Origin
Hobbs, NM
Night in Hobbs on Saturday
Local time
10:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hobbs, NM to Artesia, 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 50m
Distance
77.6 mi
125 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hobbs, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hobbs to Artesia is 77.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes via NM Highway 529, Lovington Highway, and West Carlsbad Highway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward journey between two New Mexico communities. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll primarily be on state highways, so expect a mixed driving experience that's more about efficiency than extensive sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Hobbs, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NM Highway 529 | 31.2 mi | 46m |
| Lovington Highway | 29.1 mi | 43m |
| West Carlsbad Highway | 12 mi | 13m |
| West Marland Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| North Turner Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NM Highway 529
— 31.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hobbs, NM and Artesia, NM.
1
Start on North Turner Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Turner Street
2
Turn right onto US 62; US 180
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Marland Boulevard
3
Continue on US 62; US 180
12 mi
·
13 min
·
West Carlsbad Highway
4
Turn right onto NM 529
31 mi
·
46 min
·
NM Highway 529
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 82
29 mi
·
43 min
·
Lovington Highway
6
Continue on US 82
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
7
Continue on US 82
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Main Street
8
Arrive at destination
US 82
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 50 minutes, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Artesia and still have the afternoon for activities. With only 77.6 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive rest stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, especially since the estimated cost is only $12. The longest stretch without a town is 31.2 miles on NM Highway 529, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment.
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 38.8 miles from Hobbs, NM, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.2 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 52m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Artesia, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hobbs, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hobbs, NM
This is one driving day of about 77.6 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Hobbs, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NM Highway 529 for about 31.2 miles.
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 46.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard
Turn right onto US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard
Navigation decision point
3
14.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
NM 529 / NM Highway 529
Turn right onto NM 529 / NM Highway 529
Navigation decision point
4
46.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 82 / Lovington Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 82 / Lovington Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.72 one way
$23.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.87 | $25.73 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.93 | $27.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.13 | $34.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.86 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Artesia, NM
Night in Artesia on Saturday
Local time
10:27 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
31 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
1h 50m 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?
This route presents a mixed drive, with about 40% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 31.2 miles on NM Highway 529, which can feel like a significant portion of the drive. The overall character is a blend of state highway travel, offering a sense of progress without the high speeds of an interstate. Expect the road conditions to be consistent, facilitating a steady pace throughout the 77.6-mile trip.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on NM Highway 529.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hobbs, NM to Artesia, NM is easy. At 1h 50m with 40% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (NM 529 / NM Highway 529): Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles (US 82 / Lovington Highway): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Hobbs, NM
Full guide →Hobbs is a city of 39,000 people (2019) in Southeast New Mexico.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on NM Highway 529. 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (NM 529 / NM Highway 529): Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles (US 82 / Lovington Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Artesia, 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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