Gallup to Albuquerque drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best three stops on the Gallup to Albuquerque drive in New Mexico are Continental Divide, El Malpais National Monument and the New Mexico Mining Museum. By car, the distance from Gallup to Albuquerque is 138 miles, with a driving time of around 2h2m.
Planning a Gallup to Albuquerque road trip itinerary
The drive from Gallup to Albuquerque takes you from the west of New Mexico to the state’s biggest city. For many travellers, this will be the second leg on the Flagstaff to Albuquerque drive.
Gallup is the gateway town to the Native American reservations of the Four Corners region.
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks, nature tours by bike and guided hops between craft breweries . You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
Gallup to Albuquerque distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Gallup to Albuquerque is 138 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and two minutes. The drive is along the I-40.
The best stops on the Gallup to Albuquerque drive are Continental Divide, El Malpais National Monument and the New Mexico Mining Museum.
Attractions between Gallup and Albuquerque: Continental Divide
The Continental Divide is where rainfall splits. Anywhere to the east of the divide, rain heads towards the Atlantic Ocean. Anywhere to the west, rain goes towards the Pacific.
On the I-40 in New Mexico, however, there is a small community called Continental Divide that stands on the dividing line. It makes for a fun photo stop, as there are several hand-painted signs marking the geographical importance. Not all of them agree on the same height, but most seem to plump for 7,295ft.
Gallup to Albuquerque road trip stops: El Malpais National Monument
A short diversion to the south from San Rafael, El Malpais National Monument covers a landscape formed by volcanoes. Get a special permit, and you can go caving in the lava tubes. Otherwise, there are several satisfying hiking trails. The 4.8 mile return hike to the top of cinder cone El Calderon is arguably the highlight.
The most popular sight is the Ice Cave by the Bandera Volcano. This is privately owned, and there’s a small charge to enter.
Gallup to Albuquerque drive: New Mexico Mining Museum
The New Mexico Mining Museum in the town of Grants takes a look at the state’s uranium mining heritage. The highlight is going down in the lift to the recreated mine below the earth’s surface.
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