Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
35.9 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gallup, NM
Wikimedia Commons
South Chaves, NM
Newman Photographs
Gallup, NM to South Chaves, NM is 35.9 miles and takes about 41 minutes via I 40 and State Highway 122, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Desert Southwest region, making it a straightforward connection. You'll primarily be on the interstate, so expect a quick transit. It's a simple, efficient hop that doesn't require extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 29.8 mi | 30m |
| Frontage Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 122 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Historic Highway 66 | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Ford Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Miyamura Overpass | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Highway 371 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gallup, NM and South Chaves, NM.
Start on I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist
Turn left onto NM 609
Continue on NM 609
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Turn left onto NM 371
Turn right onto NM 122
Continue on NM 122
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 31.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward NM 612, NM 371: Thoreau
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto NM 371 / State Highway 371
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto NM 122 / State Highway 122
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.14 one way
$12.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $6.77 | $13.53 |
| premium | $5.11 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| diesel | $6.13 | $8.67 | $17.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Gallup on Tuesday
Local time
2:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in South Chaves on Tuesday
Local time
2:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is mostly highway, with 88% of the driving taking place on I 40. You'll experience a longest stretch of 29.8 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the drive, with exits spaced out on the interstate portion.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Frontage Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gallup, NM to South Chaves, NM is easy. At 41m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (NM 609 / Miyamura Overpass): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
740 ft
Total Descent
241 ft
Highest Point
7,219 ft
~28.2 mi in
Elevation Range
709 ft
Notable High Points
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 35.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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