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Trip from Artesia, NM to Belen, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

248.1 mi

399 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 46m ★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Download GPX
city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States

Artesia, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Belen, NM, NM

Belen, NM

Omar Tapia

Trip Overview

The drive from Artesia, NM to Belen, NM covers 248.1 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 380, I 25, West 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.3 miles on US 380. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.47 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

124 miles from Artesia, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 248.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (65%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 59m highway drive covering 248.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 380 and I 25. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.3 miles on US 380.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 380 is the longest continuous segment at about 107.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 380 and I 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 36 miles in near US 285 Truck / Relief Route.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 36 miles (US 285 Truck / Relief Route): Navigation decision point; at 87.5 miles (US 380): Navigation decision point; at 194.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
36 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 285 Truck / Relief Route

Turn left onto US 285 Truck / Relief Route

Navigation decision point

3
87.5 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in | US 380

Turn right onto US 380

Navigation decision point

4
194.8 mi into trip | ~4h 3m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

3
195.1 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in | I 25

Merge onto I 25

Merge point - match speed before joining

4
245.7 mi into trip | ~4h 54m in | I 25 Business

Take the exit onto I 25 Business toward I 25: Belen

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 25: Belen

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 380 107.3 mi 2h 18m
I 25 50.6 mi 50m
West 2nd Street 43.6 mi 52m
Southeast Main Street 26.4 mi 30m
Relief Route 7.9 mi 10m
Roswell Highway 7.2 mi 8m
I 25 Business 2.3 mi 4m
North 1st Street 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 380 — 107.3 mi, about 2h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Belen, NM.

1

Start on US 82

79 ft · 6 sec · West Main Street
2

Continue on US 82

0.3 mi · 43 sec · West Main Street
3

Turn left onto US 285

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street
4

Continue on US 285

7.2 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway
5

Continue on US 285

26 mi · 30 min · Southeast Main Street
6

Turn left onto US 285 Truck

7.9 mi · 10 min · Relief Route
7

Turn left onto US 70; US 380

44 mi · 52 min · West 2nd Street
8

Turn right onto US 380

107 mi · 2 hr 18 min · US 380
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec
10

Merge onto I 25

51 mi · 50 min · I 25
11

Take the exit onto I 25 Business

2.3 mi · 4 min · I 25 Business
Toward I 25: Belen
12

Turn left onto West Reinken Avenue

121 ft · 13 sec · West Reinken Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

West Reinken Avenue

Trip Plan

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 124 miles from Artesia, NM, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 55 miles or 1h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 124 miles or 2h 32m 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 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belen, NM than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Artesia, 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 Artesia, NM

This is one driving day of about 248.1 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Artesia, 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 380 for about 107.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 124 mi from Artesia, NM · 2h 32m into the drive

village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Capitan, NM

124 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

Roswell, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Capitan, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124 miles from Artesia, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 380 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.

Arriving in Belen, NM

The final approach into Belen, NM usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Belen, NM.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Harvey House Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 248.1

Belen, New Mexico

Hours: 12–5 pm

+15058610581

Visit website

Roswell Welcome Sign

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 35.4

Roswell, New Mexico

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15756233442

Fort Stanton Historic Site

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 106.3

Fort Stanton, New Mexico

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15753548032

Visit website

Smokey Bear Historical Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 106.3

Capitan, New Mexico

Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm

+15753542748

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.47 one way

$74.94 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $41.13 $82.26
premium $4.56 $44.53 $89.06
diesel $5.61 $54.78 $109.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.4 0 $26.05 $11.91
Efficient EV 62 0 $21.71 $9.92
EV Truck/SUV 99.2 1 $34.73 $15.88

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Artesia, NM

Afternoon in Artesia on Friday

Local time

2:53 PM

MDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Belen, NM

Afternoon in Belen on Friday

Local time

2:53 PM

MDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live 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

30 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 59m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Artesia, NM to Belen, NM covers 248.1 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 380, I 25, West 2nd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 124 miles from Artesia, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 36 miles (US 285 Truck / Relief Route): Navigation decision point; at 87.5 miles (US 380): Navigation decision point; at 194.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Artesia, NM to Belen, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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