Hurley to Hobbs is 373 miles and takes about 6h 55m via US Highway 62, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region for its entirety. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on highways followed by surface roads. With only one recommended stop and a single day of driving, this route is achievable for most, offering a straightforward path across the state.
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
186.5 miles from Hurley, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 62
102.3 mi
1h 46m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
81.2 mi
1h 23m
West Carlsbad Highway
39.6 mi
45m
US 180
38.6 mi
47m
National Parks Highway
33.6 mi
37m
Hobbs Highway
20.4 mi
21m
Montana Avenue
18.9 mi
24m
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
12 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 62
— 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,020 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,551
Quietest
2 AM
~293 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hurley, NM and Hobbs, NM.
1
Start on Diaz Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Diaz Avenue
2
Turn right onto Carasco Avenue
385 ft·16 sec·Carasco Avenue
3
Continue on Carrasco Avenue
489 ft·26 sec·Carrasco Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 180
38 mi·45 min·US 180
5
Turn left onto US 180
0.4 mi·27 sec·East Cedar Street
6
Take the exit onto US 180
0.4 mi·45 sec·US 180
7
Merge onto I 10
81 mi·1 hr 23 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 10; US 85; US 180
12 mi·14 min·Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10; US 180
11 mi·14 min·I 10; US 180
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 180
0.6 mi·1 min·US 180
Exit 23BToward US 62, US 180: Paisano Drive, Chelsea StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 62; US 180
0.5 mi·43 sec·East Paisano Drive
12
Continue on US 62; US 180
5.2 mi·7 min·Montana Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 62; US 180
2.5 mi·3 min·Arturo Benavides Memorial Freeway
14
Continue on US 62; US 180
14 mi·17 min·Montana Avenue
15
Continue on US 62; US 180
102 mi·1 hr 46 min·US Highway 62
16
Continue on US 62; US 180
34 mi·37 min·National Parks Highway
17
Merge onto US 62; US 180; US 285
1.9 mi·2 min·South Canal Street
18
Turn right onto US 62; US 180
6.5 mi·7 min·West Greene Street
19
Continue on US 62; US 180
20 mi·21 min·Hobbs Highway
20
Continue on US 62; US 180
40 mi·45 min·West Carlsbad Highway
21
Continue on US 62; US 180
2.5 mi·3 min·West Marland Boulevard
22
Turn left onto South Turner Street
0.4 mi·43 sec·South Turner Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Turner Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6h 55m drive, plan to leave Hurley in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on US Highway 62, as services can be spaced out in this region. The estimated fuel cost is around $55, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to stop when needed.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.5 miles from Hurley, NM, or about 3h 32m 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 82 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.5 miles or 3h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hobbs, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hurley, 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 Hurley, NM
This is one driving day of about 373 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Hurley, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 372.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Carasco Avenue
Turn right onto Carasco Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
38 mi into trip|~47m in|US 180 / East Cedar Street
Turn left onto US 180 / East Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
8
143.2 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 180
Take the exit onto US 180 toward US 62, US 180: Paisano Drive, Chelsea Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23B
Toward US 62, US 180: Paisano Drive, Chelsea St...
4
303.5 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|US 62; US 180 / West Greene Street
Turn right onto US 62; US 180 / West Greene Street
Navigation decision point
4
372.6 mi into trip|~6h 54m in|South Turner Street
Turn left onto South Turner Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.78 one way
$103.56 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg131 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$57.93
$115.86
premium
$4.29
$62.98
$125.97
diesel
$4.80
$70.43
$140.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.9
1
$39.17
$17.90
Efficient EV
93.3
1
$32.64
$14.92
EV Truck/SUV
149.2
1
$52.22
$23.87
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Hurley, NM
Late night
in Hurley on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 7 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 8:32PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Hobbs, NM
Late night
in Hobbs on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 8:32PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
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
3 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
6h 55m on the road
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.
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$1
near mile 270.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 41% of this 373-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving. Be prepared for the transition as you move between the two profile types. Given the longest stretch is over 100 miles, you'll have ample opportunity for steady driving.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?
4/10
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 0.2 miles in near Carasco Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
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 6h 55m, 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 0.2 miles (Carasco Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 38 miles (US 180 / East Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 143.2 miles (US 180): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hobbs, NM before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.2 miles (Carasco Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 38 miles (US 180 / East Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 143.2 miles (US 180): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlsbad Caverns National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hobbs, NM before the return drive.
