Chaparral, NM to Los Chavez, NM is 229.7 miles and takes about 4h 11m 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 New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost under $40, this route is ideal for a quick, efficient transit.
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
114.8 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m 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
4.4 mi
7m
NM 314
2.5 mi
4m
Prescott Anthony Drive
1 mi
3m
War Road
0.2 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 Los Chavez, 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
4.4 mi·7 min·I 25 Business
Toward I 25: Belen
13
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 314
2.5 mi·4 min·NM 314
14
Turn left onto Square Deal Road
0.1 mi·26 sec·Square Deal Road
15
Arrive at destination
Square Deal Road
Trip Plan
Leaving Chaparral in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Los Chavez. While this 4h 11m drive can be completed in one day, consider an early start to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. The longest stretch without a major exit is nearly 190 miles on I 25, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before you begin this segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but it's wise to plan for a break midway through the longest highway portion.
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 114.8 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 2h 10m 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Chavez, 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 229.7 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 10
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
$31.89 one way
$63.77 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$35.68
$71.35
premium
$4.29
$38.79
$77.57
diesel
$4.80
$43.37
$86.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.12
$11.03
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.10
$9.19
EV Truck/SUV
91.9
1
$32.16
$14.70
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Chaparral on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then 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
Los Chavez, NM
Late night
in Los Chavez on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph37% 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 11m 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.
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...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 229.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 86% of this 229.7-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on I 25 covers 189.6 miles. After this, you'll transition to surface roads like O'Hara Road. Given the high highway percentage, expect mostly cruising with fewer exits for extended periods, punctuated by the final section on local roads.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near East Lisa Drive.
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 229.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 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
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,014 ft3,900 ft
Total Climb
1,453 ft
Total Descent
703 ft
Highest Point
5,014 ft
~164 mi in
Elevation Range
1,114 ft
Notable High Points
4,376 ft at ~65.6 miles+73 ft prominence
4,907 ft at ~131.2 miles+100 ft prominence
5,014 ft at ~164 miles+207 ft prominence
4,835 ft at ~213.2 miles+11 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 Los Chavez, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 229.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 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.
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.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Los Chavez, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
