Albuquerque drivers report that although the spread-out nature of the city means you might be driving for a while, traffic is generally light—especially in relation to other large cities.
Nestled in the lovely high desert of the Southwest, Albuquerque
is New Mexico’s largest city with a population of around 564,000. Every October, it hosts the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
, the world’s largest gathering of hot air balloons. While air traffic may be intense at that time, traveling via land in Albuquerque is typically not considered to be too much of a headache. Here to break that down a bit further is insurance super app and comparison shopper extraordinaire Jerry
. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best and worst times to drive in Albuquerque, what the latest changes are, and how to traverse The Burque like a pro. How bad is Albuquerque traffic?
While Albuquerque may have the worst traffic in the state of New Mexico, it’s relatively tame compared to other urban areas. The city is spread out enough so that while it may take a while to get from one place to another, the traffic will at least be moving along.
The 2021 Global Traffic Scorecard
ranked Albuquerque traffic as the 157th worst in the US and reported that the average Albuquerque driver loses about eight hours a year to traffic congestion. When compared to other cities, that’s not too bad! Like just about everywhere, there was a decrease in traffic in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers have since returned to their pre-pandemic numbers, per TomTom’s traffic index
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Start earning nowWhy is Albuquerque traffic so bad?
The traffic patterns in a city are going to be made up of a combination of factors, such as the city’s population, infrastructure, and driving habits of its citizens. Here’s some inside info about Albuquerque’s traffic:
Population size
The city of Albuquerque is the most populous city in New Mexico, with more than 564,000 people calling it home as of the 2020 census. When you include the larger metropolitan area, there are close to one million residents. While that’s a decent amount of people, the city is pretty spread out overall. This means that while you may have to spend some time on the road, the congestion in any one area shouldn’t be too significant.
Major chokepoints
The I-40 and the I-25 converge in the heart of Albuquerque, and anywhere that major highways intersect there are bound to be slowdowns.
Central Ave NE and Central Ave NW bisects Albuquerque on an east/west axis and is where US Route 66 meets Albuquerque. Menard Boulevard NE and Montaño Boulevard NE are two other major roads that span the bulk of the city and can be among the busier thoroughfares at peak times.
Driving habits
The commuting pattern of Albuquerque traffic tends to be such that the major east/west roads are busier eastbound in the morning, and westbound in the afternoons. If you have to be on one of these roads at a peak hour, planning to be headed in the opposite direction of most of the traffic should help out.
MORE:The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances
How to navigate Albuquerque traffic like a pro
Traffic snarls mean more than just lost time and frayed nerves
—they can also result in more traffic accidents. Whether you are in Albuquerque or elsewhere, keeping a cool head in traffic is not only the safe thing to do, but it also helps you to steer clear of costly traffic tickets
. Here are a few pointers for making the best out of your time driving in Albuquerque traffic: Steer clear of peak hours if possible. Albuquerque’s busiest traffic times are from about 6 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 7 pm.
Take less popular roads. The main roads aren’t always the fastest, especially during rush hour. Check your route ahead of time to see if there are any alternate ways to go.
Use a traffic app to stay ahead of the game. KOB4
has a traffic map that offers information on traffic, accidents, construction, and more. Stay focused and relaxed. Getting mad rarely helps anything when it comes to driving, so if you do find yourself stuck in a traffic jam, remember to breathe and stay focused. Avoid distractions like cell phones and loud music, and stay safe!
Prepare for Albuquerque traffic by updating your car insurance
Whether you’ll be staying for a while or just cruising through on Route 66, it’s a good idea to take a minute and make sure your car insurance
is in good order, and Jerry makes it simple! The number-one-rated app for shopping for car insurance online, Jerry
does all the hard work while you reap the rewards. Within minutes of downloading the app and entering some basic information, you’ll have access to a selection of competitive insurance policies from over 50 top insurance providers. Sign up through the app is quick and easy—and if you have any questions, fully-licensed brokers are available to walk you through as much or as little of the process as you need. The average Jerry user saves almost $900 a year!
“I just had to buy a new car, and I needed quick help to get insurance before I could get my plates. Because I work so many hours, Jerry
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Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
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