Origin
Gallup, NM
Evening in Gallup on Saturday
Local time
7:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gallup, NM to Santa Teresa, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 39m
Distance
376.1 mi
605 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 27m
★
6 AM
6h 39m
8 AM
7h 3m
10 AM
6h 48m
12 PM
6h 45m
3 PM
6h 49m
5 PM
7h 2m
8 PM
6h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gallup, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Teresa, NM
El Puerto de Santa María
Trip Overview
This 376.1-mile drive from Gallup, NM, to Santa Teresa, NM, will take you approximately 6 hours and 39 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily utilizing I-40 and I-25, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, especially given its Desert Southwest to Desert Southwest progression. With an estimated fuel cost of $57, it’s an economical option for covering ground. The road is mostly highway, making it a straightforward journey for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single main stop along the way to break up the 204.7-mile longest stretch.
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
188 miles from Gallup, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 25 | 204.7 mi | 3h 28m |
| I 40 | 103.4 mi | 1h 44m |
| State Road 6 | 30.6 mi | 39m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 18.9 mi | 18m |
| Camino Real de Tierra Adentro | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| Artcraft Road | 3 mi | 3m |
| South Desert Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| McNutt Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 204.7 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gallup, NM and Santa Teresa, 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
205 mi
·
3 hr 28 min
·
I 25
12
Merge onto I 10
19 mi
·
18 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 10; US 85; US 180
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
15
Turn straight onto South Desert Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Desert Boulevard
16
Turn right onto TX 178
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Artcraft Road
17
Continue on NM 136
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Peter V. Domenici International Highway
18
Turn left onto NM 273
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
McNutt Road
19
Turn right onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
20
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
192 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Country Club Road
21
Continue on North Country Club Road
416 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Country Club Road
22
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Apache Gold Loop
23
Arrive at destination
North Apache Gold Loop
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 39-minute duration, starting early is recommended to comfortably complete this 376.1-mile trip in one day. With only one recommended stop, you’ll want to make it count for fuel and a quick break. The bulk of your travel will be on I-25, which has a 204.7-mile segment without major town exits, so ensure you're fueled up before entering this longer stretch. The estimated fuel cost of $57 makes this an affordable day trip, but keep an eye on your gauge as you traverse the expansive New Mexico landscape.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188 miles from Gallup, NM, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204.7 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 83 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Teresa, 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 376.1 miles and 6h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 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 204.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
188 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 188 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 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 204.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 375.8 — 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
369.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m in
|
TX 178 / Artcraft Road
Turn right onto TX 178 / Artcraft Road
Navigation decision point
5
375.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m in
|
North Country Club Road
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
375.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m in
|
North Apache Gold Loop
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.80 one way
$113.60 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $62.35 | $124.71 |
| premium | $4.56 | $67.51 | $135.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.04 | $166.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.8 | 1 | $39.49 | $18.05 |
| Efficient EV | 94 | 1 | $32.91 | $15.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.4 | 1 | $52.65 | $24.07 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
Santa Teresa, NM
Evening in Santa Teresa on Saturday
Local time
7:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Socorro, NM
188 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
15 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
6h 39m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 64.8
Caution: NPS 300 Road Conditions
Park Closure: All lava tube caves closed November 1 through April 30
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 129.7
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
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 51.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 82% of this journey. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, specifically I-40 and I-25, offering consistent speeds and a direct path. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 204.7 miles on I-25, so be prepared for extended periods of highway travel. While largely interstate, the landscape of the Desert Southwest will be your constant companion. This route is designed for making good time rather than winding scenic byways.
82% 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: 204.7 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 Effort
3/10
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 6h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 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 104.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 369.6 miles (TX 178 / Artcraft Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 39m. Total distance: 376.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 39m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204.7 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 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 Santa Teresa, 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 0.9 miles (NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass): Navigation decision point; at 104.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 369.6 miles (TX 178 / Artcraft Road): Navigation decision point.
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 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Teresa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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