Skip to main content

Trip from Artesia, NM to Roswell, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

40.6 mi

65 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States

Artesia, NM

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, United States

Roswell, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Artesia to Roswell is 40.6 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Southeast Main Street, Roswell Highway, and North 1st Street, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within New Mexico's Desert Southwest region, making it a straightforward drive. Expect a local road feel for most of the journey, with several turns to navigate. Given the minimal distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous day drive or as a quick leg of a larger New Mexico adventure.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southeast Main Street 30 mi 35m
Roswell Highway 7.2 mi 8m
North 1st Street 2 mi 2m
South Main Street 1 mi 2m
West Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
West 2nd Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Southeast Main Street — 30 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Roswell, 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

Turn left onto US 285

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street
4

Continue on US 285

7.2 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway
5

Continue on US 285

30 mi · 35 min · Southeast Main Street
6

Continue on US 285

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
7

Turn left onto US 70; US 380

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West 2nd Street
8

Arrive at destination

US 70; US 380

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hagerman, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hagerman, NM

20 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Dexter, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dexter, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Artesia, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

1 of 1

1 decision points cluster around mile 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
40.5 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street

Turn left onto US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.13 one way

$12.26 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $6.73 $13.46
premium $4.56 $7.29 $14.57
diesel $5.61 $8.96 $17.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.2 0 $4.26 $1.95
Efficient EV 10.2 0 $3.55 $1.62
EV Truck/SUV 16.2 0 $5.68 $2.60

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Artesia, NM

Late night in Artesia on Sunday

Local time

4:21 AM

MDT

Current temp

44°F

Mostly Clear

N 25 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Dust Advisory

Dust Advisory issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:30AM MDT until April 18 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

Destination

Roswell, NM

Late night in Roswell on Sunday

Local time

4:21 AM

MDT

Current temp

43°F

Clear

N 15 to 20 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Dust Advisory

Dust Advisory issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:30AM MDT until April 18 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

50m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be actively navigating through town and along local roads for much of the 40.6 miles. There's no highway percentage to this trip, so don't expect any interstate cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 30 miles on Southeast Main Street before the route transitions. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction as you make your way from Artesia to Roswell.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30 mi on Southeast Main Street.

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 trickiest moment comes around 40.5 miles in near US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Artesia, NM to Roswell, NM is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 40.5 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30 miles on Southeast Main Street. 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.

There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 40.5 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Roswell, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Artesia, NM or browse trips ending in Roswell, NM.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.