How far is La Union, NM from Albuquerque, NM?

The driving distance from La Union, NM to Albuquerque, NM is about 254.8 miles (410 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 216.5 miles (348.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
254.75 mi
03h 47m
Flight
216.53 mi
348.47 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from La Union.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
216.53 mi
Kilometers
348.47 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
254.75 mi
Kilometers
409.98 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albuquerque
Thu, Oct 15, 2:49 PM MDT
Return by in La Union
Thu, Oct 15, 6:36 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave La Union
2026-10-15T11:02
Arrive Albuquerque
Thu, Oct 15, 2:49 PM MDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:26 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in La Union
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Elephant Butte
NM

City in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States

From La Union
127.2 mi
01h 53m
To Albuquerque
127.6 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
71°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 10:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between La Union and Albuquerque.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Union and Albuquerque.

  1. 1

    Start on Mercantil Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · Mercantil Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    121 m · 13 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Vinton Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Vinton Road

  4. 4

    Continue on La Union-Vinton Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · La Union-Vinton Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Vinton Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Vinton Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Desert Boulevard

    844 ft · 23 sec · North Desert Boulevard

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight left

    799 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  9. 9

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    19.6 mi · 20 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque

    1.6 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    26.1 mi · 28 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    2010 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    197.6 mi · 3 hr 18 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Coal Avenue, Lead Avenue, Central Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr Avenue

    804 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Oak Street Southeast

    159 m · 20 sec · Oak Street Southeast

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lead Avenue Southeast

    1.2 km · 2 min · Lead Avenue Southeast

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 2nd Street Southwest

    1091 ft · 33 sec · 2nd Street Southwest

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Central Avenue Northwest

    575 ft · 22 sec · Central Avenue Northwest

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue Northwest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between La Union and Albuquerque.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 25 North
225 mi · 88%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
19.6 mi · 8%
Vinton Road
3.32 mi · 1%
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
2.68 mi · 1%
Mercantil Avenue
1.05 mi
Lead Avenue Southeast
0.74 mi
Longest Stretch

I 25 North

Merge slight left

198 mi · 03h 18m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
216.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elephant Butte
01h 53m from La Union
Leave By
9:26 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving La Union and Sunny near Albuquerque.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from La Union to Albuquerque?

The road trip is about 254.8 miles (410 km) and usually takes 03h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Elephant Butte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 127.2 miles from La Union and 127.6 miles from Albuquerque.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 216.5 miles (348.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:26 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.63 one way or $79.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around La Union and Sunny near Albuquerque.

Stop Ideas Near Elephant Butte

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elephant Butte, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elephant Butte.

BUS

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

6 mi away
8 South Date St.
BUS

Las Cruces, New Mexico

102 mi away
304 Wyatt Drive
RAIL

Deming station

111 mi away
400 East Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between La Union and Albuquerque. Straight-line distance: 216.53 mi (348.47 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 La Union

Situated in Doña Ana County at an elevation of 3,799 feet, this community lies within the fertile Mesilla Valley along the Rio Grande.

Population0
Coordinates31.9506600, -106.6616600
Altitude1158
CountryUnited States
Albuquerque

#2 Albuquerque

The third most populous city in New Mexico and the center of the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

Population562,540
Coordinates35.0844900, -106.6511400
Altitude1511
CountryUnited States
Start: Mercantil Avenue (-106.661671, 31.950676)
End: Central Avenue Northwest (-106.651139, 35.084494)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 410 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.99 gal
34.03 L · about $39.63
Round trip
$79.26
17.98 gal · 68.06 L
Estimated CO2
79.9 kg one way
Round trip: 159.8 kg / 352 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.41 $39.63 $79.26
Mid-grade $4.83 $43.46 $86.92
Premium $5.16 $46.40 $92.79
Diesel $6.05 $54.35 $108.71

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Mexico · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between La Union and Albuquerque. The current time is 11:02:26.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.