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Trip from Artesia, NM to Chaparral, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 59m

Distance

208.2 mi

335 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 46m ★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States

Artesia, NM

Wikimedia Commons

vegetation zone

Chaparral, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Artesia, NM to Chaparral, NM covers 208.2 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US Highway 62, National Parks Highway, Seven Rivers Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

104.1 miles from Artesia, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 62 102.3 mi 1h 46m
National Parks Highway 33.5 mi 37m
Seven Rivers Highway 26.3 mi 29m
Montana Avenue 12.3 mi 15m
Purple Heart Memorial Freeway 10.6 mi 12m
McCombs Street 7 mi 12m
Pierce Street 3.4 mi 5m
North Canal Street 3.2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US Highway 62 — 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Chaparral, NM.

1

Start on US 82

79 ft · 6 sec · West Main Street
2

Continue on US 82

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Main Street
3

Turn right onto US 285

3.0 mi · 3 min · South 1st Street
4

Continue on US 285

26 mi · 29 min · Seven Rivers Highway
5

Continue on US 285

2.1 mi · 2 min · Artesia Highway
6

Continue on US 285

3.4 mi · 5 min · Pierce Street
7

Continue on US 285

3.2 mi · 4 min · North Canal Street
8

Turn slight right onto US 62; US 180

34 mi · 37 min · National Parks Highway
9

Continue on US 62; US 180

102 mi · 1 hr 46 min · US Highway 62
10

Continue on US 62; US 180

12 mi · 15 min · Montana Avenue
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward Loop 375 North
12

Merge onto Loop 375

11 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 24A Toward FM 2529, US 54 Business: McCombs Street, Dyer Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Turn straight onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Use the right lane.
15

Turn right onto McCombs Street

7.0 mi · 12 min · McCombs Street
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on McCombs Drive

1.0 mi · 1 min · McCombs Drive
17

Turn right onto Hermosa Drive

1.4 mi · 3 min · Hermosa Drive
18

Turn left onto Prescott Anthony Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Prescott Anthony Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Prescott Anthony Drive

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.1 miles from Artesia, NM, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 46 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 104.1 miles or 1h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chaparral, NM than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Artesia, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Artesia, NM

This is one driving day of about 208.2 miles and 3h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Artesia, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 62 for about 102.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Carlsbad, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carlsbad, NM

104 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Carlsbad, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Carlsbad, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.1 miles from Artesia, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 62 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 198.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 285 / South 1st Street

Turn right onto US 285 / South 1st Street

Navigation decision point

4
186.5 mi into trip | ~3h 25m in

Take the exit toward Loop 375 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Loop 375 North
5
186.8 mi into trip | ~3h 25m in | Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway

Merge onto Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
197.5 mi into trip | ~3h 37m in

Take the exit toward FM 2529, US 54 Business: McCombs Street, Dyer Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 24A Toward FM 2529, US 54 Business: McCombs Street,...
5
198.2 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in | McCombs Street

Turn right onto McCombs Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.44 one way

$62.89 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $34.52 $69.03
premium $4.56 $37.37 $74.74
diesel $5.61 $45.97 $91.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62.5 0 $21.86 $9.99
Efficient EV 52.1 0 $18.22 $8.33
EV Truck/SUV 83.3 1 $29.15 $13.32

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Artesia, NM

Morning in Artesia on Saturday

Local time

11:29 AM

MDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chaparral, NM

Morning in Chaparral on Saturday

Local time

11:29 AM

MDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Carlsbad, NM

104 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

32 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 59m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive from Artesia, NM to Chaparral, NM covers 208.2 miles and takes about 3h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 62 is the longest continuous segment at about 102.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 285 / South 1st Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 285 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 186.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 186.8 miles (Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Artesia, NM and Chaparral, NM, road signs point toward Loop 375 North and Fm 2529.

Loop 375 North

186.5 mi in | ~3h 25m

Fm 2529

197.5 mi in | ~3h 37m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 208.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Artesia, NM to Chaparral, NM covers 208.2 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US Highway 62, National Parks Highway, Seven Rivers Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 104.1 miles from Artesia, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 285 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 186.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 186.8 miles (Loop 375 / Purple Heart Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Artesia, NM and Chaparral, NM, road signs point toward Loop 375 North and Fm 2529.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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