The highway begins at the junction with NM 28 east of community of La Union.

The road heads west through pecan orchards and fields of Mesilla Valley for 0.57 miles (0.92 km) before turning southwest.

The highway continues to follow Mercantil Avenue until it ends at La Union Townsite.

The section occupied by modern day NM 182 was initially built in 1950 as a portion of NM 273 connecting La Union with El Paso.

The entire route is in La Union, Doña Ana County.