How far is Roswell, NM from Los Alamos, NM?

The driving distance from Roswell, NM to Los Alamos, NM is about 226.4 miles (364.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 199.8 miles (321.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 14m 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
226.36 mi
04h 37m
Flight
199.86 mi
321.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Roswell.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
199.86 mi
Kilometers
321.65 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
226.36 mi
Kilometers
364.29 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Alamos
Wed, Jun 3, 7:19 AM MDT
Return by in Roswell
Wed, Jun 3, 11:57 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roswell
2026-06-03T02:42
Arrive Los Alamos
Wed, Jun 3, 7:19 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 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
7:46 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Roswell
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
Encino
NM

Human settlement in Torrance County, New Mexico, United States of America

From Roswell
113.3 mi
02h 18m
To Los Alamos
113.1 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
74°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Roswell and Los Alamos.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roswell and Los Alamos.

  1. 1

    Start on West 2nd Street

    657 ft · 28 sec · West 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    97.8 mi · 1 hr 53 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    83.2 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  4. 4

    Turn left

    1168 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    5.9 mi · 6 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward NM 466: Old Pecos Trail

    981 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    152 m · 13 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Old Pecos Trail

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Old Pecos Trail

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Old Pecos Trail

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Old Pecos Trail

  10. 10

    Continue on Old Santa Fe Trail

    3030 ft · 1 min · Old Santa Fe Trail

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East Alameda Street

    2130 ft · 1 min · East Alameda Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Guadalupe Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Guadalupe Street

  13. 13

    Take the ramp straight

    1392 ft · 34 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto North Saint Francis Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Saint Francis Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on Taos Highway

    12.2 mi · 14 min · Taos Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Santa Fe Highway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Santa Fe Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward NM 502: Los Alamos Highway

    787 ft · 22 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on NM 502: Los Alamos Highway

    149 m · 15 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight right onto Los Alamos Highway

    16.4 mi · 24 min · Los Alamos Highway

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Central Avenue

    29 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Central Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Central Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Canyon Road

    3265 ft · 1 min · Canyon Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Diamond Drive

    1519 ft · 40 sec · Diamond Drive

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Orange Street

    2188 ft · 1 min · Orange Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Orange Street

    1339 ft · 46 sec · Orange Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Orange Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Roswell and Los Alamos.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
26 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Main Street
187 mi · 83%
Los Alamos Highway
16.4 mi · 7%
Taos Highway
12.2 mi · 5%
Old Pecos Trail
2.88 mi · 1%
North Saint Francis Drive
1.51 mi · 1%
North Guadalupe Street
1.11 mi
Longest Stretch

North Main Street

Turn left onto North Main Street

97.8 mi · 01h 53m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
199.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Encino
02h 18m from Roswell
Leave By
7:46 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Roswell and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Los Alamos.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Roswell to Los Alamos?

The road trip is about 226.4 miles (364.3 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Encino is a useful midpoint, sitting about 113.3 miles from Roswell and 113.1 miles from Los Alamos.

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

The direct path is about 199.8 miles (321.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 7:46 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.26 one way or $60.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms around Roswell and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Los Alamos.

Stop Ideas Near Encino

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Encino, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Encino.

RAIL

Lamy station

100 mi away
Santa Fe County Road 33
RAIL

Las Vegas station

107 mi away
Railroad & Lincoln Streets
RAIL

Alvarado Transportation Center

118 mi away
320 First Street SW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roswell and Los Alamos. Straight-line distance: 199.86 mi (321.65 km).

Roswell

#1 Roswell

A city in Chaves County, New Mexico.

Population47,596
Coordinates33.3943700, -104.5249100
Altitude1090
CountryUnited States
Los Alamos

#2 Los Alamos

Townsite in New Mexico

Population12,019
Coordinates35.8880800, -106.3069700
Altitude2198
CountryUnited States
Start: Roswell (-104.52491, 33.39437)
End: Los Alamos (-106.30697, 35.88808)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 364 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.99 gal
30.24 L · about $30.26
Round trip
$60.52
15.98 gal · 60.48 L
Estimated CO2
71 kg one way
Round trip: 142 kg / 313 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $30.26 $60.52
Mid-grade $4.26 $34.03 $68.06
Premium $4.63 $36.95 $73.91
Diesel $5.42 $43.27 $86.53

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Roswell and Los Alamos. The current time is 02:42:10.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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