Moriarty to Farmington is 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 12m via US 550 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a straightforward trip. It's a single-day route that's efficient for getting from point A to point B.
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
108.2 miles from Moriarty, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 550
151.6 mi
2h 50m
I 40
34.1 mi
37m
West Broadway Boulevard
11.3 mi
15m
Pan American Freeway
11.1 mi
11m
San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi
6m
East Broadway Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
Howard Cavazos Boulevard South
1.1 mi
2m
West Broadway Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 550
— 151.6 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moriarty, NM and Farmington, NM.
1
Start on 4th Street
141 ft·8 sec·4th Street
2
Turn right onto Center Avenue
292 ft·10 sec·Center Avenue
3
Turn right onto NM 41
1.1 mi·2 min·Howard Cavazos Boulevard South
4
Continue on NM 41
0.3 mi·38 sec·Howard Cavazos Boulevard North
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
34 mi·37 min·I 40
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 161Toward San Mateo BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi·6 min·San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
353 ft·6 sec·Pan American Freeway Northeast
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa FeUse the straight / left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 25
11 mi·11 min·Pan American Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 242Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
14
Continue on US 550
1.7 mi·3 min·US 550
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 550
150 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 550
16
Turn left onto US 64
11 mi·15 min·West Broadway Boulevard
17
Turn slight right onto US 64 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·East Broadway Avenue
18
Continue on US 64 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 64 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 12m driving time, leaving in the morning from Moriarty is ideal to give you plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps midway through the longest stretch on US 550. The fuel cost is estimated at $32, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, as services can be spread out. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility to depart when you're ready, but aim to start early to maximize your day.
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 108.2 miles from Moriarty, NM, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.6 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 48 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 7m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Farmington, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moriarty, 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 Moriarty, NM
This is one driving day of about 216.5 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Moriarty, 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 US 550 for about 151.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.8 and 51.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
35.8 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward San Mateo Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward San Mateo Boulevard
6
36.1 mi into trip|~42m in|San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
39.4 mi into trip|~48m in|Pan American Freeway Northeast
Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.05 one way
$60.11 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$33.63
$67.25
premium
$4.29
$36.56
$73.12
diesel
$4.80
$40.88
$81.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.73
$10.39
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.94
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.31
$13.86
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Moriarty, NM
Late night
in Moriarty on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 0 to 5 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 3:30AM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:45AM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Farmington, NM
Late night
in Farmington on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 3:30AM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:45AM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
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
3 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
4h 12m 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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 37.3
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
Aztec Ruins has some of the best-preserved Chacoan structures of its kind. Learn more about the ancestral Pueblo people in the park's museum and explore the Aztec West great house to see exceptionally...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 201.5
Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through hiking & biking trails, rang...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$25
near mile 164.2
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$25
near mile 67.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 91% highway, so expect a lot of time cruising. The longest stretch without a turn is 151.6 miles on US 550. You'll transition from I 40 to US 550, and then to West Broadway Boulevard as you enter Farmington. Expect a relatively rural feel for much of the drive before reaching your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.6 mi on US 550.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 550 and I 40. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.8 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 216.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 35.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles (Pan American Freeway Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,272 ft5,111 ft
Total Climb
3,270 ft
Total Descent
4,192 ft
Highest Point
7,272 ft
~123.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,161 ft
Notable High Points
6,860 ft at ~15.5 miles+640 ft prominence
7,272 ft at ~123.7 miles+496 ft prominence
7,245 ft at ~154.6 miles+469 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Moriarty, NM and Farmington, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.
Farmington is a town in the northwest region of the state of New Mexico. It is notable as a gateway to Navajo Nation and the Four Corners area, and as a center for folk art, particularly Navajo weavings. Attractions associated with the nearby towns of Aztec, Bloomfield, Kirtland and Shiprock, about the nearest things that highly rural northwestern New Mexico has to "suburbs," are also covered in this article.
Top landmarks
•Farmington Historic Downtown Commercial District — historic district in Farmington, New Mexico, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 216.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.6 miles on US 550. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Farmington, 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 7 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 35.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles (Pan American Freeway Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Farmington, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
