How far is Thoreau, NM from Gallup, NM?

The driving distance from Thoreau, NM to Gallup, NM is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.4 miles (49 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.24 mi
00h 30m
Flight
30.48 mi
49.05 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thoreau.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.48 mi
Kilometers
49.05 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.24 mi
Kilometers
51.89 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

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 00h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gallup
Wed, Apr 22, 7:01 PM MDT
Return by in Thoreau
Wed, Apr 22, 7:32 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thoreau
2026-04-22T18:31
Arrive Gallup
Wed, Apr 22, 7:01 PM MDT
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:31 AM to 7:31 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:28 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Thoreau
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Church Rock
NM

City in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States of America

From Thoreau
16.2 mi
00h 15m
To Gallup
16 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SW
Destination
70°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 30 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thoreau and Gallup.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thoreau and Gallup.

  1. 1

    Start on Lenore Avenue

    64 m · 11 sec · Lenore Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Hawk Drive

    50 m · 6 sec · Hawk Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto State Highway 371

    2347 ft · 53 sec · State Highway 371

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 40: Gallup

    2894 ft · 50 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    29.7 mi · 30 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Miyamura Drive, Montoya Boulevard

    1638 ft · 45 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Ford Drive

    1054 ft · 18 sec · Ford Drive

  8. 8

    Continue on Miyamura Overpass

    718 ft · 21 sec · Miyamura Overpass

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Aztec Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Aztec Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto South 2nd Street

    672 ft · 15 sec · South 2nd Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Historic Highway 66

    21 m · 2 sec · East Historic Highway 66

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Historic Highway 66

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thoreau and Gallup.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40
30.3 mi · 94%
East Aztec Avenue
0.87 mi · 3%
State Highway 371
0.44 mi · 1%
Miyamura Drive
0.31 mi · 1%
Ford Drive
0.2 mi · 1%
Miyamura Overpass
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40

Merge slight left

29.7 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
30.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Church Rock
00h 15m from Thoreau
Leave By
7:28 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thoreau and Sunny near Gallup.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thoreau to Gallup?

The road trip is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km) and usually takes 00h 30m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Church Rock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from Thoreau and 16 miles from Gallup.

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

The direct path is about 30.4 miles (49 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.32 one way or $8.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thoreau and Sunny near Gallup.

Stop Ideas Near Church Rock

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Church Rock, 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 Church Rock.

RAIL

Gallup station

13 mi away
201 East Highway 66

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thoreau and Gallup. Straight-line distance: 30.48 mi (49.05 km).

Thoreau

#1 Thoreau

Census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States

Population1,865
Coordinates35.4025300, -108.2234000
Altitude2177
CountryUnited States
Gallup

#2 Gallup

City in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States

Population21,253
Coordinates35.5280800, -108.7425800
Altitude1985
CountryUnited States
Start: Lenore Avenue (-108.223443, 35.402597)
End: East Historic Highway 66 (-108.742596, 35.528115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.14 gal
4.31 L · about $4.32
Round trip
$8.63
2.28 gal · 8.62 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $4.32 $8.63
Mid-grade $4.26 $4.86 $9.71
Premium $4.63 $5.27 $10.55
Diesel $5.42 $6.17 $12.35

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Thoreau and Gallup. The current time is 18:31:24.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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