Origin
Artesia, NM
Afternoon in Artesia on Saturday
Local time
12:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Artesia, NM to Los Lunas, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
261 mi
420 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Los Lunas, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Artesia, NM to Los Lunas, NM covers 261 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Main Street, North 1st Street, Roswell Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.42 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
130.5 miles from Artesia, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | — | — |
| North 1st Street | — | — |
| Roswell Highway | — | — |
| Southeast Main Street | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Shenrick Street | — | — |
| I 25 North | — | — |
| I 25 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Los Lunas, NM.
1
Start on West Main Street
79 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto North 1st Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
4
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
5
Continue on Southeast Main Street
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
6
Continue on South Main Street
113 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
South Main Street
7
Continue on Shenrick Street
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Shenrick Street
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
9
Merge slight left
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North, I 25 South: Las Cruces, Santa Fe
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 25 North, I 25 South: Las Cruces, Santa Fe
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South: Las Cruces
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25 South: Las Cruces
12
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Pan American Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward HR 66: University of New Mexico Valencia Campus
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
HR 66: University of New Mexico Valencia Campus
14
Turn left onto Main Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Main Street Southwest
15
Continue on Main Street Northwest
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street Northwest
16
Continue on Main Street Southwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street Southwest
17
Continue on Main Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Main Street Northeast
18
Turn right onto Luna Avenue Southeast
151 ft
·
7 sec
·
Luna Avenue Southeast
19
Turn slight left
33 ft
·
2 sec
20
Arrive at your destination
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 130.5 miles from Artesia, NM, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
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 57 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.5 miles or 2h 7m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Lunas, 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 261 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.5 miles from Artesia, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.42 one way
$78.83 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $43.27 | $86.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $46.85 | $93.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.63 | $115.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.40 | $12.53 |
| Efficient EV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.84 | $10.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.54 | $16.70 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Los Lunas, NM
Afternoon in Los Lunas on Saturday
Local time
12:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Santa Rosa, NM
131 mi in
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
9 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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
261 mi in 4h 14m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 14m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Artesia, NM to Los Lunas, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 261 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Artesia, NM to Los Lunas, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Los Lunas, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Los Lunas, NM
More trips to Los Lunas, NM
Explore more options from Artesia, NM or browse trips ending in Los Lunas, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.