This 366.2-mile drive from Roswell, NM, to Lee Acres, NM, will take you approximately 6 hours and 57 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing US 550 and I-40, this route offers a highway-focused experience through the Desert Southwest. With a projected fuel cost of around $55, it's well-suited for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the journey. The consistent highway profile makes this a straightforward and efficient option for covering ground between these New Mexico locations.
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
183.1 miles from Roswell, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 550
151.6 mi
2h 50m
North Main Street
97.8 mi
1h 52m
I 40
55.8 mi
58m
US 54
42 mi
49m
Pan American Freeway
11.1 mi
11m
San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi
6m
West Broadway Boulevard
3.2 mi
3m
US 64
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 550
— 151.6 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roswell, NM and Lee Acres, NM.
1
Start on US 70; US 380
0.1 mi·28 sec·West 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto US 70; US 285
98 mi·1 hr 52 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 54; US 60; US 285
42 mi·49 min·US 54; US 60; US 285
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 40
56 mi·58 min·I 40
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 161Toward San Mateo BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi·6 min·San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
353 ft·6 sec·Pan American Freeway Northeast
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa FeUse the straight / left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 25
11 mi·11 min·Pan American Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 242Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
13
Continue on US 550
1.7 mi·3 min·US 550
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 550
150 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 550
15
Turn left onto US 64
3.2 mi·3 min·West Broadway Boulevard
16
Continue on US 64
0.1 mi·16 sec·US 64
17
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 57-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Roswell to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, plan it strategically to coincide with the longest stretch on US 550, around the 151.6-mile mark, to ensure you have ample opportunities for fuel and rest. The total fuel cost is estimated at $55, so budget accordingly. Given the route's highway-focused nature, staying alert for any potential construction or changes in speed limits will be key to a smooth 366.2-mile journey.
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 183.1 miles from Roswell, NM, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.6 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 81 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.1 miles or 3h 28m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lee Acres, 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 366.2 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 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 US 550 for about 151.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 139.9 and 211.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
195.9 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward San Mateo Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward San Mateo Boulevard
6
196.2 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
211 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.30 one way
$110.61 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$60.71
$121.42
premium
$4.56
$65.73
$131.46
diesel
$5.61
$80.85
$161.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.9
1
$38.45
$17.58
Efficient EV
91.6
1
$32.04
$14.65
EV Truck/SUV
146.5
1
$51.27
$23.44
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Roswell, NM
Evening
in Roswell on Saturday
Local time
7:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee Acres, NM
Evening
in Lee Acres on Saturday
Local time
7:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
W 15 to 25 mph1% 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
31 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 57m 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.
Aztec Ruins National Monument
National Monument
Aztec Ruins has some of the best-preserved Chacoan structures of its kind. Learn more about the ancestral Pueblo people in the park's museum and explore the Aztec West great house to see exceptionally...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 366.2
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 202.1
Explore the monumental structures and breathtaking landscape at Chaco, a thriving regional center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE (Common Era), through hiking & biking trails, rang...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
$25
near mile 328.3
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$25
near mile 227.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that predominantly sticks to the highway, with 71% of the journey on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 151.6 miles on US 550, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. North Main Street in Roswell will be your initial exit from the city before transitioning onto the faster pace of US 550 and eventually I-40. This route generally maintains a steady character, making it predictable and easy to navigate, though you'll want to be aware of the longer stretches without frequent services.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.6 mi on US 550.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 550 and North Main Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 139.9 miles in.
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 366.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 139.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 195.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lee Acres, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.
Bernalillo
211 mi in|~4h 2m
Rio Rancho
211 mi in|~4h 2m
Coronado Historic Site
211.2 mi in|~4h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 366.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.6 miles on US 550. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lee Acres, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 139.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 195.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Aztec Ruins National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lee Acres, NM before the return drive.
