Gorge Overlook Rest Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Solo, NM to Taos Ski Valley, NM
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
9 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Solo, NM
Yaroslav Shuraev
Taos Ski Valley, NM
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
Solo to Taos Ski Valley is 49 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via NM 567 and US 64, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you through the Desert Southwest region of New Mexico, transitioning from high desert landscapes to mountain approaches. Given its short distance and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. Plan for a quick departure to maximize your time at the destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
24.5 miles from Solo, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NM 567 | 9 mi | 15m |
| US 64 | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| NM 150 | 7.7 mi | 14m |
| US 285 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Upper Rim Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| Rim Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| NM 230 | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| County Road Cb-115 | 2.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
NM 567
— 9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Solo, NM and Taos Ski Valley, NM.
1
Start on this road
1.6 mi
·
6 min
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto US 285
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 285
3
Turn right onto NM 567
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
NM 567
4
Turn left onto Taos County Rd Cb-115
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Taos County Rd Cb-115
5
Continue on Taos County Road Cb-115
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Taos County Road Cb-115
6
Continue on County Road Cb-115
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road Cb-115
7
Continue on Taos County Road Cb-115
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Taos County Road Cb-115
8
Continue on Taos County Rd Cb-115
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Taos County Rd Cb-115
9
Continue on County Road Cb-115
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
County Road Cb-115
10
Continue on CR 115
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Upper Rim Road
11
Turn right onto US 64
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US 64
12
Turn straight
281 ft
·
6 sec
13
Turn left onto NM 522
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
NM 522
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Valencia Road
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Valencia Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto NM 230
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
NM 230
16
Continue on NM 230
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Rim Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto NM 150
7.7 mi
·
14 min
·
NM 150
18
Turn right onto Firehouse Road
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
Firehouse Road
19
Turn straight
44 ft
·
3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 32 minute drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal to allow for a full day at Taos Ski Valley. Since this is a short, single-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. There are no specified stops, so consider fueling up before you leave Solo, as services might be more limited closer to the ski valley. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you begin the ascent on NM 150, where services are less frequent.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24.5 miles from Solo, NM, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9 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 11 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.5 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Taos Ski Valley, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Solo, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Solo, NM
This is one driving day of about 49 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Solo, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NM 567 for about 9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Solo, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Taos, New Mexico
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+15757582690
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 36.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 285
Turn sharp left onto US 285
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
16.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Taos County Rd Cb-115
Turn left onto Taos County Rd Cb-115
Navigation decision point
4
24.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 64
Turn right onto US 64
Navigation decision point
4
33.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
NM 522
Turn left onto NM 522
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
36.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
NM 230
At end of road, turn left onto NM 230
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.50 one way
$15.00 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.31 | $8.31 | $16.61 |
| premium | $4.65 | $8.97 | $17.94 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $12.11 | $24.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
9 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Taos, NM - Tesla Supercharger
Taos, NM
Tesla
8 DCFC
Taos Ski Valley Armadillo Parking Lot
Taos Ski Valley, NM
RED_E
8 DCFC
Cantu Hill DCFC
Taos, NM
RED_E
4 DCFC
Ojo Caliente DCFC
Ojo Caliente, NM
RED_E
2 DCFC
Guadalupe Parking Lot DCFC
Taos, NM
RED_E
2 DCFC
Eco Park
Taos, NM
RED_E
1 DCFC
TAOS COUNTY EV DC STATION 1
Taos, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
TAOS COUNTY EV DC STATION 2
Taos, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
RED_E: 5
ChargePoint Network: 3
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Solo, NM
Morning in Solo on Friday
Local time
9:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Chance Rain Showers
SE 10 mph
63% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Taos Ski Valley, NM
Morning in Taos Ski Valley on Friday
Local time
9:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Rain Showers
SW 15 mph
76% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
37°F
Arroyo Seco, NM
25 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
10 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
1h 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 81% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 9 miles on NM 567 before transitioning to US 64 and then NM 150. Expect mostly rural cruising with minimal traffic congestion as you head towards the mountains. The latter part of the drive will involve mountain grades as you ascend towards Taos Ski Valley.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9 mi on NM 567.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NM 567 and US 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 285.
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 1h 32m 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 1.6 miles (US 285): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 16.3 miles (Taos County Rd Cb-115): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles (US 64): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
9,331 ft
6,769 ft
Total Climb
3,051 ft
Total Descent
489 ft
Highest Point
9,331 ft
~49 mi in
Elevation Range
2,561 ft
Notable High Points
7,346 ft at ~7 miles
+338 ft prominence
About the Cities
Arriving in Taos Ski Valley, NM
Full guide →Founded 1996
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9 miles on NM 567. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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. 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 1.6 miles (US 285): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 16.3 miles (Taos County Rd Cb-115): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles (US 64): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Taos Ski Valley, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More from Solo, NM
Explore more options from Solo, NM or browse trips ending in Taos Ski Valley, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.