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Traffic heat map of Lincoln County, New Mexico: 371 miles of roads shaded from blue (light) to red (heavy traffic), busiest on Sudderth Drive and Mechem Drive

Lincoln County, New Mexico Traffic Counts

Traffic analytics for Lincoln County, New Mexico, calculated from real-world mobile and sensor networks on 2,531 road segments (371 road miles, about 774 ft each). Its busiest road, Sudderth Drive, carries 12,772 vehicles a day, 4.4 times the average road. Use the figures below to move from assumptions to certainty on retail locations, logistics and road planning.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
Data current as of:
Q3 2026
Updated:
September 29, 2026
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total traffic icon

Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Lincoln County, New Mexico

Traffic

The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.

vehicles per day2,901
Trucks

The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.

12.3%
Average travel time

The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.

32.3 min
Congestion ratio

The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.

9.2%
Drivers’ average age

Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

56.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income

Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

$61,679

Our data shows 2,901 vehicles per day on the average road in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and 779,033 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈284 million per year) across its 371 miles of monitored roads. Trucks are a smaller part of the mix than across New Mexico: 12.3% against 16.2%.

Shorter trips than 78% of counties in New Mexico

Lincoln sees 36% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (2,901 vehicles per day against 4,562), suggesting less demand on each road - less drive-by exposure for retail, but easier access for deliveries. In total volume terms, its road network carries about 1.2% of New Mexico's statewide total of vehicle-miles. 59% of counties in New Mexico see more traffic than Lincoln's 2,901 vehicles per day.

The average trip takes 32.3 minutes, on par with the state level. Its average travel time of 32.3 minutes is shorter than 78% of counties in New Mexico.

At 36% lower than the state level, the 9.2% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - travel times are easy to plan around for scheduled deliveries.

Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

highway traffic icon

Highway Traffic in Lincoln County, New Mexico

Trafficvehicles per day4,952
Trucks13.7%
Average travel time43.0 min
Congestion ratio7.4%
Drivers’ average age55.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income$52,202

Highways carry a significant share of travel in Lincoln County, New Mexico: 33% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 4,952 vehicles per day, 103% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 2,444 vehicles per day.

With 22% of the road miles (83 miles in 461 segments), highways punch above their length, carrying 254,637 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈92.9 million per year).

Fewer highway trucks than 87% of counties in New Mexico

The concentration of trucks on highways (13.7%) is 38% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. Highways here mostly serve passenger trips, so local access matters more than long-haul routing for logistics operators.

Lincoln's highway truck share (13.7%) is lower than 77% of counties in New Mexico. By raw truck volume, Lincoln carries fewer highway trucks than 87% of counties in New Mexico.

non-highway traffic icon

Non-highway Traffic in Lincoln County, New Mexico

Trafficvehicles per day2,444
Trucks11.6%
Average travel time29.9 min
Congestion ratio9.6%
Drivers’ average age56.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income$64,964

Local roads carry more than half of all travel in Lincoln County, New Mexico (67% of vehicle-miles). On the average non-highway road, that comes to 2,444 vehicles per day.

Their share of road miles is similar, 78% (288 miles in 2,070 segments), carrying 524,397 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈191 million per year). About 1 in 9 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (11.6%).

Older drivers than 91% of counties in New Mexico

The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 16% lower than on highways.

The non-highway congestion ratio of 9.6% is 36% lower than the state level, suggesting more efficient local mobility than the state average.

62% of counties in New Mexico see lower average driver income among trip origins than Lincoln. 91% of counties in New Mexico have a younger driver population than Lincoln.

Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns

peak hours icon
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and a long afternoon plateau from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 79% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekends are busier than weekdays: volumes run about 15% above weekday levels, which usually points to leisure, tourism or shopping traffic.
seasonal traffic icon
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +10% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
April is the quietest month, with volumes -7% versus the annual average.

Data Finding: Hourly & Seasonal Patterns

In Lincoln County, New Mexico, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and there is a noticeable seasonal swing of +10% in high season.

Lincoln County vs. New Mexico Traffic Comparison

Of the four measures, highway truck share differs most: Lincoln County runs 38% below the New Mexico average. Its average daily traffic per road is also 36% below.

MetricLincoln CountyNew Mexico averageDifference
Traffic2,9014,562-36.4%
Truck % (Total Traffic)12.3%16.2%-24.4%
Truck % (Highway)13.7%22.2%-38.1%
Avg. Travel Time32.3 min34.0 min-5.0%

How Lincoln County compares

Lincoln County against nearby counties

Set against the average of the 4 areas nearest to it, Lincoln County sees 44.2% shorter typical trips; it has the third busiest roads of the five. The same kind of road, just less of it: traffic per road matches the areas around it while the network itself is smaller.

Lincoln County and the 4 nearest county-level areas by centroid distance, with the New Mexico average for scale.
AreaAverage daily trafficTruck shareDaily vehicle-milesAverage travel timeCongestion ratio
Lincoln County2,90112.3%779,03332.3 min9.2%
Torrance County, New Mexico2,14629.1%2,356,47436.2 min7.8%
Otero County, New Mexico3,19811.7%1,623,00433.9 min10.1%
Chaves County, New Mexico3,2429.7%1,577,26438.1 min9.5%
De Baca County, New Mexico2,08816.6%211,504123.6 min7.6%
New Mexico average4,56216.2%N/A34.0 min14.4%

Lincoln County ranked within New Mexico

Average driver age places Lincoln County #4 of 33 in New Mexico - the top quarter of the state.

Lincoln County ranked among 33 county-level areas in New Mexico (1 = highest); measures without data in every county rank a smaller field, down to 32.
MeasureLincoln CountyNew Mexico rank
Traffic volume (AADT)2,901#20 of 33
Highway vehicle-miles per day254,637#29 of 32
Truck share on highways13.7%#25 of 32
Highway trucks per day680#28 of 32
Average travel time32.3 min#26 of 33
Average driver income$61,679#13 of 33
Average driver age56.3 yrs#4 of 33

Lincoln County ranks #4 of 33 on average driver age but #29 of 32 on highway travel volume - the two describe the same roads and are worth reading together rather than either on its own.

Busiest roads in Lincoln County, New Mexico

The three busiest roads in Lincoln County average 9,190 vehicles a day, 3.2 times the county average of 2,901 across all its monitored roads.

Sudderth Drive is the busiest road, at 12,772 vehicles a day, 483 of them trucks (3.8%). US 285 carries the most trucks, 883 a day (23.9% of its traffic), although it is not among the 5 busiest roads overall.

US 285 carries longer journeys than most roads here, with a median trip of 107.6 minutes against 32.3 county-wide.

Freight stands out on Main Street and US 285: trucks are 32.3% and 23.9% of the traffic there, against 12.3% county-wide.

Few trucks use Paradise Canyon Drive: 3.2% of its traffic, under half the county's 12.3%.

Ranked by daily traffic (AADT)

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1Sudderth DrivePrimary road · 12,772vehicles483trucks · 3.8%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
23.4%
Median trip time
24.6 min
Drivers’ median age
55.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$54,367

Delays build on Sudderth Drive: its congestion ratio of 23% over free-flow time is well above the county's 9%.

2Mechem DrivePrimary road · 8,810vehicles418trucks · 4.8%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
21.1%
Median trip time
26.6 min
Drivers’ median age
56.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$65,184

Travel on Mechem Drive's busiest stretch runs 21% over free-flow time, against 9% across the county, so expect slower peak hours.

3Paradise Canyon DriveSecondary road · 5,988vehicles190trucks · 3.2%
Road class
Secondary road
Congestion ratio
11.3%
Median trip time
25.5 min
Drivers’ median age
57.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$63,671

Paradise Canyon Drive carries 2.1 times the county average at its busiest, 190 of them trucks (3.2%, below the county-wide 12.3%).

4US 70Trunk road · 5,210vehicles570trucks · 10.9%
Road class
Trunk road
Congestion ratio
8.2%
Median trip time
37.2 min
Drivers’ median age
55.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$52,741

US 70 is busy by local standards, at 80% more than the county average on its busiest stretch; trucks are 10.9% of it, below the county-wide 12.3%.

5Mescalero TrailSecondary road · 4,825vehicles242trucks · 5.0%
Road class
Secondary road
Median trip time
29.4 min
Drivers’ median age
56.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$55,871

Mescalero Trail peaks at 4,825 vehicles a day, 66% more than the county average; trucks are 5.0% of it, below the county-wide 12.3%.

Ranked by trucks per day

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1US 285Trunk road · 3,693vehicles883trucks · 23.9%
Road class
Trunk road
Median trip time
107.6 min

US 285 is busy by local standards, at 27% more than the county average on its busiest stretch; trucks are 23.9% of it, above the county-wide 12.3%.

2Main StreetPrimary road · 2,668vehicles863trucks · 32.3%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
5.8%
Median trip time
48.8 min
Drivers’ median age
64.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$53,036

Drivers on Main Street are on long journeys, a median 48.8 minutes against 32.3 county-wide: a through route more than a local street.

3US 54Primary road · 2,726vehicles604trucks · 22.2%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
4.8%
Median trip time
58.8 min
Drivers’ median age
64.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$53,036

US 54 carries through traffic: the median trip using it lasts 58.8 minutes, against 32.3 for the county.

4US 70Trunk road · #4 by traffic5,210vehicles570trucks · 10.9%
5Sudderth DrivePrimary road · #1 by traffic12,772vehicles483trucks · 3.8%
How to read these road counts
  • The first number is AADT, annual average daily traffic: the vehicles passing a point on an average day, both directions combined and trucks included. On a divided highway both carriageways are added together.
  • Traffic changes along a road, with more near interchanges and towns and less in open country. Every figure for a road describes its busiest stretch in the county, so the two rankings show the same numbers for the same road.
  • The second number is the trucks on that stretch, a part of its AADT. The bar splits the AADT into cars and light vehicles (blue) and trucks (amber).
  • See segment-level AADT for any road on TrafficZoom.

Data Sources & Methodology

The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:

Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)

Road sensor networks and traffic counters

Historical traffic pattern databases

Public traffic count programs published by the

LincolnDepartment of Transportation

Demographic Baseline for O-D Modeling

U.S. Census Bureau
All metrics represent estimates based on statistical modeling and are intended for strategic planning purposes.
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Data current as of:
Q3 2026

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Counties near Lincoln County

The same traffic breakdown for the areas closest to Lincoln County, New Mexico.

Need segment-level traffic data?

Identify traffic patterns street by street and analyze the exact corridors that matter to your project.