Origin
Rio Rancho, NM
Night in Rio Rancho on Saturday
Local time
10:24 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Rancho, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12.8 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Rancho, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 12.8 miles from Rio Rancho to Albuquerque is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 24 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Desert Southwest, you will remain in the same high-desert climate throughout the entire trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated travel logistics. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is a highly economical way to commute between these two New Mexico hubs. You will primarily navigate via 2nd Street Northwest, Alameda Boulevard Northwest, and 3rd Street Northwest to reach your destination. Overall, this is a practical and efficient route for anyone looking to transition between these neighboring cities without any unnecessary delays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Street Northwest | 6.2 mi | 11m |
| Alameda Boulevard Northwest | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| 3rd Street Northwest | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| New Mexico State Road 528 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pat D'Arco Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Sara Road Southeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 35th Circle Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
2nd Street Northwest
— 6.2 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Rancho, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on 35th Circle Southeast
143 ft
·
8 sec
·
35th Circle Southeast
2
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sara Road Southeast
3
Turn right onto NM 528
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Pat D'Arco Highway
4
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 528
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
New Mexico State Road 528
5
Continue on NM 528
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Alameda Boulevard Northwest
6
Turn right onto NM 47
6.2 mi
·
11 min
·
2nd Street Northwest
7
Continue on 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street Northwest
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northwest
216 ft
·
7 sec
·
Central Avenue Northwest
9
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sara Road Southeast
Turn right onto Sara Road Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NM 528 / Pat D'Arco Highway
Turn right onto NM 528 / Pat D'Arco Highway
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NM 528 / New Mexico State Road 528
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 528 / New Mexico State Road 528
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
NM 47 / 2nd Street Northwest
Turn right onto NM 47 / 2nd Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
3
12.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Central Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.93 one way
$3.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.12 | $4.24 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.30 | $4.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.83 | $5.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Albuquerque, NM
Night in Albuquerque on Saturday
Local time
10:24 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
33 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
24m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating local streets, which requires more attention than a standard highway trek. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 6.2-mile stretch along 2nd Street Northwest. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, you should prepare for a series of turns that define the character of this transit. It is a functional, steady drive that keeps you moving through the local landscape rather than bypassing it at high speeds.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.2 mi on 2nd Street Northwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sara Road Southeast.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sara Road Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (NM 528 / Pat D'Arco Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (NM 528 / New Mexico State Road 528): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,276 ft
4,955 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
322 ft
Highest Point
5,276 ft
Elevation Range
322 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 12.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.2 miles on 2nd Street Northwest. 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: near the start (Sara Road Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (NM 528 / Pat D'Arco Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (NM 528 / New Mexico State Road 528): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albuquerque, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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