Origin
Tularosa, NM
Late night in Tularosa on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tularosa, NM to Alamogordo, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
12.6 mi
20 km
Drive Score
4/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tularosa, NM
Bjorn Pierre
Alamogordo, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling through the Desert Southwest, the 13.3-mile connection between Tularosa and Alamogordo is a quick, straightforward journey. Expect to spend about 16 minutes behind the wheel as you travel south between these two New Mexico communities. Because the trip is so short, it is easily managed as a brief day outing rather than requiring an overnight stay. You can budget approximately $2 for fuel, making this an incredibly cost-effective leg of your travels. Both towns sit within the same desert region, so you will remain in a consistent landscape throughout the duration of your transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Francis Drive | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| North White Sands Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Saint Francis Drive
— 9.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tularosa, NM and Alamogordo, NM.
1
Start on US 54; US 70
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Saint Francis Drive
2
Turn straight onto North White Sands Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North White Sands Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Arrive at destination
North White Sands Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
1 of 11 decision points cluster around mile 9.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
North White Sands Boulevard
Turn straight onto North White Sands Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.90 one way
$3.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.09 | $4.18 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.26 | $4.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 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 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
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
Alamogordo, NM
Late night in Alamogordo on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
17m 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?
Navigating this route involves a turn-heavy local drive primarily along North White Sands Boulevard. Unlike a high-speed interstate haul, this path consists of 0% highway driving, meaning you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace. There is no significant longest stretch of uninterrupted road, as the nature of this transit keeps you focused on local traffic patterns. You will experience a steady, manageable transition between the two towns without the intensity of merging onto major freeways. It is the type of drive that rewards a relaxed attitude rather than a need for heavy acceleration.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
3 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.5 mi on Saint Francis Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.5 miles in near North White Sands Boulevard.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tularosa, NM to Alamogordo, NM is easy. At 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 9.5 miles (North White Sands Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m 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 9.5 miles on Saint Francis Drive. 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.
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 9.5 miles (North White Sands Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — White Sands National Park. 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 Alamogordo, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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