Chisum Travel Center
0 mi from route
Trip from South Valley, NM to Lovington, NM
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 20m
Distance
304.2 mi
490 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
19 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 8m
★
6 AM
6h 20m
8 AM
6h 45m
10 AM
6h 29m
12 PM
6h 27m
3 PM
6h 30m
5 PM
6h 44m
8 PM
6h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Valley, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Lovington, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Valley, NM to Lovington, NM is 304.2 miles and takes about 6h 20m via Coronado Freeway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive across New Mexico. With only one recommended stop, it's a route best suited for a single day of travel. Consider this a practical option if you need to get between these two points efficiently. The mix of highway and surface roads means you'll experience varied driving conditions throughout the 6h 20m trip.
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
152.1 miles from South Valley, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Street | 91.9 mi | 1h 41m |
| East 2nd Street | 71.3 mi | 1h 44m |
| Coronado Freeway | 58.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| US Highway 285 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| South Main Street | 19 mi | 21m |
| Oak Street | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| Pan American Freeway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| North Main Street | 4.9 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
8th Street
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,021 veh/hr typical · worst 3,556
Quietest
2 AM
~333 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 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 South Valley, NM and Lovington, NM.
1
Start on this road
0.7 mi
·
7 min
·
this road
2
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
45 sec
3
Turn right onto Isleta Boulevard Southwest
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Isleta Boulevard Southwest
4
Turn right onto NM 500
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Rio Bravo Boulevard Southwest
5
Continue on NM 500
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Rio Bravo Boulevard Southeast
6
Turn slight right
364 ft
·
13 sec
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
9
Merge onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Pan American Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 226B-A
Toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 226A
Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 40
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Coronado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
14
Keep slight left at fork
470 ft
·
15 sec
15
Turn right onto US 285
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US Highway 285
16
Continue on US 60; US 285
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Oak Street
17
Continue on US 54; US 60; US 285
92 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
8th Street
18
Continue on US 285
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
19
Turn left onto East Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Country Club Road
20
Turn right onto CR 93
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Atkinson Avenue
21
Turn left onto US 380
71 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
·
East 2nd Street
22
Turn right onto NM 206
19 mi
·
21 min
·
South Main Street
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
24
Continue on US 82
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Plains Highway
25
Continue on US 82
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tatum Highway
26
Continue on US 82
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
27
Continue on US 82
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Main Avenue
28
Turn left onto NM 83
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Avenue D
29
Arrive at destination
NM 83
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 20m drive, aim to depart from South Valley in the morning. This allows ample daylight to complete the 304.2 miles to Lovington. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or before you hit the longest stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as services can be less frequent. The $44 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you leave. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could split the drive, but it's designed for a single-day trip.
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 152.1 miles from South Valley, NM, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 67 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.1 miles or 2h 59m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lovington, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Valley, 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 South Valley, NM
This is one driving day of about 304.2 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from South Valley, 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 8th Street for about 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152.1 miles from South Valley, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 8th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Waldrop Park Rest Area
0 mi from route
US-285 Vaughn Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Mesa Rest Area
0 mi from route
Cline's Corners
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Lisa's Truck Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Wheels Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hours: 9 am–12 pm
+15052436269
Visit websiteABQ BioPark Zoo
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+15057682000
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 11.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 25 / Pan American Freeway
Merge onto I 25 / Pan American Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226B-A
Toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226A
Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
5
11.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.56 one way
$93.13 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.31 | $51.57 | $103.14 |
| premium | $4.65 | $55.68 | $111.36 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $75.16 | $150.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Avanya Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Albuquerque, NM
Tesla
24 DCFC
Albuquerque, NM - Louisiana Boulevard Northeast - Tesla Supercharger
Albuquerque, NM
Tesla
16 DCFC
Walmart 850 (Albuquerque, NM)
Albuquerque, NM
Electrify America
10 DCFC
Albuquerque, NM - Lang Avenue Northeast - Tesla Supercharger
Albuquerque, NM
Tesla
8 DCFC
Kroger Smiths 443 (Albuquerque, NM)
Albuquerque, NM
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Albuquerque, NM - Tesla Supercharger
Albuquerque, NM
Tesla
6 DCFC
FasCharge 4619 FastMarket Valero Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM
RED_E
4 DCFC
Power Ford
Albuquerque, NM
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 7
Tesla: 4
RED_E: 3
Electrify America: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Blink Network: 1
EVGATEWAY: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.3 | 1 | $31.94 | $14.60 |
| Efficient EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.62 | $12.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.7 | 1 | $42.59 | $19.47 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Origin
South Valley, NM
Late night in South Valley on Friday
Local time
4:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph
60% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Lovington, NM
Late night in Lovington on Friday
Local time
4:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 23 at 1:01AM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 20m 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.
Petroglyph National Monument
National Monument
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 10.5
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this 304.2-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on surface roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 91.9 miles on 8th Street, which will likely feel like rural cruising. The route begins on roads like 8th Street and East 2nd Street before merging onto the Coronado Freeway. Expect a shift from urban or suburban merging to more open road driving as you progress.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on 8th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 304.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.3 miles (I 25 / Pan American Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,809 ft
3,548 ft
Total Climb
2,643 ft
Total Descent
3,667 ft
Highest Point
6,809 ft
~65 mi in
Elevation Range
3,261 ft
Notable High Points
6,809 ft at ~65 miles
+410 ft prominence
4,315 ft at ~260 miles
+320 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Valley, NM to Lovington, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Fe along the way.
Santa Fe
69.4 mi in
|
~1h 25m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lovington, NM
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 304.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on 8th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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.
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 Lovington, 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. There are 12 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: at 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.3 miles (I 25 / Pan American Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lovington, NM before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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