A red chile drop on Route 66, then Old Town
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Albuquerque New Year's Eve
Nob Hill to Old Town Albuquerque
Nob Hill and Old Town Albuquerque sit about 6.4 km (4 mi) apart in a straight line, with Old Town Albuquerque to the west. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Albuquerque New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 6.4 km · 4 mi
- Est. road distance
- 7.6–8.9 km
- Est. drive time
- 10–20 min
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Albuquerque New Year's Eve itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 7.6–8.9 km (4.7–5.5 mi) of road and 10–20 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), 15 minutes from Nob Hill. City buses are fare-free, and the ART rapid bus line runs along Central Avenue between Nob Hill, downtown and Old Town; check late-night service before relying on it after midnight. Rideshare surges right after the chile drop, so walk a few blocks off Central before booking. The Sandia Peak Tramway base is about 25 minutes northeast by car.
Open Nob Hill → Old Town Albuquerque directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Old Town Albuquerque
The 1706 adobe plaza for a slow Jan 1: New Mexican breakfast, the church and a river walk.
Old Town Plaza
The shaded plaza at the heart of the 1706 villa, ringed by adobe shops and galleries around a white gazebo.
Church Street Cafe
New Mexican breakfasts and red or green chile in Casa de Ruiz, one of the oldest houses in Albuquerque.
Explora
A hands-on science center next to Old Town; its Noon Year's Eve on Dec 31 ends with a big balloon drop at noon.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
Cottonwood bosque and ponds on the Rio Grande; rangers lead a New Year's Day nature walk as part of First Day Hikes.
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
A large hotel across Rio Grande Boulevard from the plaza, an easy walk to Old Town and the museums.
San Felipe de Neri Church
The adobe church on the north side of the plaza, dating to 1793 and still an active parish.
Before you leave Nob Hill
Route 66 neighborhood where the red chile drops at midnight; 2 nights near Central Avenue.
Guild Cinema
A single-screen independent cinema on Central Avenue showing art-house, foreign and cult films, with its neon sign lit after dark.
Hotel Zazz
A Route 66 hotel on Central Avenue in Nob Hill that hosts the chile drop out front.
Campo at Los Poblanos
The farm-to-table restaurant at Los Poblanos, a historic inn and lavender farm in the North Valley, with seasonal New Mexican menus.
On this curated route
Where Nob Hill → Old Town Albuquerque sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Old Town Albuquerque to Nob Hill is the same 6.4 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Nob Hill to Old Town Albuquerque: questions travelers ask
How far is Nob Hill from Old Town Albuquerque?
Nob Hill is about 6.4 km (4 mi) from Old Town Albuquerque in a straight line, with Old Town Albuquerque to the west. By road, we estimate 7.6–8.9 km (4.7–5.5 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Nob Hill to Old Town Albuquerque?
An estimated 10–20 min, assuming 7.6–8.9 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Nob Hill to Old Town Albuquerque?
Our Albuquerque New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Albuquerque New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Nob Hill travel guide
- Albuquerque weather covers Nob Hill and Old Town Albuquerque
- Old Town Albuquerque travel guide
Albuquerque by month (covers Old Town Albuquerque)
Plan Nob Hill → Old Town Albuquerque with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.