Origin
Lovington, NM
Afternoon in Lovington on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Drive Time
4h 45m
Distance
296.2 mi
477 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 32m
★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 12m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 52m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 11m
8 PM
4h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lovington, NM
B. Kane
Albuquerque, NM
Samir Smier
Trip Overview
The drive from Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 296.2 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Avenue, North Main Street, Tatum Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.28 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
148.1 miles from Lovington, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 45m drive with frequent turns across 296.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 45m 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 Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tatum Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Plains Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Atkinson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Country Club Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 25 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Main Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lovington, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on East Avenue D
23 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Avenue D
2
Turn right onto South Main Avenue
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Main Avenue
3
Continue on North Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
4
Continue on Tatum Highway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tatum Highway
5
Continue on Plains Highway
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Plains Highway
6
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Continue on Tatum Highway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Tatum Highway
8
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
71 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
West Broadway Street
9
Turn right onto North Atkinson Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Atkinson Avenue
10
Turn left onto East Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Country Club Road
11
Turn right onto North Main Street
96 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
North Main Street
12
Continue straight
42 mi
·
49 min
13
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
14
Merge slight left
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
15
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
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 South: Las Cruces
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 25 South: Las Cruces
17
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Pan American Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
19
Turn straight onto Locust Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Locust Street Northeast
20
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
21
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 148.1 miles from Lovington, NM, or about 2h 22m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 2h 22m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albuquerque, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lovington, 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 Lovington, NM
This is one driving day of about 296.2 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lovington, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.1 mi from Lovington, NM · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Lovington, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albuquerque, NM
The final approach into Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, NM.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.28 one way
$90.56 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $49.67 | $99.33 |
| premium | $4.61 | $53.76 | $107.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.81 | $131.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.10 | $14.22 |
| Efficient EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.92 | $11.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.5 | 1 | $41.47 | $18.96 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Albuquerque, NM
Afternoon in Albuquerque on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Artesia, NM
148 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
6 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 45m 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 Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM covers 296.2 miles and takes about 4h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Avenue, North Main Street, Tatum Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.1 miles from Lovington, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.28 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 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lovington, NM to Albuquerque, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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