Origin
Roswell, NM
Late night in Roswell on Wednesday
Local time
5:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Roswell, NM to Columbus, NM
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
5h 42m
Distance
274.7 mi
442 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 29m
★
6 AM
5h 42m
8 AM
6h 9m
10 AM
5h 52m
12 PM
5h 49m
3 PM
5h 53m
5 PM
6h 8m
8 PM
5h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Roswell, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, NM
Priscila Teixeira
Trip Overview
This 274.7-mile drive from Roswell, NM to Columbus, NM will take you approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll spend about 28% of your time on highways, with the majority of the journey on local roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $41, this trip is budget-friendly for a single day's adventure. The route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape. Plan for a single stop along the way to break up the journey.
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
137.3 miles from Roswell, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 274.7-mile route. While 28% of the journey is on highways, the bulk of your time will be spent on local roads, including a significant 103.1-mile stretch on West 2nd Street. This suggests a driving experience that requires more attention to navigation and speed adjustments compared to a pure interstate cruise. The 'Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway' is noted as one of the main roads, indicating some highway portions, but the overall profile points to a more intricate, less direct path.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 2nd Street is the longest continuous segment at about 103.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 274.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.3 miles (US 70 / West Picacho Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Depart onto US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
118.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
183.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
|
US 70 / West Picacho Avenue
Turn right onto US 70 / West Picacho Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
189.8 mi into trip
|
~4h in
|
US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward Arizona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Arizona
5
242 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
|
US 180
Take the exit onto US 180 toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Ha...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Roswell, NM and Columbus, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.
Arizona
189.8 mi in
|
~4h
|
via US 70
Hatch
242 mi in
|
~4h 53m
|
via US 180
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 2nd Street | 103.1 mi | 2h 12m |
| US 70 | 63.3 mi | 1h 12m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 51.7 mi | 52m |
| Columbus Road | 31 mi | 46m |
| US 54 | 13.6 mi | 17m |
| West Picacho Avenue | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| North Main Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| North Bookout Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— 103.1 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roswell, NM and Columbus, NM.
1
Start on US 70; US 380
103 mi
·
2 hr 12 min
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Bookout Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Bookout Road
3
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
US 54; US 70
4
Take the exit onto US 54; US 70
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 54; US 70
5
Take the exit onto US 70
63 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US 70
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 70
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 70
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 70
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 70
Toward Arizona
10
Merge onto I 10
52 mi
·
52 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 180
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 180
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
12
Turn left onto US 180
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Gold Avenue
13
Continue on NM 11
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Gold Avenue
14
Turn straight onto NM 11
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cody Road
15
Continue on NM 11
31 mi
·
46 min
·
Columbus Road
16
Arrive at destination
NM 11
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 42-minute duration, starting your drive from Roswell, NM early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. You'll be covering 274.7 miles, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 103.1 miles, so plan your single stop strategically to coincide with this longer segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $41, and services might be less frequent on the local road portions outside of main towns. The 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means staying alert and confirming your navigation frequently, especially when transitioning onto or off of US 70.
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 137.3 miles from Roswell, NM, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 55m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Roswell, 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 Roswell, NM
This is one driving day of about 274.7 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Roswell, 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 West 2nd Street for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.3 mi from Roswell, NM · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 137.3 miles from Roswell, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West 2nd Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.1 miles.
Arriving in Columbus, NM
The final approach into Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.49 one way
$82.97 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $45.54 | $91.08 |
| premium | $4.56 | $49.31 | $98.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.65 | $121.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.84 | $13.19 |
| Efficient EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.04 | $10.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.9 | 1 | $38.46 | $17.58 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Columbus, NM
Late night in Columbus on Wednesday
Local time
5:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°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
36 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
5h 42m 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 Roswell, NM to Columbus, NM covers 274.7 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 2nd Street, US 70, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.3 miles from Roswell, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.49 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 274.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.3 miles (US 70 / West Picacho Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Roswell, NM and Columbus, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.
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