Hobbs to La Union is 250.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 45 minutes via West Marland Boulevard and West Carlsbad Highway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing New Mexico for its entirety. Expect a journey primarily on surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the region. With only one recommended stop, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.4 miles from Hobbs, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 62
102.3 mi
1h 46m
West Carlsbad Highway
39.6 mi
45m
National Parks Highway
33.5 mi
37m
Purple Heart Memorial Freeway
24.3 mi
31m
Hobbs Highway
20.4 mi
21m
Montana Avenue
12.3 mi
15m
East Greene Street
6.5 mi
8m
Canutillo-la Union Road
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 62
— 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hobbs, NM and La Union, 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
40 mi·45 min·West Carlsbad Highway
4
Continue on US 62; US 180
20 mi·21 min·Hobbs Highway
5
Continue on US 62; US 180
6.5 mi·8 min·East Greene Street
6
Turn left onto US 62; US 180; US 285
2.0 mi·2 min·South Canal Street
7
Turn slight right onto US 62; US 180
34 mi·37 min·National Parks Highway
8
Continue on US 62; US 180
102 mi·1 hr 46 min·US Highway 62
9
Continue on US 62; US 180
12 mi·15 min·Montana Avenue
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Loop 375 North
11
Merge onto Loop 375
24 mi·31 min·Purple Heart Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Loop 375
0.8 mi·1 min·Talbot Avenue
13
At end of road, turn right onto TX 20
0.5 mi·51 sec·Doniphan Drive
14
Turn left onto FM 259
1.2 mi·2 min·Canutillo la Union Avenue
15
Continue on NM 28
0.3 mi·34 sec·Canutillo-la Union Road
16
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 28
2.8 mi·4 min·Canutillo-la Union Road
17
Turn left onto NM 182
1.0 mi·2 min·Mercantil Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
NM 182
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 45 minute drive time and 250.8 mile distance, starting your trip in the morning from Hobbs is advisable. This route is designed for a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive, as there are no designated long stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from larger towns; your estimated fuel cost is around $37. The surface road nature of this trip means you'll be more integrated with local communities as you travel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.4 miles from Hobbs, NM, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.3 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Union, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hobbs, NM
This is one driving day of about 250.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Hobbs, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 62 for about 102.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 245.5 — 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
4
219.6 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward Loop 375 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Loop 375 North
5
219.9 mi into trip|~4h in|Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway
Merge onto Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
245 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|TX 20 / Doniphan Drive
At end of road, turn right onto TX 20 / Doniphan Drive
Navigation decision point
4
245.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|FM 259 / Canutillo la Union Avenue
Turn left onto FM 259 / Canutillo la Union Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.04 one way
$78.08 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.04
$86.08
premium
$4.71
$46.52
$93.03
diesel
$6.18
$61.01
$122.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.03
EV Truck/SUV
100.3
1
$35.11
$16.05
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Hobbs, NM
Late night
in Hobbs on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
La Union, NM
Late night
in La Union on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NNE 1 mph20% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Carlsbad, NM
125 mi in
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
National Park
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when s...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating local streets and highways for the full 250.8 miles. Since there's no extended highway section, expect consistent surface road driving conditions throughout. This means you'll likely encounter more varied speed limits and local traffic patterns rather than the continuous flow of interstate travel.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.3 mi on US Highway 62.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 219.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 219.9 miles (Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,481 ft3,133 ft
Total Climb
4,091 ft
Total Descent
3,917 ft
Highest Point
5,481 ft
~125.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,348 ft
Notable High Points
5,481 ft at ~125.4 miles+1,360 ft prominence
5,185 ft at ~197.1 miles+613 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hobbs, NM to La Union, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 375 North along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 219.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 219.9 miles (Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlsbad Caverns National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at La Union, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
