Cline's Corners
0.2 mi from route
Trip from Santa Fe, NM to Tularosa, NM
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
204.1 mi
329 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 12m
★
6 AM
4h 25m
8 AM
4h 52m
10 AM
4h 35m
12 PM
4h 32m
3 PM
4h 36m
5 PM
4h 51m
8 PM
4h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Fe, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Tularosa, NM
Bjorn Pierre
Trip Overview
Santa Fe to Tularosa is 204.1 miles and takes about 4h 25m via US 285 and US 54, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent regional feel for its entire 204.1 miles. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. Plan for about 4.5 hours of driving time, plus any stops you might want to make along the way.
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
102.1 miles from Santa Fe, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 285 | 68.7 mi | 1h 21m |
| US 54 | 66.4 mi | 1h 34m |
| Central Avenue | 43.8 mi | 51m |
| NM 3 | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| I 25 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| Old Pecos Trail | 3 mi | 5m |
| Old Santa Fe Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Saint Francis Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 285
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 21m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,077 veh/hr typical · worst 1,341
Quietest
2 AM
~42 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 78 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 Santa Fe, NM and Tularosa, NM.
1
Start on East San Francisco Street
294 ft
·
11 sec
·
East San Francisco Street
2
Turn right onto Cathedral Place
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cathedral Place
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Alameda Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Alameda Street
4
Turn left onto Old Santa Fe Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Santa Fe Trail
5
Continue on Old Pecos Trail
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Pecos Trail
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
7
Merge onto I 25
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 25
8
Take the exit onto US 285
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 285
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 285
69 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
US 285
10
Turn right onto NM 3
14 mi
·
21 min
·
NM 3
11
Turn right onto US 54
66 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
US 54
12
Continue on US 54
44 mi
·
51 min
·
Central Avenue
13
Take the ramp onto US 54
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Saint Francis Drive
14
Arrive at destination
US 54; US 70
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Santa Fe in the morning allows ample time to reach Tularosa before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 68.7-mile stretch on US 285, as services can be spaced out in this region. The fuel cost is estimated around $30, so factor that into your budget. It’s a manageable single-day trip, but don't hesitate to pull over if you see something that catches your eye.
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 102.1 miles from Santa Fe, NM, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.1 miles or 2h 9m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tularosa, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM
This is one driving day of about 204.1 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Santa Fe, 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 285 for about 68.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.1 miles from Santa Fe, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 285 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cathedral Place
Turn right onto Cathedral Place
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Alameda Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Alameda Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Old Santa Fe Trail
Turn left onto Old Santa Fe Trail
Navigation decision point
4
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
4
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 285
Keep slight right at fork onto US 285
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.77 one way
$63.54 round trip
$3.95/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.03 | $70.05 |
| premium | $4.71 | $37.85 | $75.71 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $49.65 | $99.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.43 | $9.80 |
| Efficient EV | 51 | 0 | $17.86 | $8.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.6 | 1 | $28.57 | $13.06 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Santa Fe, NM
Morning in Santa Fe on Tuesday
Local time
6:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Tularosa, NM
Morning in Tularosa on Tuesday
Local time
6:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 25m 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.
Pecos National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Pecos is a natural and cultural crossroads through which hunters, gatherers, traders, missionaries, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers, and other travelers passed and lived. Follow in their footsteps and...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 14.1
View on nps.gov
Bandelier National Monument
National Monument
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
$25
View on nps.gov
Manhattan Project National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. Most of this development took...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
White Sands National Park
National Park
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
$25
near mile 204.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 204.1 miles on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 68.7 miles on US 285, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The route transitions to more surface roads, like Central Avenue, after the highway segments. Expect a rural feel with fewer exits for significant portions of the drive.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.7 mi on US 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and US 54. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cathedral Place.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cathedral Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Alameda Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (Old Santa Fe Trail): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,998 ft
4,503 ft
Total Climb
997 ft
Total Descent
3,485 ft
Highest Point
6,998 ft
Elevation Range
2,495 ft
Notable High Points
6,952 ft at ~43.7 miles
+94 ft prominence
6,846 ft at ~116.6 miles
+405 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Fe, NM
Full guide →Founded 1610
Santa Fe, founded in 1607, is the capital of the state of New Mexico and its principal tourist destination, renowned for its confluence of scenic beauty, long history (at least by American standards), cultural diversity, and extraordinary concentration of arts, music and fine dining. With an elevation of 7,000 ft (2,100 m), it is not only the United States' oldest state capital but its highest, sitting at the foot of the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Mountains. And with a population of about 85,000 (2019), it's not the most populous capital, but that's part of its charm.
Top landmarks
- • San Miguel Mission — historic adobe church
- • Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi — cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- • Palace of the Governors — building in Santa Fe
Arriving in Tularosa, NM
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Tularosa Original Townsite District — historic district in New Mexico, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 204.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.7 miles on US 285. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (Cathedral Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Alameda Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (Old Santa Fe Trail): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pecos National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Tularosa, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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