Chisum Travel Center
0 mi from route
Trip from Gallup, NM to Jal, NM
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 17m
Distance
482.8 mi
777 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 9m
★
6 AM
9h 17m
8 AM
9h 34m
10 AM
9h 23m
12 PM
9h 22m
3 PM
9h 24m
5 PM
9h 33m
8 PM
9h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gallup, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Jal, NM
Afif Ramdhasuma
Trip Overview
Gallup, NM to Jal, NM is 482.8 miles and takes about 9h 17m via I 40 and Jal Highway, with a fuel budget near $69 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent landscape across New Mexico. You'll encounter a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a practical choice for a single-day push or a relaxed two-day trip. Given the duration, planning for at least one overnight stop is recommended to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
241.4 miles from Gallup, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 194.7 mi | 3h 20m |
| 8th Street | 91.9 mi | 1h 41m |
| Jal Highway | 51.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Southeast Main Street | 29.9 mi | 35m |
| US Highway 285 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Seven Rivers Highway | 26.3 mi | 29m |
| Oak Street | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| Potash Mines Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 194.7 mi, about 3h 20m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 94 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,924 veh/hr typical · worst 2,325
Quietest
2 AM
~252 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 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 Gallup, NM and Jal, NM.
1
Start on I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Historic Highway 66
2
Turn left onto NM 609
408 ft
·
6 sec
·
Miyamura Overpass
3
Continue on NM 609
429 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ford Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
195 mi
·
3 hr 20 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
7
Keep slight left at fork
470 ft
·
15 sec
8
Turn right onto US 285
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US Highway 285
9
Continue on US 60; US 285
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Oak Street
10
Continue on US 54; US 60; US 285
92 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
8th Street
11
Continue on US 285
6.9 mi
·
14 min
·
North Main Street
12
Turn slight left onto US 285
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
13
Continue on US 285
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
14
Continue on US 285
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
15
Continue on US 285
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
16
Continue on US 285
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
17
Continue on US 285
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
18
Continue on US 285
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pierce Street
19
Continue on US 285
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Canal Street
20
Continue on US 285
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Canal Street
21
Continue on US 285
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Pecos Highway
22
Turn left onto NM 31
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Potash Mines Road
23
Turn right onto NM 128
52 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Jal Highway
24
Continue on NM 128
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kansas Avenue
25
Turn right onto NM 205
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
North 3rd Street
26
Arrive at destination
NM 205
Trip Plan
With an estimated 9-hour drive time, breaking this trip into two days is a sensible approach. Aim to leave Gallup early to maximize your daylight hours. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point, allowing for a more relaxed second day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to the surface roads of Jal Highway, as services may become less frequent. The longest stretch on I 40 is nearly 200 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 241.4 miles from Gallup, NM, or about 4h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 106 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 241.4 miles or 4h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 241.4 miles or 4h 16m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jal, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gallup, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gallup, NM
Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jal, NM
Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Gallup, NM.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 194.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
241 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Roswell, NMOvernight Options
Night 1
241 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roswell, NM after about 241 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 241.4 miles from Gallup, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 194.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 241 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
US-285 Vaughn Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Mesa Rest Area
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Acomita Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Cline's Corners
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Lisa's Truck Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Dr. John Clarke Rest Area
1.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 482.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass
Turn left onto NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
196 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
5
196.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
482.3 mi into trip
|
~9h 16m in
|
NM 205 / North 3rd Street
Turn right onto NM 205 / North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.97 one way
$165.94 round trip
$4.37/gal
25.4 MPG avg
169 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $91.01 | $182.02 |
| premium | $5.12 | $97.30 | $194.60 |
| diesel | $6.14 | $116.67 | $233.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 144.8 | 1 | $50.69 | $23.17 |
| Efficient EV | 120.7 | 1 | $42.25 | $19.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 193.1 | 2 | $67.59 | $30.90 |
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Gallup, NM
Evening in Gallup on Sunday
Local time
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 0 to 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Jal, NM
Evening in Jal on Sunday
Local time
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
81°F
Roswell, NM
241 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
9h 17m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 133.2
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
El Malpais National Monument
National Monument
The richly diverse volcanic landscape of El Malpais (el-mal-pie-EES) offers solitude, recreation, and adventure. Explore incredible geologic features such as young lava flows, cinder cones, lava tubes...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 66.6
View on nps.gov
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
National Park
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when s...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$1
near mile 416.2
View on nps.gov
El Morro National Monument
National Monument
Imagine the refreshment of finding water after days of dusty travel. A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro (the headland) a popular campsite for hundreds of years....
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 33.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 46% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on I 40. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 194.7 miles on I 40. After leaving I 40, you'll transition to 8th Street and then Jal Highway, shifting to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a noticeable change in driving pace as you move from faster highway speeds to more moderate surface road travel.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 17m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,054 ft
3,073 ft
Total Climb
2,568 ft
Total Descent
6,005 ft
Highest Point
7,054 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,981 ft
Notable High Points
7,054 ft at ~34.5 miles
+544 ft prominence
6,693 ft at ~206.9 miles
+433 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Gallup, NM to Jal, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Fe along the way.
Santa Fe
196 mi in
|
~3h 23m
About the Cities
Starting in Gallup, NM
Full guide →Founded 1881
Gallup is an important gateway to the Navajo Nation and other nearby attractions in the state of New Mexico. Gallup has numerous trading posts and Indian-themed gift shops, and an abundance of natural scenery surrounding town. In 2020, it was home to 22,000 people.
Top landmarks
- • El Rancho Hotel & Motel — hotel building in Gallup in United States of America
- • United States Post Office — post office building in Gallup, United States of America
- • Gallup Commercial Historic District — historic district in New Mexico, United States
Arriving in Jal, NM
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 241 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
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 Jal, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 22 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: at 0.9 miles (NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument, El Malpais National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.3 hours each way, a round trip means 18.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jal, NM before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Jal, NM
Explore more options from Gallup, NM or browse trips ending in Jal, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.