Roswell to Hurley is 280.3 miles and takes about 5h 41m via US 70, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel, offering a straightforward drive across varied terrain. It's a solid choice for a single-day excursion when you want to cover ground without excessive 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
140.1 miles from Roswell, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West 2nd Street
103.1 mi
2h 12m
US 70
63.3 mi
1h 12m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
51.7 mi
52m
US-180
33.6 mi
39m
US 54
13.6 mi
17m
West Picacho Avenue
6.5 mi
9m
North Gold Avenue (Silver City Highway NW)
4 mi
6m
North Main Street
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— 103.1 mi, about 2h 12m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~775 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,153
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 63 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 Roswell, NM and Hurley, NM.
1
Start on US 70; US 380
103 mi·2 hr 12 min·West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Bookout Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Bookout Road
3
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi·10 min·US 54; US 70
4
Take the exit onto US 54; US 70
4.9 mi·7 min·US 54; US 70
5
Take the exit onto US 70
63 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 70
2.4 mi·5 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 70
2.9 mi·4 min·West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 70
3.6 mi·5 min·West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 70
Toward Arizona
10
Merge onto I 10
52 mi·52 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 180
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 180
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
12
Turn right onto US 180
4.0 mi·6 min·North Gold Avenue (Silver City Highway NW)
13
Continue on US 180
34 mi·39 min·US-180
14
Turn right onto Carrasco Avenue
489 ft·21 sec·Carrasco Avenue
15
Continue on Carasco Avenue
385 ft·22 sec·Carasco Avenue
16
Turn left onto Diaz Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Diaz Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Diaz Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 41m duration, leaving Roswell in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer surface road sections, as services might be more spread out. The $44 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but always check current prices. This route is well within a single day's drive, so you can adjust your departure time based on your preferences.
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 140.1 miles from Roswell, NM, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.1 miles or 2h 58m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hurley, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Roswell, 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 Roswell, NM
This is one driving day of about 280.3 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Roswell, 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 West 2nd Street for about 103.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 280.1 — 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 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Depart onto US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
189.8 mi into trip|~4h in|US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward Arizona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Arizona
5
242 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|US 180
Take the exit onto US 180 toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Ha...
5
280.1 mi into trip|~5h 40m in|Diaz Avenue
Turn left onto Diaz Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.97 one way
$95.94 round trip
$4.35/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$52.83
$105.65
premium
$5.11
$56.41
$112.83
diesel
$6.13
$67.66
$135.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.1
1
$29.43
$13.45
Efficient EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
EV Truck/SUV
112.1
1
$39.24
$17.94
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Roswell, NM
Afternoon
in Roswell on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hurley, NM
Afternoon
in Hurley on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NNE 3 mph24% chanceLive 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
2 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 41m 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 135.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 40% highway driving, meaning you'll transition from faster routes to surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 103.1 miles on West 2nd Street. You'll notice the change in speed and scenery as you move from the more direct highway segments to the more rural feel of the surface roads. Prepare for a change in pace as you leave the main highway.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on West 2nd Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 280.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.8 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,486 ft3,574 ft
Total Climb
5,909 ft
Total Descent
3,758 ft
Highest Point
7,486 ft
~80.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,911 ft
Notable High Points
7,486 ft at ~80.1 miles+1,586 ft prominence
4,406 ft at ~200.2 miles+180 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Roswell, NM and Hurley, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.
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 41m. Total distance: 280.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on West 2nd Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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 8 rest areas 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: near the start (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.8 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — White Sands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hurley, NM before the return drive.
