Gallup, NM to Radium Springs, NM is 324.1 miles and takes about 5h 42m via I 40 and I 25, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, making for a straightforward trip. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, this is a very manageable one-day excursion.
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
162 miles from Gallup, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
183.9 mi
3h 3m
I 40
103.4 mi
1h 44m
State Road 6
30.6 mi
39m
Main Street Northwest
1.4 mi
2m
East Historic Highway 66
0.9 mi
2m
Frodo Place
0.8 mi
3m
De Beers
0.6 mi
2m
Main Street Southwest
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 183.9 mi, about 3h 3m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~381 veh/hr typical
· worst 528
Quietest
1 AM
~41 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.3×
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 Gallup, NM and Radium Springs, 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
103 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 40
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward NM 6: Los Lunas
7
Turn right onto NM 6
31 mi·39 min·State Road 6
8
Continue on NM 6
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street Northwest
9
Continue on NM 6
0.5 mi·51 sec·Main Street Southwest
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
11
Merge onto I 25
184 mi·3 hr 3 min·I 25
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Radium Springs
13
Turn right onto NM 157
0.3 mi·31 sec·Fort Selden Road
14
Turn uturn onto Desert Edge Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·Desert Edge Road
15
Turn left onto Frodo Place
0.8 mi·3 min·Frodo Place
16
At end of road, turn left onto De Beers
0.6 mi·2 min·De Beers
17
Turn left onto County Road D006
0.3 mi·1 min·County Road D006
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Leaving Gallup early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid any potential afternoon weather. With a total drive time of under 6 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing to break it up. Plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 183.9-mile stretch on I-25, as services can be spaced out in this region.
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 162 miles from Gallup, NM, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183.9 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 71 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162 miles or 2h 54m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Radium Springs, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gallup, NM
This is one driving day of about 324.1 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Gallup, 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 183.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 322.3 — 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
4
104.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward NM 6: Los Lunas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NM 6: Los Lunas
4
321.7 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward Radium Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Radium Springs
4
322 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|NM 157 / Fort Selden Road
Turn right onto NM 157 / Fort Selden Road
Navigation decision point
7
322.3 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|Desert Edge Road
Turn uturn onto Desert Edge Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.81 one way
$99.63 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$55.10
$110.19
premium
$4.65
$59.29
$118.59
diesel
$5.35
$68.27
$136.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Chaco Canyon Trading Co - Tesla Supercharger
Milan, NM
Tesla
15 DCFC
Gallup, NM Rechargery Relay - W Maloney Ave
Gallup, NM
IONNA
10 DCFC
Belen, NM Rechargery Relay - S Main St
Belen, NM
IONNA
10 DCFC
Best Western Socorro Hotel & Suites - Tesla Supercharger
Socorro, NM
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Truth or Consequences - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.2
1
$34.03
$15.56
Efficient EV
81
0
$28.36
$12.96
EV Truck/SUV
129.6
1
$45.37
$20.74
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Gallup, NM
Afternoon
in Gallup on Wednesday
Local time
1:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance T-storms
SE 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued June 3 at 5:17AM CDT until June 3 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued June 3 at 2:06AM MDT until June 3 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Radium Springs, NM
Afternoon
in Radium Springs on Wednesday
Local time
1:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 3 to 8 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued June 3 at 5:17AM CDT until June 3 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued June 3 at 2:06AM MDT until June 3 at 10:00PM 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
9 degrees warmer 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 134.1
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 33.5
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 driving, with 89% of the 324.1 miles on interstates like I-40 and I-25. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 183.9 miles, all on I-25. Expect a significant portion of the drive to be on these high-speed roads before transitioning to State Road 6 for the final leg. You'll notice the highway infrastructure gives way as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 183.9 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and I 40. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 42m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass): Navigation decision point; at 104.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 321.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 183.9 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 12 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 104.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 321.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — El Malpais National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument and El Morro National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Radium Springs, NM before the return drive.
