Lordsburg, NM to Roswell, NM is 303.2 miles and takes about 5h 58m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and US Highway 70 West, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent feel as you travel from one New Mexico locale to another. While much of the route is on surface roads, it's a manageable single-day trip that should fit comfortably into your schedule. Consider this a straightforward transit between two points in New Mexico, with minimal complexity.
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
151.6 miles from Lordsburg, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
111.4 mi
1h 53m
Central Avenue
102 mi
2h 11m
US Highway 70 West
42.3 mi
46m
Bataan Memorial Highway
20.1 mi
24m
US 54,70
8.7 mi
10m
US 70
7.6 mi
12m
Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route
5 mi
7m
North Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 111.4 mi, about 1h 53m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~770 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,116
Quietest
2 AM
~145 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 32 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 Lordsburg, NM and Roswell, NM.
1
Start on US 70
393 ft·22 sec·US 70
2
Turn sharp left onto US 70
486 ft·7 sec·US 70
3
Take the exit onto US 70
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 70
4
Turn right onto NM 494
0.6 mi·50 sec·Main Street
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
6
Merge onto I 10
111 mi·1 hr 53 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto US 70
7.2 mi·11 min·US 70
Toward US 70 East: Picacho AvenueUse the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 70
2.5 mi·5 min·North Main Street
9
Continue on US 70
20 mi·24 min·Bataan Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 70
42 mi·46 min·US Highway 70 West
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 70
0.1 mi·18 sec·South White Sands Boulevard
12
Take the exit onto US 70
0.1 mi·34 sec·US 70
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
13
Merge onto US 54; US 70
5.0 mi·7 min·Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route
14
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi·10 min·US 54,70
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Bookout Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Bookout Road
16
Keep slight left at fork onto South Bookout Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Bookout Road
17
Turn right onto Old Mescalero Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Old Mescalero Road
18
Turn right onto US 70
102 mi·2 hr 11 min·Central Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 70; US 380
Trip Plan
Given the approximately 6-hour drive time, departing Lordsburg in the morning allows ample time to reach Roswell before dark. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in how you pace the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on surface roads, as services may be less frequent than on major interstates. The fuel cost estimate of $48 provides a good baseline for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Plan for at least one break to stretch your legs and stay alert.
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 151.6 miles from Lordsburg, NM, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 67 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.6 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roswell, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lordsburg, 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 Lordsburg, NM
This is one driving day of about 303.2 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Lordsburg, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 111.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 184.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70
Turn sharp left onto US 70
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
112.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 70 East: Picacho Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 70 East: Picacho Avenue
6
184.9 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, T...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.09 one way
$84.18 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$47.09
$94.18
premium
$4.29
$51.20
$102.40
diesel
$4.80
$57.25
$114.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91
1
$31.84
$14.55
Efficient EV
75.8
0
$26.53
$12.13
EV Truck/SUV
121.3
1
$42.45
$19.40
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Lordsburg, NM
Late night
in Lordsburg on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 to 9 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:03PM MDT until July 17 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:01PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Roswell, NM
Late night
in Roswell on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:03PM MDT until July 17 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:01PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
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
5h 58m 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.
White Sands National Park
National Park
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$25
near mile 167.3
Park Closure: Dunes Drive closed at Mile 2.5 for road work Wednesday morning, 5/6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 19% of this 303.2-mile trip on highways, meaning the majority of your time will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 111.4 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. After this highway segment, expect a shift to more varied surface road conditions as you navigate toward your destination. This transition from highway to surface roads is a key element of the driving experience.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 303.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 70): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,610 ft3,574 ft
Total Climb
3,247 ft
Total Descent
3,922 ft
Highest Point
6,610 ft
~221.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,036 ft
Notable High Points
4,509 ft at ~22.1 miles+34 ft prominence
4,587 ft at ~132.9 miles+162 ft prominence
6,610 ft at ~221.5 miles+469 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 Lordsburg, NM to Roswell, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Tularosa along the way.
Roswell is a city in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico, United States of America. It has attained a quirky sort of fame/notoriety as the result of an alleged UFO crash (!) in 1947.
Top landmarks
•International UFO Museum And Research Center — museum in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S.
•Chaves County Courthouse — county courthouse of Chaves County, New Mexico
•Mimms Museum of Technology and Art — Technology and Art museum in Roswell, Georgia, USA with a focus on computing his...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 303.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Roswell, 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 0.1 miles (US 70): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — White Sands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Roswell, NM before the return drive.
