How far is Lovington, NM from Socorro, NM?

The driving distance from Lovington, NM to Socorro, NM is about 259.5 miles (417.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 218.2 miles (351.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
259.55 mi
04h 25m
Flight
218.14 mi
351.07 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lovington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
218.14 mi
Kilometers
351.07 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
259.55 mi
Kilometers
417.7 km
Drive Time
04h 25m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Socorro
Thu, Oct 15, 3:32 PM MDT
Return by in Lovington
Thu, Oct 15, 7:57 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lovington
2026-10-15T11:07
Arrive Socorro
Thu, Oct 15, 3:32 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:10 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lovington
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ruidoso Downs
NM

City in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States of America

From Lovington
129.6 mi
02h 12m
To Socorro
129.9 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph NE
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lovington and Socorro.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lovington and Socorro.

  1. 1

    Start on East Avenue D

    7 m · 4 sec · East Avenue D

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Avenue

    1509 ft · 22 sec · South Main Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on North Main Street

    1 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Tatum Highway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tatum Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Plains Highway

    2815 ft · 36 sec · Plains Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Tatum Highway

    19 mi · 22 min · Tatum Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Broadway Street

    119.5 mi · 2 hr 46 min · West Broadway Street

  9. 9

    Turn right

    107.3 mi · 2 hr 19 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    1780 ft · 30 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    8 mi · 8 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25 BUS West, US 60 West: Socorro, Magdalena

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Turn right

    12 m · 7 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    24 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lovington and Socorro.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Broadway Street
128 mi · 49%
Tatum Highway
20.1 mi · 8%
I 25 BUS West
1.74 mi · 1%
Plains Highway
1.17 mi
North Main Street
1.05 mi
South Main Avenue
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

West Broadway Street

Turn left onto West Broadway Street

119 mi · 02h 46m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.3 mi
218.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ruidoso Downs
02h 12m from Lovington
Leave By
8:10 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lovington and Sunny near Socorro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lovington to Socorro?

The road trip is about 259.5 miles (417.7 km) and usually takes 04h 25m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ruidoso Downs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.6 miles from Lovington and 129.9 miles from Socorro.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 218.2 miles (351.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.38 one way or $80.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lovington and Sunny near Socorro.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lovington and Socorro. Straight-line distance: 218.14 mi (351.07 km).

Lovington

#1 Lovington

City in Lea County, New Mexico, United States

Population11,474
Coordinates32.9440100, -103.3485500
Altitude1192
CountryUnited States
Socorro

#2 Socorro

City in New Mexico

Population8,315
Coordinates34.0584000, -106.8914200
Altitude1403
CountryUnited States
Start: East Avenue D (-103.34855, 32.943976)
End: (-106.891416, 34.058367)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 418 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.16 gal
34.67 L · about $40.38
Round trip
$80.75
18.32 gal · 69.34 L
Estimated CO2
81.4 kg one way
Round trip: 162.8 kg / 359 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.41 $40.38 $80.75
Mid-grade $4.83 $44.28 $88.56
Premium $5.16 $47.27 $94.55
Diesel $6.05 $55.38 $110.76

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Mexico · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lovington and Socorro. The current time is 11:07:13.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.