Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 63–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers73°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Isolated light rain showers64°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Partly sunny70°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Mostly cloudy66°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Partly sunny67°F Roswell2 PM MDT Partly sunny71°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Partly sunny64°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 65–76°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers73°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Mostly cloudy66°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers67°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers73°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Partly sunny69°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Partly sunny73°F Roswell2 PM MDT Mostly sunny76°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny65°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–75°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Partly sunny71°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny66°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Partly sunny67°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Partly sunny72°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Partly sunny70°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Partly sunny73°F Roswell2 PM MDT Mostly sunny75°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Isolated thunderstorms67°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 65–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Sunny74°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Sunny78°F Roswell2 PM MDT Sunny82°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny72°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–83°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Sunny66°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny80°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Mostly sunny77°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Sunny80°F Roswell2 PM MDT Sunny83°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny73°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–83°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny80°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Sunny78°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Sunny80°F Roswell2 PM MDT Sunny83°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Sunny72°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 64–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Sonora9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Pecos12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny79°F Texas–New Mexico line12 PM MDT Sunny77°F Carlsbad12:45 PM MDT Sunny80°F Roswell2 PM MDT Sunny82°F Ruidoso3:15 PM MDT Sunny71°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from San Antonio (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- San Antonio, TXStart 645 ftelevation
- Sonora, TXMile 170 · 2 h 22 min 2,128 ftelevation
- Fort Stockton, TXMile 312 · 4 h 15 min 2,983 ftelevation
- Pecos, TXMile 365 · 5 h 10 min 2,583 ftelevation
- Texas–New Mexico lineState line · Mile 417 · 5 h 58 min 2,929 ftelevation
- Carlsbad, NMMile 451 · 6 h 38 min 3,118 ftelevation
- Roswell, NMMile 530 · 8 h 4 min 3,574 ftelevation
- Ruidoso, NMMile 600 · 9 h 20 min 6,732 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at San Antonio, Roswell and Ruidoso.
| Month | San Antonio 789 ft | Roswell 3,649 ft | Ruidoso 6,930 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 63° / 41° | 0 | 57° / 28° | 0.7 | 49° / 21° | 2.0 |
| Feb | 68° / 45° | 0 | 63° / 33° | 0.4 | 51° / 23° | 1.8 |
| Mar | 74° / 52° | 0 | 71° / 39° | 0.2 | 58° / 27° | 1.1 |
| Apr | 80° / 58° | 0 | 79° / 47° | 0 | 65° / 33° | 0.3 |
| May | 87° / 66° | 0 | 88° / 57° | 0 | 73° / 40° | 0 |
| Jun | 92° / 73° | 0 | 96° / 66° | 0 | 82° / 47° | 0 |
| Jul | 95° / 75° | 0 | 97° / 70° | 0 | 81° / 51° | 0 |
| Aug | 96° / 75° | 0 | 95° / 69° | 0 | 79° / 50° | 0 |
| Sep | 90° / 70° | 0 | 88° / 61° | 0 | 75° / 44° | 0 |
| Oct | 82° / 60° | 0 | 78° / 49° | 0.1 | 67° / 35° | 0.3 |
| Nov | 72° / 50° | 0 | 66° / 36° | 0.4 | 56° / 26° | 0.7 |
| Dec | 65° / 42° | 0 | 57° / 28° | 1.0 | 48° / 22° | 2.2 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SAN ANTONIO INTL AP (USW00012921, 789 ft); ROSWELL IND AIR PK (USW00023009, 3,649 ft); RUIDOSO (USC00297649, 6,930 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Texas and New Mexico rather than repeat them.
- Texas · TxDOTDriveTexas road conditions
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from San Antonio to Ruidoso with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from San Antonio to Ruidoso?
600 miles, about 9½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-10, Pecos and Roswell. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Ruidoso, at 6,732 ft. It comes at mile 600, about 9 h 20 min of driving after you leave San Antonio.
Does it snow at Ruidoso in November?
Ruidoso averages 1.8 inches of snow in November, with about one day of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).