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Trip from Lovington, NM to Roswell, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

95 mi

153 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States

Lovington, NM

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, United States

Roswell, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 95.1 miles across the Desert Southwest, the drive from Lovington to Roswell is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable connection between these two New Mexico hubs. You will navigate via South Main Avenue, North Main Street, and Tatum Highway as you transition across the region. It is a practical, no-nonsense journey that prioritizes efficiency over complexity, giving you plenty of flexibility in your schedule once you arrive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.5 miles from Lovington, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Broadway Street 72.4 mi 1h 47m
Tatum Highway 20.1 mi 22m
North Main Street 1 mi 1m
Plains Highway 0.5 mi <1m
South Main Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
East Avenue D <0.1 mi <1m
West 2nd Street — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Broadway Street — 72.4 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lovington, NM and Roswell, NM.

1

Start on NM 83

21 ft · 4 sec · East Avenue D
2

Turn right onto US 82

0.3 mi · 21 sec · South Main Avenue
3

Continue on US 82

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
4

Continue on US 82

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tatum Highway
5

Continue on US 82

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Plains Highway
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
7

Continue on NM 206

19 mi · 21 min · Tatum Highway
8

Turn left onto US 380

72 mi · 1 hr 47 min · West Broadway Street
9

Arrive at destination

US 70; US 380

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure whenever it best fits your itinerary. With no planned stops required for a 1 hour and 33 minute duration, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. Make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, as the $15 estimated cost is based on typical consumption for this distance. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, it is wise to keep your GPS active to ensure you stay on course through the transitions between South Main Avenue and Tatum Highway. Enjoy the flexibility this quick transit provides for your overall travel plans.

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 47.5 miles from Lovington, NM, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 21 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.5 miles or 1h 3m 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 48m

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 Lovington, 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 Lovington, NM

This is one driving day of about 95 miles and 2h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lovington, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Broadway Street for about 72.4 miles.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sale Barn Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Roswell, New Mexico

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15756226040

Visit website

Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Roswell, New Mexico

0.8 mi

Cowboy Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Roswell, New Mexico

1 mi

Sale Barn Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15756226040

Visit website

Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15756241111

Visit website

Cowboy Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15756226363

Visit website

The Valley Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+15757553287

Visit website

Roswell UFO Spacewalk

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15759102113

Visit website

International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15756259495

Visit website

BrickTown: Alien Attack

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15754954123

Visit website

Spaceport Roswell

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15754954123

Visit website

The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15756235600

Visit website

Spring River Zoo

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15756246760

Visit website

Roswell Welcome Sign

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 95

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15756233442

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 82 / South Main Avenue

Turn right onto US 82 / South Main Avenue

Navigation decision point

3
3 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

3
22.6 mi into trip | ~26m in | US 380 / West Broadway Street

Turn left onto US 380 / West Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.35 one way

$28.69 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $15.75 $31.50
premium $4.56 $17.05 $34.10
diesel $5.61 $20.97 $41.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.5 0 $9.98 $4.56
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.31 $3.80
EV Truck/SUV 38 0 $13.30 $6.08

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lovington, NM

Evening in Lovington on Saturday

Local time

8:52 PM

MDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roswell, NM

Evening in Roswell on Saturday

Local time

8:52 PM

MDT

Current temp

85°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

34 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

2h 13m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a zero-percent highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand more attention than a typical freeway slog. Since the route relies on Tatum Highway and local main streets, the pace remains steady but requires you to stay alert through various turns. There are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches here, which helps keep the drive feeling varied throughout the 95.1-mile transit. You should prepare for a hands-on driving experience that reflects the character of regional desert roads.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on West Broadway Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 82 / South Main Avenue.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lovington, NM to Roswell, NM is easy. At 2h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 82 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (US 380 / West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 95 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on West Broadway Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: near the start (US 82 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (US 380 / West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Roswell, 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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