Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 45–54°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Partly sunny45°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers54°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers54°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Light rain showers likely49°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 42–53°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Mostly sunny46°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers43°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers49°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers46°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Light rain showers likely42°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 36–46°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Sunny46°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Sunny42°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Sunny36°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Sunny46°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Sunny44°F - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 38–49°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Mostly sunny48°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Mostly sunny43°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 38–48°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Partly sunny44°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Slight chance of light rain showers42°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers38°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Slight chance of light rain showers46°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny48°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 42–50°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Partly sunny47°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Partly sunny46°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Partly sunny42°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Partly sunny50°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Partly sunny48°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–52°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Albuquerque7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F LaVentana8 AM MDT Mostly sunny48°F US-550 west of Cuba8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F Bloomfield9:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny51°F New Mexico–Colorado line10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Durango10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Albuquerque (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Albuquerque, NMStart 4,956 ftelevation
- LaVentana, NMMile 68 · 1 h 7 min 6,515 ftelevation
- US-550 west of Cuba, NMMile 95 · 1 h 34 min 7,378 ftelevation
- Bloomfield, NMMile 170 · 2 h 42 min 5,456 ftelevation
- New Mexico–Colorado lineState line · Mile 193 · 3 h 11 min 5,982 ftelevation
- Durango, COMile 217 · 3 h 38 min 6,563 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Albuquerque, US-550 west of Cuba and Durango.
| Month | Albuquerque 5,310 ft | US-550 west of Cuba Johnson Ranch station · 7,203 ft | Durango 6,761 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 48° / 26° | 0.4 | 40° / 13° | 2.9 | 39° / 13° | 4.3 |
| Feb | 54° / 30° | 0.4 | 46° / 19° | 2.3 | 45° / 19° | 4.5 |
| Mar | 63° / 36° | 0.2 | 56° / 24° | 1.6 | 54° / 25° | 1.9 |
| Apr | 70° / 43° | 0.1 | 64° / 29° | 0.8 | 63° / 30° | 1.2 |
| May | 80° / 52° | 0 | 73° / 37° | 0.1 | 71° / 37° | 0.1 |
| Jun | 90° / 62° | 0 | 84° / 46° | 0 | 81° / 46° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 67° | 0 | 86° / 54° | 0 | 85° / 53° | 0 |
| Aug | 89° / 65° | 0 | 84° / 52° | 0 | 82° / 52° | 0 |
| Sep | 83° / 58° | 0 | 78° / 44° | 0 | 76° / 45° | 0 |
| Oct | 71° / 46° | 0.1 | 66° / 31° | 0.1 | 64° / 33° | 0.4 |
| Nov | 57° / 34° | 0.3 | 53° / 22° | 1.3 | 50° / 23° | 1.6 |
| Dec | 47° / 27° | 0.8 | 42° / 13° | 3.2 | 40° / 13° | 3.4 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP (USW00023050, 5,310 ft); JOHNSON RCH (USC00294398, 7,203 ft); DURANGO (USC00052441, 6,761 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for New Mexico and Colorado rather than repeat them.
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Albuquerque to Durango with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Albuquerque to Durango?
217 miles, about 3½ hours of driving without stops, by way of US-550. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On US-550 west of Cuba, at 7,378 ft. It comes at mile 95, about 1 h 34 min of driving after you leave Albuquerque.
Does it snow on US-550 west of Cuba in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Johnson Ranch (7,203 ft), averages 2.6 inches of snow in November, with about one day of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Durango in January?
Durango averages a high of 39°F and a low of 13°F in January (1991–2020 normals).