Origin
Artesia, NM
Evening in Artesia on Saturday
Local time
8:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Artesia, NM to Lovington, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Lovington, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Artesia and Lovington, this 64.7-mile journey through the Desert Southwest is a straightforward trip that takes approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. You will navigate primarily via the Lovington Highway, West D Avenue, and East Main Street as you cross this corner of New Mexico. Because the total travel time is under two hours, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stay. Budgeting about $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your transit between these two communities. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without the need for complex planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.3 miles from Artesia, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lovington Highway | 56 mi | 1h 23m |
| West D Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| East Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West Avenue D | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Avenue D | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lovington Highway
— 56 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Lovington, NM.
1
Start on US 82
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on US 82
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 82
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on US 82
56 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Lovington Highway
5
Continue on US 82
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West D Avenue
6
Continue on US 82
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue D
7
Arrive at destination
NM 83
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short excursion, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without worrying about mid-trip fatigue or overnight logistics. With no planned stops required for this 1.5-hour drive, you can comfortably make the trip in one go. Keep in mind that because the route relies on local roads rather than major highways, traffic patterns may vary, so check your GPS for any unexpected local road closures before you head out. Given the $10 fuel estimate, make sure your tank is topped off before leaving Artesia to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Your best bet is to enjoy the simplicity of the route and use the time to navigate the turn-heavy sections with focus.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.3 miles from Artesia, NM, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lovington, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Artesia, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Artesia, NM
This is one driving day of about 64.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Artesia, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lovington Highway for about 56 miles.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.77 one way
$19.54 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.73 | $21.45 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lovington, NM
Evening in Lovington on Saturday
Local time
8:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that stays off major interstates, as this route features 0% highway share. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Lovington Highway, which accounts for a 56-mile stretch of your total distance. Rather than a monotonous high-speed grind, the road requires your full attention as you transition between local roads and suburban arteries. The personality of this drive is defined by its rural, regional character, offering a consistent pace that remains steady from start to finish. You should prepare for a drive that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on Lovington Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 56 miles on Lovington Highway, so monotony is more of a factor than complexity.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Artesia, NM to Lovington, NM is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Artesia, NM to Lovington, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on Lovington Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NM can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Artesia, NM to Lovington, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lovington, NM before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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