How far is Ruidoso, NM from Lubbock, TX?

The driving distance from Ruidoso, NM to Lubbock, TX is about 258.9 miles (416.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220.7 miles (355.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 32m 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
258.94 mi
05h 16m
Flight
220.73 mi
355.23 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ruidoso.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
220.73 mi
Kilometers
355.23 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
258.94 mi
Kilometers
416.73 km
Drive Time
05h 16m

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 05h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lubbock
Thu, Oct 15, 5:15 PM CDT
Return by in Ruidoso
Thu, Oct 15, 9:31 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ruidoso
2026-10-15T10:58
Arrive Lubbock
Thu, Oct 15, 4:15 PM MDT
Route Timing
05h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:16 PM to 2:16 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:28 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ruidoso
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
Elida
NM

Town in New Mexico, United States

From Ruidoso
129.3 mi
02h 38m
To Lubbock
129.7 mi
02h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 to 17 mph N
Destination
72°F
Today

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ruidoso and Lubbock.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ruidoso and Lubbock.

  1. 1

    Start on Sudderth Drive

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Sudderth Drive

  2. 2

    Merge slight right

    67.2 mi · 1 hr 25 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Relief Route

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Relief Route

  4. 4

    Continue on Highway Relief Route

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Highway Relief Route

  5. 5

    Continue on Clovis Highway

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Clovis Highway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Texico Avenue

    34.6 mi · 48 min · Texico Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left

    4.6 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    8.5 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    12.5 mi · 13 min

  10. 10

    Turn slight left

    21.8 mi · 27 min

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right toward US 84 East: Lubbock

    1 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Marshall Howard Boulevard

    19.1 mi · 19 min · Marshall Howard Boulevard

  13. 13

    Continue on Highway 84

    11.4 mi · 12 min · Highway 84

  14. 14

    Continue on Clovis Road

    6 mi · 7 min · Clovis Road

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Avenue Q

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Avenue Q

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 19th Street

    10 m · 1 sec · 19th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 19th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ruidoso and Lubbock.

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
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
3 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sudderth Drive
70 mi · 27%
Clovis Highway
61.1 mi · 24%
Texico Avenue
55.6 mi · 21%
Marshall Howard Boulevard
19.1 mi · 7%
Highway 84
11.4 mi · 4%
Relief Route
6.18 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Sudderth Drive

Merge slight right

67.2 mi · 01h 25m

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
05h 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.2 mi
220.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elida
02h 38m from Ruidoso
Leave By
6:28 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ruidoso and Partly Sunny near Lubbock.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ruidoso to Lubbock?

The road trip is about 258.9 miles (416.7 km) and usually takes 05h 16m 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?

Elida is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.3 miles from Ruidoso and 129.7 miles from Lubbock.

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

The direct path is about 220.7 miles (355.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.2 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 6:28 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.29 one way or $80.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Ruidoso and Lubbock, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ruidoso and Partly Sunny near Lubbock.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ruidoso and Lubbock. Straight-line distance: 220.73 mi (355.23 km).

Ruidoso

#1 Ruidoso

Village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States

Population8,061
Coordinates33.3317500, -105.6730400
Altitude2051
CountryUnited States
Lubbock

#2 Lubbock

The second most populous city in Texas and the center of the Lubbock metropolitan area.

Population262,611
Coordinates33.5778600, -101.8551700
Altitude976
CountryUnited States
Start: Ruidoso (-105.67304, 33.33175)
End: Lubbock (-101.85517, 33.57786)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 417 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.14 gal
34.59 L · about $40.29
Round trip
$80.58
18.28 gal · 69.18 L
Estimated CO2
81.2 kg one way
Round trip: 162.5 kg / 358 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.41 $40.29 $80.58
Mid-grade $4.83 $44.18 $88.37
Premium $5.16 $47.17 $94.34
Diesel $6.05 $55.26 $110.52

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Ruidoso, NM and Lubbock, TX. The current time in Ruidoso is 10:58:56, although it is 11:58:56 in Lubbock.

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.