Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny77°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny63°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny54°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny64°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny67°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny66°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny68°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny72°F - SunOct 4
CautionGusts to 31 mph near Grants around 1:30 PM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny79°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny65°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny56°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny67°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny72°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny71°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny68°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny77°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny80°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny64°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny53°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny62°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny67°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny66°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny66°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny73°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny78°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny61°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny56°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny63°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny68°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny68°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny71°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny76°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny77°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny63°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny57°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny65°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny71°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny70°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny71°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny80°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–79°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny79°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny64°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny57°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny66°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny70°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny70°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny70°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny78°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 55–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Phoenix7 AM MST Sunny78°F Payson8:30 AM MST Sunny61°F AZ-260 east of Payson9:15 AM MST Sunny55°F Holbrook10:15 AM MST Sunny65°F Arizona–New Mexico line12:15 PM MDT Sunny68°F Gallup12:45 PM MDT Sunny69°F Grants1:30 PM MDT Sunny69°F Albuquerque2:45 PM MDT Sunny76°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 Phoenix (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Phoenix, AZStart 1,088 ftelevation
- Payson, AZMile 90 · 1 h 33 min 4,958 ftelevation
- AZ-260 east of Payson, AZMile 124 · 2 h 10 min 7,683 ftelevation
- Holbrook, AZMile 186 · 3 h 18 min 5,077 ftelevation
- Arizona–New Mexico lineState line · Mile 260 · 4 h 21 min 6,190 ftelevation
- Gallup, NMMile 281 · 4 h 41 min 6,504 ftelevation
- Grants, NMMile 342 · 5 h 32 min 6,463 ftelevation
- Albuquerque, NMMile 420 · 6 h 41 min 4,956 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Phoenix, Gallup and Albuquerque.
| Month | Phoenix 1,107 ft | Gallup 6,471 ft | Albuquerque 5,310 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 68° / 46° | 45° / 14° | 1.9 | 48° / 26° | 0.4 |
| Feb | 71° / 49° | 50° / 19° | 2.6 | 54° / 30° | 0.4 |
| Mar | 78° / 55° | 59° / 23° | 1.3 | 63° / 36° | 0.2 |
| Apr | 86° / 61° | 66° / 28° | 0.8 | 70° / 43° | 0.1 |
| May | 95° / 70° | 75° / 36° | 0.6 | 80° / 52° | 0 |
| Jun | 104° / 79° | 86° / 45° | 0 | 90° / 62° | 0 |
| Jul | 107° / 85° | 89° / 55° | 0 | 91° / 67° | 0 |
| Aug | 105° / 84° | 86° / 53° | 0 | 89° / 65° | 0 |
| Sep | 100° / 78° | 80° / 44° | 0 | 83° / 58° | 0 |
| Oct | 89° / 66° | 69° / 31° | 0.6 | 71° / 46° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 77° / 54° | 56° / 20° | 1.3 | 57° / 34° | 0.3 |
| Dec | 66° / 45° | 45° / 14° | 2.4 | 47° / 27° | 0.8 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP (USW00023183, 1,107 ft); GALLUP MUNI AP (USW00023081, 6,471 ft); ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP (USW00023050, 5,310 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 Arizona and New Mexico rather than repeat them.
- Arizona · ADOTAZ511 road conditions
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
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 Phoenix to Albuquerque 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 Phoenix to Albuquerque?
420 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of AZ-87 and I-40. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On AZ-260 east of Payson, at 7,683 ft. It comes at mile 124, about 2 h 10 min of driving after you leave Phoenix.
How cold is Albuquerque in January?
Albuquerque averages a high of 48°F and a low of 26°F in January (1991–2020 normals).