You can make Albuquerque to San Antonio in about 1.5 hours, but the people who love this drive never do it in one straight shot. At around 95 miles on I-25, it is short enough to start after breakfast and long enough to earn a night somewhere memorable close to the flyway.
Open this route in XCRSNLeaving Albuquerque
Aim to clear Albuquerque before the morning rush, or after it, never in it. Fill the tank on the edge of town where prices usually drop, set the playlist, and settle in for the first 32 miles to Belen.
The headline stop on this route is Sunrise crane fly-out. Leave real time for it; it sets the tone for the whole trip.
Belen
Belen sits about 32 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Nearby, Bosque del Apache auto tour loop is worth the short detour if the day is going well.
Socorro, the last stretch
Socorro sits about 77 miles in. It is the natural place to stop for the night: hotels are plentiful, rates beat the big-city ends of the route, and you wake up with the hardest miles already behind you.
Rolling into San Antonio
The final 19 miles always go faster than you expect. Save a little energy for Festival of the Cranes; it is a fitting finish.
By the end you will have seen Sunrise crane fly-out, Bosque del Apache auto tour loop and Festival of the Cranes, and you will understand why this corridor is a classic.
When to go and how to pace it
One night is the sweet spot. Socorro, NM is where most people stay, so book ahead on summer weekends.
Check live gas prices along I-25 before you go; they can swing a lot from one state or county to the next. XCRSN prices every leg for your exact car.
