Arizona → New Mexico · Interstate 10
Coming back from Phoenix, Arizona, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the return leg also clocks roughly 626 km (389 miles) typically along Interstate 10, but the traffic picture shifts considerably compared with the outbound segment. Phoenix, the fifth-largest US city and capital of Arizona, fades behind the wheel while the vehicle pushes back toward Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico and crossroads of the American Southwest, often after a full day of meetings, site visits, or prospecting calls. Plan 5h 58m plus a generous buffer against evening congestion, particularly on Fridays, holiday eves, or after major sporting events. Driver fatigue is the dominant concern returning home; mandatory rest breaks every two hours are non-negotiable. Fuel spend on the return stays near $52.35 for 56.9 liters (15.0 gallons). The corresponding reimbursement on the way back reaches $269.18 at $0.43/km. Combine both legs on a single Clara receipt to document the full round-trip cleanly, with separate timestamps for transparent audit defense.