How far is Taos, NM from Roswell, NM?

The driving distance from Taos, NM to Roswell, NM is about 262.9 miles (423.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 53m 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
262.91 mi
04h 26m
Flight
216.47 mi
348.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Taos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
216.47 mi
Kilometers
348.38 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
262.91 mi
Kilometers
423.11 km
Drive Time
04h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roswell
Wed, May 13, 12:19 AM MDT
Return by in Taos
Wed, May 13, 4:46 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Taos
2026-05-12T19:53
Arrive Roswell
Wed, May 13, 12:19 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 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
8:06 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Taos
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 Taos
130.8 mi
02h 13m
To Roswell
132.1 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W
Destination
97°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Taos and Roswell.

  1. 1

    Start on Barela Lane

    10 m · 2 sec · Barela Lane

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto Kit Carson Road

    35 m · 8 sec · Kit Carson Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Paseo del Pueblo Sur

    42.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Paseo del Pueblo Sur

  4. 4

    Continue on North Riverside Drive

    2.8 mi · 6 min · North Riverside Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on Riverside Drive Southeast

    931 ft · 25 sec · Riverside Drive Southeast

  6. 6

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    2546 ft · 1 min · Riverside Drive

  7. 7

    Continue on Santa Fe Highway

    8.7 mi · 14 min · Santa Fe Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Taos Highway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Taos Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on US 84/285

    7.5 mi · 9 min · US 84/285

  10. 10

    Continue on North Saint Francis Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Saint Francis Drive

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward Guadalupe Street

    1568 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on North Guadalupe Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Guadalupe Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West Alameda Street

    2176 ft · 1 min · West Alameda Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Old Santa Fe Trail

    3036 ft · 1 min · Old Santa Fe Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on Old Pecos Trail

    3 mi · 5 min · Old Pecos Trail

  16. 16

    Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners

    2133 ft · 52 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    6.2 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    1028 ft · 25 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    175 mi · 3 hr 20 min

  20. 20

    Continue on North Main Street

    5.9 mi · 12 min · North Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West 2nd Street

    657 ft · 21 sec · West 2nd Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 2nd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 25 North
182 mi · 69%
Paseo del Pueblo Sur
42.5 mi · 16%
Santa Fe Highway
8.66 mi · 3%
US 84/285
7.52 mi · 3%
North Main Street
5.89 mi · 2%
Taos Highway
4.67 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 25 North

Keep slight right

175 mi · 03h 20m

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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.4 mi
216.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Encino
02h 13m from Taos
Leave By
8:06 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Taos and Sunny near Roswell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Taos to Roswell?

The road trip is about 262.9 miles (423.1 km) and usually takes 04h 26m 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 130.8 miles from Taos and 132.1 miles from Roswell.

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

The direct path is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.4 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 8:06 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.14 one way or $70.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Taos and Sunny near Roswell.

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 Taos and Roswell. Straight-line distance: 216.47 mi (348.38 km).

Taos

#1 Taos

Town in Taos County, New Mexico, United States of America

Population5,872
Coordinates36.4072500, -105.5730700
Altitude2124
CountryUnited States
Roswell

#2 Roswell

A city in Chaves County, New Mexico.

Population47,596
Coordinates33.3943700, -104.5249100
Altitude1090
CountryUnited States
Start: Barela Lane (-105.573002, 36.407212)
End: US 70 (-104.524909, 33.39425)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 423 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.28 gal
35.12 L · about $35.14
Round trip
$70.29
18.56 gal · 70.24 L
Estimated CO2
82.5 kg one way
Round trip: 164.9 kg / 364 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $35.14 $70.29
Mid-grade $4.26 $39.52 $79.05
Premium $4.63 $42.92 $85.84
Diesel $5.42 $50.25 $100.50

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Taos and Roswell. The current time is 19:53:05.

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.