, you can comfortably reach Grants before the day is out without feeling rushed.
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 156.7 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.6 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 69 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grants, 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 313.3 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 202.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 313.1 — 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
310 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|I 40 Business
Take the exit onto I 40 Business toward I 40, NM 547: Grants, Mount Taylor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40, NM 547: Grants, Mount Taylor
6
313.1 mi into trip|~5h 41m in|San Jose Drive
At end of road, turn left onto San Jose Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.32 one way
$94.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$51.94
$103.88
premium
$4.56
$56.23
$112.47
diesel
$5.61
$69.17
$138.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94
1
$32.90
$15.04
Efficient EV
78.3
0
$27.41
$12.53
EV Truck/SUV
125.3
1
$43.86
$20.05
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Chaparral, NM
Evening
in Chaparral on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Grants, NM
Evening
in Grants on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Socorro, NM
157 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 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
5h 42m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 79% of your journey is spent on major interstates. You will face a significant, uninterrupted 202.6-mile stretch on I-25, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. The route shifts in character as you transition from the interstate system onto the local segments of State Road 6, providing a change of pace from the high-speed transit. This is a practical drive designed for efficiency rather than technical complexity. Keep your focus sharp during the long interstate portions, as the consistent road rhythm requires steady attention.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 202.6 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and I 40. You will hit about 15 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 Effort6/10
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 313.3 miles you will encounter 15 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
6,452 ft3,930 ft
Total Climb
3,058 ft
Total Descent
679 ft
Highest Point
6,452 ft
~313.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,522 ft
Notable High Points
4,370 ft at ~65.3 miles+141 ft prominence
4,936 ft at ~143.6 miles+9 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 Grants, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Grants is a small town in western New Mexico, United States. It is one of the stops along the historic Route 66 highway west of Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 313.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 202.6 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Grants, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Grants, NM before the return drive.
