Roswell to La Union is 210.6 miles and takes about 4h 26m via US Highway 54 South, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Mexico, connecting two points in the Desert Southwest region. The majority of the route uses US Highway 54, offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two locations. You'll find the road conditions are a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speeds and types of driving.
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
105.3 miles from Roswell, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West 2nd Street
103.1 mi
2h 12m
US Highway 54 South
34.8 mi
37m
US Highway 54
28.9 mi
30m
US 54
15.7 mi
20m
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
10.4 mi
15m
Gateway South Boulevard
7.8 mi
9m
Canutillo-la Union Road
3.1 mi
5m
North Bookout Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— 103.1 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roswell, NM and La Union, 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
0.3 mi·1 min·US 70
6
Turn left onto US Highway 54 South
35 mi·37 min·US Highway 54 South
7
Continue on US 54
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 54
29 mi·30 min·US Highway 54
9
Continue on US 54
7.6 mi·9 min·Gateway South Boulevard
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
2.2 mi·2 min·US 54
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 29Toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain DriveUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Gateway South Boulevard
0.2 mi·18 sec·Gateway South Boulevard
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
14
Continue on Loop 375
10 mi·15 min·Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
15
Turn right onto Loop 375
0.8 mi·1 min·Talbot Avenue
16
At end of road, turn right onto TX 20
0.5 mi·51 sec·Doniphan Drive
17
Turn left onto FM 259
1.2 mi·2 min·Canutillo la Union Avenue
18
Continue on NM 28
0.3 mi·34 sec·Canutillo-la Union Road
19
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 28
2.8 mi·4 min·Canutillo-la Union Road
20
Turn left onto NM 182
1.0 mi·2 min·Mercantil Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
NM 182
Trip Plan
For this 4h 26m drive, leaving Roswell in the morning is a good idea to make the most of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip covering 210.6 miles, you can take your time with one planned stop, perhaps for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches of highway driving, as services can be spaced out in this region. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so factor that into your budget. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll need to adapt to changing speed limits and road conditions throughout the 210.6 miles.
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 105.3 miles from Roswell, NM, or about 2h 16m 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 46 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Union, 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 210.6 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 204.8 — 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.
4
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|US Highway 54 South
Turn left onto US Highway 54 South
Navigation decision point
4
190.5 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|US 54
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain Dri...
4
204.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|TX 20 / Doniphan Drive
At end of road, turn right onto TX 20 / Doniphan Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.78 one way
$65.57 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.14
$72.28
premium
$4.71
$39.06
$78.12
diesel
$6.18
$51.23
$102.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.11
$10.11
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.43
$8.42
EV Truck/SUV
84.2
1
$29.48
$13.48
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Roswell, NM
Morning
in Roswell on Tuesday
Local time
6:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
La Union, NM
Morning
in La Union on Tuesday
Local time
6:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 3 mph21% 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
4h 26m 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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
$25
near mile 130.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 38% of this 210.6-mile trip is on highways, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 103.1 miles, likely on West 2nd Street before transitioning to US Highway 54 South. Expect to see a mix of driving environments, from potentially more developed areas near the start to more open, rural cruising as you travel south. Be aware that the transition from highway to surface roads might involve changes in speed limits and traffic patterns.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 12 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 210.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 118.4 miles (US Highway 54 South): Navigation decision point; at 190.5 miles (US 54): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 4h 26m. Total distance: 210.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). 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 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.
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 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.4 miles (US Highway 54 South): Navigation decision point; at 190.5 miles (US 54): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — White Sands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at La Union, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
