Origin
Navajo, NM
Evening in Navajo on Saturday
Local time
8:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Navajo, NM to Gallup, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
43.9 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Navajo, NM
Ambient Vista
Gallup, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 43.9 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest, this trip from Navajo to Gallup is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Since the entire drive stays within New Mexico, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stops. You can expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable excursion for those exploring the region. Navigation is uncomplicated, relying on a combination of Navajo Route 12, New Mexico State Road 264, and US 491. Whether you are commuting or just exploring, the modest duration offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo Route 12 | 16.6 mi | 27m |
| New Mexico State Road 264 | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| US 491 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Cleveland Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Maloney Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Poplar Avenue | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Arizona State Highway 264 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Navajo Route 12
— 16.6 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Navajo, NM and Gallup, NM.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Poplar Avenue
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Poplar Avenue
3
Turn right onto N12
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Cleveland Boulevard
4
Continue on N12
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Navajo Route 12
5
At end of road, turn left onto N12
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Navajo Route 12
6
Turn left onto AZ 264
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
7
Continue on NM 264
16 mi
·
20 min
·
New Mexico State Road 264
8
Continue on US 491
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
US 491
9
Turn left onto NM 609
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Maloney Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto NM 610
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 3rd Street
11
Turn left onto I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Historic Highway 66
12
Arrive at destination
I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Navajo, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 43.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Poplar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Poplar Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
N12 / Cleveland Boulevard
Turn right onto N12 / Cleveland Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
42.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
NM 609 / West Maloney Avenue
Turn left onto NM 609 / West Maloney Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
43.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
NM 610 / South 3rd Street
Turn right onto NM 610 / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
43.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist / West Historic Highway 66
Turn left onto I 40 BUS; NM 118; US 66 Hist / West Historic Highway 66
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.63 one way
$13.26 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.28 | $14.56 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.69 | $19.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gallup, NM
Evening in Gallup on Saturday
Local time
8:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
35 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
1h 6m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed-road experience, transitioning between smaller local routes and larger highways. With a highway share of 55%, you will experience a balance of slower, localized driving and more sustained speeds. The longest uninterrupted section occurs early on, covering 16.6 miles along Navajo Route 12. As you transition from Navajo Route 12 onto NM State Road 264 and eventually US 491, the character of the road shifts to accommodate different traffic levels. Expect a steady, practical drive that lacks the intensity of major interstate congestion, allowing you to focus on the road ahead.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.6 mi on Navajo Route 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Poplar Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Navajo, NM to Gallup, NM is easy. At 1h 6m with 55% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Poplar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (N12 / Cleveland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 42.7 miles (NM 609 / West Maloney Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.6 miles on Navajo Route 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.2 miles (Poplar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (N12 / Cleveland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 42.7 miles (NM 609 / West Maloney Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gallup, NM before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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