Las Cruces to Paradise Hills is 236.4 miles and takes about 4 hours 9 minutes via I 25 and Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northeast, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within New Mexico's Desert Southwest region, offering a predominantly highway experience. You'll spend most of your time on Interstate 25, which is a straightforward path. Plan for a single-day trip, as the driving time is manageable.
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
118.2 miles from Las Cruces, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
225 mi
3h 48m
Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northeast
4.9 mi
6m
North Main Street
2.6 mi
5m
Paradise Boulevard Northwest
1.7 mi
3m
Eagle Ranch Road Northwest
0.2 mi
<1m
Elmhurst Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
<1m
Erlitz Drive Northwest
0.1 mi
<1m
North Church Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 225 mi, about 3h 48m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~715 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,027
Quietest
2 AM
~53 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Las Cruces, NM and Paradise Hills, NM.
1
Start on this road
284 ft·22 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
65 ft·10 sec
3
Turn left onto North Church Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Church Street
4
Enter roundabout onto NM 478
48 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
5
Continue on NM 478
2.6 mi·5 min·North Main Street
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 25 North: Albuquerque
7
Merge onto I 25
20 mi·21 min·I 25
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
9
Merge onto I 25
205 mi·3 hr 26 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 232Toward NM 423: Paseo del NorteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NM 423 West: Paseo del NorteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto NM 423
4.9 mi·6 min·Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northeast
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn right onto Eagle Ranch Road Northwest
0.2 mi·21 sec·Eagle Ranch Road Northwest
14
Turn left onto Paradise Boulevard Northwest
1.7 mi·3 min·Paradise Boulevard Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Erlitz Drive Northwest
0.1 mi·41 sec·Erlitz Drive Northwest
16
Turn left onto Ironwood Drive Northwest
337 ft·16 sec·Ironwood Drive Northwest
17
Turn right onto Elmhurst Drive Northwest
0.2 mi·38 sec·Elmhurst Drive Northwest
18
Arrive at destination
Elmhurst Drive Northwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Paradise Hills with daylight to spare. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you can cover significant ground before needing a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a major town could be around 225 miles on I 25. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time.
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 118.2 miles from Las Cruces, NM, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225 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 52 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.2 miles or 2h 4m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paradise Hills, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces, NM
This is one driving day of about 236.4 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Las Cruces, 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 225 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 228.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Church Street
Turn left onto North Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|NM 478 / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto NM 478 / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
228.4 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward NM 423: Paseo del Norte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 232
Toward NM 423: Paseo del Norte
7
228.6 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NM 423 West: Paseo del Norte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NM 423 West: Paseo del Norte
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.80 one way
$73.60 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.57
$81.14
premium
$4.71
$43.85
$87.69
diesel
$6.18
$57.51
$115.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.69
$9.46
EV Truck/SUV
94.6
1
$33.10
$15.13
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Las Cruces, NM
Morning
in Las Cruces on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNE 5 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Paradise Hills, NM
Morning
in Paradise Hills on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SE 0 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
45°F
Socorro, NM
118 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
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
4h 9m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 236.4
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 drive is almost entirely highway, with 95% of the 236.4 miles on interstates or major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 225 miles on I 25 before transitioning to Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northeast and North Main Street. Expect some urban merging as you approach your destination, but the bulk of the route is open cruising.
95% 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: 225 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and Paseo del Norte Boulevard Northeast. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 236.4 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NM 478 / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Las Cruces is a city in New Mexico. The name means "the crosses" in Spanish. It is the state's second largest city, with a population of over 111,000 (in 2020), and is the site of New Mexico State University.
Top landmarks
•Rio Grande Theatre — movie theater in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
•Mesilla Park Elementary School — school building in Las Cruces, New Mexico
•Mesilla Park Historic District — historic district in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 236.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paradise Hills, 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. There are 13 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NM 478 / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Paradise Hills, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
