Trip from Hobbs, NM to Spencerville, NM

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

9h 52m

Distance

492.5 mi

793 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 43m ★

6 AM

9h 52m

8 AM

10h 10m

10 AM

9h 58m

12 PM

9h 57m

3 PM

9h 59m

5 PM

10h 9m

8 PM

9h 47m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States

Hobbs, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Spencerville, NM

Bjorn Pierre

Trip Overview

This 492.5-mile journey from Hobbs, NM to Spencerville, NM spans approximately 9 hours and 52 minutes, making it a solid two-day trip. You'll primarily navigate US 550 and I-40, with a significant portion, 51%, being highway driving. Given the duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience. Budget around $74 for fuel. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your travels. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for those looking for a practical transit between these New Mexico locations.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

246.3 miles from Hobbs, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 8m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 51% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 151.5 miles on US 550, so be prepared for extended periods of driving before reaching a town or exit. While much of the drive is on main roads like US 550 and I-40, the profile suggests a blend that isn't solely high-speed interstate. You'll likely transition between faster highway segments and potentially more varied driving as you approach your destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 550 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 257.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 492.5 miles you will encounter 18 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 257.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 313.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 313.5 miles (San Mateo Boulevard Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

257.2 mi into trip | ~5h 21m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

313.2 mi into trip | ~6h 20m 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

313.5 mi into trip | ~6h 21m in | San Mateo Boulevard Northeast

Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

328.3 mi into trip | ~6h 40m 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

Exit 242 Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Ber...

328.5 mi into trip | ~6h 41m in

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...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Hobbs, NM and Spencerville, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.

Bernalillo

328.3 mi in | ~6h 40m

Rio Rancho

328.3 mi in | ~6h 40m

Coronado Historic Site

328.5 mi in | ~6h 41m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 550	151.5 mi	2h 50m
South Main Street	113.3 mi	2h 13m
I 40	55.8 mi	58m
NM Highway 529	31.2 mi	46m
Southeast Main Street	30 mi	35m
Lovington Highway	29.1 mi	43m
Shenrick Street	27.5 mi	31m
West Carlsbad Highway	12 mi	13m

Longest stretch: US 550 — 151.5 mi, about 2h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hobbs, NM and Spencerville, NM.

Start on North Turner Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · North Turner Street

Turn right onto US 62; US 180

2.5 mi · 2 min · West Marland Boulevard

Continue on US 62; US 180

12 mi · 13 min · West Carlsbad Highway

Turn right onto NM 529

31 mi · 46 min · NM Highway 529

At end of road, turn left onto US 82

29 mi · 43 min · Lovington Highway

Continue on US 82

2.1 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto US 285

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street

Continue on US 285

7.2 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway

Continue on US 285

30 mi · 35 min · Southeast Main Street

Continue on US 285

113 mi · 2 hr 13 min · South Main Street

Continue on US 60; US 285

28 mi · 31 min · Shenrick Street

Turn left

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 40

56 mi · 58 min · I 40

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Exit 161 Toward San Mateo Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast

3.3 mi · 6 min · San Mateo Boulevard Northeast

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast

353 ft · 6 sec · Pan American Freeway Northeast

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 25 North: Santa Fe Use the straight / left lanes.

Merge onto I 25

11 mi · 11 min · Pan American Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Exit 242 Toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 20 sec

Toward US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site

Continue on US 550

1.7 mi · 3 min · US 550

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 550

150 mi · 2 hr 47 min · US 550

Turn right onto US 64; US 550

0.4 mi · 53 sec · West Broadway Boulevard

Turn left onto US 550

8.0 mi · 13 min · North 1st Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto West Chaco Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · West Chaco Street

Turn right onto North Ash Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Ash Street

Turn left onto NM 516

3.4 mi · 4 min · North Aztec Boulevard

Turn right onto Road 3257

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Road 3257

Turn left onto Road 3260

397 ft · 17 sec · Road 3260

Arrive at destination

Road 3260

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 9-hour, 52-minute drive, plan to split it over two days. Aim to depart early each morning to maximize daylight driving and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The longest stretch without a significant break is 151.5 miles on US 550, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during this segment. With a $74 estimated fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before heading out each day. This route is designed for efficiency, so focus on reaching your overnight stop comfortably.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 246.3 miles from Hobbs, NM, or about 5h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 108 miles or 2h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 246.3 miles or 5h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 246.3 miles or 5h 8m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 38m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Hobbs, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hobbs, NM

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Spencerville, NM

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Hobbs, NM.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 550 for about 151.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 246.3 mi from Hobbs, NM · 5h 8m into the drive

town in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, and Sandoval counties in New Mexico, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Edgewood, NM

246 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Edgewood, NM

Overnight Options

Night 1

Edgewood, NM

246 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Edgewood, NM after about 246 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Denver City, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Edgewood, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 246.3 miles from Hobbs, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 550 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.

Arriving in Spencerville, NM

The final approach into Spencerville, 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 Spencerville, NM.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Spencerville, NM with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

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...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 492.5

View on nps.gov

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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 322.7

View on nps.gov

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour $25 near mile 441.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$74.38 one way

$148.76 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 172 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$81.65	$163.30
premium	$4.56	$88.40	$176.80
diesel	$5.61	$108.74	$217.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$204–$314

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 172.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	147.8	1	$51.71	$23.64
Efficient EV	123.1	1	$43.09	$19.70
EV Truck/SUV	197	2	$68.95	$31.52

Gas CO2

172 kg

EV CO2

58 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 data refreshed 12 hours ago

Origin

Hobbs, NM

Late night in Hobbs on Wednesday

Local time

5:05 AM

MDT

Current temp

84°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 25 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 12:30PM MDT until April 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 14 at 12:30PM MDT until April 16 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

Destination

Spencerville, NM

Late night in Spencerville on Wednesday

Local time

5:05 AM

MDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Sunny

W 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 12:30PM MDT until April 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 14 at 12:30PM MDT until April 16 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

39°F

Edgewood, NM

246 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

28 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

9h 52m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hobbs, NM to Spencerville, NM covers 492.5 miles and takes about 9h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 550, South Main Street, I 40. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 246 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 246.3 miles from Hobbs, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Hobbs, NM and Spencerville, NM, road signs point toward Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Coronado Historic Site.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Hobbs, NM

Waterflow, NM 509.5 mi · 10h 14m Silver City, NM 384.6 mi · 7h 16m Laguna, NM 361.9 mi · 7h 12m Tome, NM 347.1 mi · 7h 3m Valencia, NM 338.1 mi · 6h 56m Sandia Knolls, NM 300.3 mi · 6h 13m

More trips to Spencerville, NM

Gallup, NM 132.1 mi

Explore more options from Hobbs, NM or browse trips ending in Spencerville, NM.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.

Explore maps for Hobbs, NM or Spencerville, NM on MapSof.net.