Enchanted Hills to Santa Clara is 247.9 miles and takes about 5h 8m via I 25 and NM 152, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region for its entirety. Expect a drive that is predominantly on highways, making for a relatively swift passage between these two points. It's a straightforward route well-suited for a single-day excursion, especially if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
124 miles from Enchanted Hills, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
177.8 mi
3h
NM 152
51.2 mi
1h 24m
Wrights Cabin Road
14.2 mi
34m
US 550
2.8 mi
4m
Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Safelite Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Safelite Boulevard Northeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Maple Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 177.8 mi, about 3h
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,104 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,621
Quietest
2 AM
~76 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 93 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 Enchanted Hills, NM and Santa Clara, NM.
1
Start on Albany Hills Drive Northeast
247 ft·16 sec·Albany Hills Drive Northeast
2
Turn left onto Bismark Hills Way
253 ft·13 sec·Bismark Hills Way
3
Turn right onto Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast
4
Turn left onto Safelite Road Northeast
0.3 mi·47 sec·Safelite Road Northeast
5
Continue on Safelite Boulevard Northeast
0.2 mi·34 sec·Safelite Boulevard Northeast
6
Turn right onto US 550
1.8 mi·3 min·US 550
7
Continue on US 550
0.1 mi·12 sec·US 550
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 550
0.9 mi·1 min·US 550
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 25 South
10
Merge onto I 25
178 mi·3 hr·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Hillsboro
12
Turn right onto NM 152
34 mi·54 min·NM 152
13
Continue on NM 90; FR 756
14 mi·34 min·Wrights Cabin Road
14
Continue on NM 152
18 mi·29 min·NM 152
15
Continue on Maple Street
528 ft·19 sec·Maple Street
16
Turn left onto Mineral Street
44 ft·1 sec·Mineral Street
17
Arrive at destination
Mineral Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, plan to depart in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. Given the majority of the route is highway, you might be tempted to push through, but remember there's one recommended stop to break up the 177.8-mile stretch on I 25. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Santa Clara, as services can become less frequent. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your preferences.
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 124 miles from Enchanted Hills, NM, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.8 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 55 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clara, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Enchanted Hills, 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 Enchanted Hills, NM
This is one driving day of about 247.9 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Enchanted Hills, 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 177.8 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 0 and 247.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Bismark Hills Way
Turn left onto Bismark Hills Way
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast
Turn right onto Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|US 550
Turn right onto US 550
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
247.9 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|Mineral Street
Turn left onto Mineral Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.60 one way
$85.20 round trip
$4.37/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$46.73
$93.46
premium
$5.12
$49.96
$99.92
diesel
$6.14
$59.91
$119.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.4
0
$26.03
$11.90
Efficient EV
62
0
$21.69
$9.92
EV Truck/SUV
99.2
1
$34.71
$15.87
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Enchanted Hills, NM
Night
in Enchanted Hills on Sunday
Local time
9:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Santa Clara, NM
Night
in Santa Clara on Sunday
Local time
9:03 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 5 to 8 mph18% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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 8m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 17.1
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 93% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on interstates and well-maintained roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 177.8 miles, which is on I 25. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads later in the trip, specifically when you leave I 25 for NM 152. Be prepared for a significant amount of time in the passing lane before reaching the more rural sections.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.8 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and NM 152. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bismark Hills Way.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m 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: near the start (Bismark Hills Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 550): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,281 ft4,348 ft
Total Climb
3,287 ft
Total Descent
2,601 ft
Highest Point
7,281 ft
~212.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,933 ft
Notable High Points
5,102 ft at ~35.4 miles+3 ft prominence
5,008 ft at ~141.7 miles+154 ft prominence
7,281 ft at ~212.5 miles+1,311 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 Enchanted Hills, NM to Santa Clara, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Hillsboro along the way.
The longest stretch is about 177.8 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 9 rest areas 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: near the start (Bismark Hills Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Enchanted Hills Boulevard Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 550): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Clara, NM before the return drive.
