Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 12m
Distance
361.9 mi
582 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hobbs, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, NM
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
This 361.9-mile drive from Hobbs, NM, to Laguna, NM, will take approximately 7 hours and 12 minutes, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. You'll primarily navigate using South Main Street, I-40, and NM Highway 529, with a significant portion of the journey on I-40. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $55, and you can expect to make about two stops along the way. This route traverses the Desert Southwest region of New Mexico, offering a consistent landscape throughout. Consider starting early to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable pace.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.9 miles from Hobbs, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | 113.3 mi | 2h 13m |
| I 40 | 103 mi | 1h 47m |
| NM Highway 529 | 31.2 mi | 46m |
| Southeast Main Street | 30 mi | 35m |
| Lovington Highway | 29.1 mi | 43m |
| Shenrick Street | 27.5 mi | 31m |
| West Carlsbad Highway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Roswell Highway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hobbs, NM and Laguna, NM.
Start on North Turner Street
Turn right onto US 62; US 180
Continue on US 62; US 180
Turn right onto NM 529
At end of road, turn left onto US 82
Continue on US 82
Turn right onto US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 60; US 285
Turn left
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Continue on NM 124
Enter roundabout onto NM 124
Continue on NM 124
Turn left onto BIA 502
Arrive at destination
For this 7-hour journey, departing Hobbs, NM, in the early morning is recommended to avoid the heat and ensure you reach Laguna, NM, with ample daylight. With 361.9 miles to cover, plan for at least two breaks to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 113.3 miles, so be sure to fuel up before that segment. Given the estimated fuel cost of $55, it's wise to fill your tank before you leave Hobbs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning to longer highway sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.9 miles or 3h 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 6h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, NM than in the middle of the route.
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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hobbs, NM
This is one driving day of about 361.9 miles and 7h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 180.9 miles from Hobbs, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Main Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 361.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 62; US 180 / West Marland Boulevard
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 82 / Lovington Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto NM 124
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$54.66 one way
$109.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $60.00 | $120.00 |
| premium | $4.56 | $64.96 | $129.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.90 | $159.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.6 | 1 | $38.00 | $17.37 |
| Efficient EV | 90.5 | 1 | $31.67 | $14.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 144.8 | 1 | $50.67 | $23.16 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Hobbs on Saturday
Local time
7:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Laguna on Saturday
Local time
7:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
85°F
Roswell, NM
181 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive presents a mixed experience, with 37% of it being on highways. You'll encounter a substantial 113.3-mile stretch on South Main Street early on, which will likely feel more local. The majority of your time will be spent on I-40, offering a faster pace for covering distance. The character shifts from more local roads to a predominantly interstate drive as you progress westward. Expect a straightforward driving experience with limited complex road changes.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 46.1 miles (US 82 / Lovington Highway): Navigation decision point; at 257.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 12m. Total distance: 361.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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