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Trip from La Cienega, NM to Hobbs, NM

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 35m

Distance

317 mi

510 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 23m ★
6 AM
6h 35m
8 AM
7h 0m
10 AM
6h 44m
12 PM
6h 41m
3 PM
6h 45m
5 PM
6h 58m
8 PM
6h 28m

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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city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States

Hobbs, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from La Cienega, NM to Hobbs, NM covers 317 miles and takes about 6h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 285, East 2nd Street, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 175.2 miles on US 285. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.87 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

158.5 miles from La Cienega, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 35m. Total distance: 317 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 35m highway drive covering 317 miles, with most of the trip on US 285 and East 2nd Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 175.2 miles on US 285.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 285 is the longest continuous segment at about 175.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 285 and East 2nd Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.3 miles (US 285): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega

Turn right onto CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega

Navigation decision point

4
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

4
20.3 mi into trip | ~24m in | US 285

Keep slight right at fork onto US 285

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
200.2 mi into trip | ~3h 53m in | CR 93 / North Atkinson Avenue

Turn right onto CR 93 / North Atkinson Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
202.2 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | US 380 / East 2nd Street

Turn left onto US 380 / East 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 285 175.2 mi 3h 20m
East 2nd Street 71.3 mi 1h 44m
South Main Street 19 mi 21m
I 25 18.3 mi 18m
North Lovington Highway 17 mi 20m
North Main Street 4.9 mi 8m
South Main Avenue 2.6 mi 4m
North Atkinson Avenue 2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 285 — 175.2 mi, about 3h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Camino Capilla Vieja

0.4 mi · 1 min · Camino Capilla Vieja
2

Turn right onto CR 50F

1.1 mi · 3 min · Entrada la Cienega
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
4

Merge onto I 25

18 mi · 18 min · I 25
5

Take the exit onto US 285

0.2 mi · 25 sec · US 285
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 285

175 mi · 3 hr 20 min · US 285
7

Continue on US 285

3.9 mi · 6 min · North Main Street
8

Turn left onto East Country Club Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Country Club Road
9

Turn right onto CR 93

2.0 mi · 4 min · North Atkinson Avenue
10

Turn left onto US 380

71 mi · 1 hr 44 min · East 2nd Street
11

Turn right onto NM 206

19 mi · 21 min · South Main Street
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
13

Continue on US 82

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Plains Highway
14

Continue on US 82

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tatum Highway
15

Continue on US 82

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
16

Continue on US 82

2.6 mi · 4 min · South Main Avenue
17

Continue on NM 18

17 mi · 20 min · North Lovington Highway
18

Continue on North Turner Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · North Turner Street
19

Arrive at destination

North Turner Street

Trip Plan

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 158.5 miles from La Cienega, NM, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.2 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 70 miles or 1h 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 158.5 miles or 3h 2m 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 22m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving La Cienega, 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 La Cienega, NM

This is one driving day of about 317 miles and 6h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from La Cienega, 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 285 for about 175.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 158.5 mi from La Cienega, NM · 3h 2m into the drive

city in and the county seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Roswell, NM

159 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.

Popular next leg

Roswell, NM to Hobbs, NM

117.6 mi · 2h 39m

Pacing Suggestions

Edgewood, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Roswell, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 158.5 miles from La Cienega, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 285 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.2 miles.

Arriving in Hobbs, NM

The final approach into Hobbs, 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 Hobbs, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Pecos is a natural and cultural crossroads through which hunters, gatherers, traders, missionaries, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers, and other travelers passed and lived. Follow in their footsteps and...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 21.9
View on nps.gov
Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument

National Monument

Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour $25
View on nps.gov
Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Manhattan Project National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. Most of this development took...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.87 one way

$95.75 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $52.55 $105.11
premium $4.56 $56.90 $113.80
diesel $5.61 $69.99 $139.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 110.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 95.1 1 $33.29 $15.22
Efficient EV 79.3 0 $27.74 $12.68
EV Truck/SUV 126.8 1 $44.38 $20.29

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

La Cienega, NM

Afternoon in La Cienega on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

MDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hobbs, NM

Afternoon in Hobbs on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

MDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

85°F

Roswell, NM

159 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

38 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 35m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from La Cienega, NM to Hobbs, NM covers 317 miles and takes about 6h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 285, East 2nd Street, South Main 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 158.5 miles from La Cienega, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.87 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 50F / Entrada la Cienega): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.3 miles (US 285): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from La Cienega, NM to Hobbs, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pecos National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

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