This 212-mile journey from Roswell, NM, to Santa Teresa, NM, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 26 minutes. You'll primarily be on US Highway 54 South for a significant portion of the trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, this drive through the Desert Southwest offers a mixed driving experience. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, allowing for a relatively relaxed schedule. Planning for one stop along the way should be sufficient for this route.
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
106 miles from Roswell, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m 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
10.2 mi
14m
Gateway South Boulevard
7.8 mi
9m
Artcraft Road
3 mi
3m
South Desert Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
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 Santa Teresa, 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·14 min·Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
15
Turn left onto South Desert Boulevard
1.8 mi·3 min·South Desert Boulevard
16
Turn right onto TX 178
3.0 mi·3 min·Artcraft Road
17
Continue on NM 136
1.1 mi·1 min·Peter V. Domenici International Highway
18
Turn left onto NM 273
1.6 mi·2 min·McNutt Road
19
Turn right onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
20
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
192 ft·6 sec·North Country Club Road
21
Continue on North Country Club Road
416 ft·16 sec·North Country Club Road
22
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
0.2 mi·55 sec·North Apache Gold Loop
23
Arrive at destination
North Apache Gold Loop
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 26-minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. While the drive is manageable in one day, consider that the longest stretch is over 100 miles, so plan for a break before or during that segment. With a fuel cost of around $32, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good idea, especially on longer stretches between services. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your pace as needed, but don't forget to factor in that one recommended stop for rest or supplies.
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 106 miles from Roswell, NM, or about 2h 17m 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 2h 17m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Teresa, 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 212 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 211.8 — 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
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...
5
211.7 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|North Country Club Road
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
211.8 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|North Apache Gold Loop
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.43 one way
$58.86 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.93
$65.85
premium
$4.29
$35.80
$71.60
diesel
$4.80
$40.03
$80.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.26
$10.18
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.68
$13.57
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Roswell, NM
Late night
in Roswell on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:43PM MDT until July 18 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:26PM MDT until July 18 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Santa Teresa, NM
Late night
in Santa Teresa on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:43PM MDT until July 18 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:26PM MDT until July 18 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa 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
2 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
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 124.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a mixed profile, with 38% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 103.1 miles on West 2nd Street, indicating a substantial period of consistent travel. This route is not a monotonous interstate grind; expect a blend of road types that keep the driving experience varied. The character of the road shifts as you progress, moving from local streets to major highways.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 192.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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...
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 192.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Santa Teresa, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
