Skip to main content

Trip from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 48m

Distance

288.2 mi

464 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 36m ★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m

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

Downtown Carlsbad, NM, NM

Carlsbad, NM

Malcolm Garret

Downtown Los Chavez, NM, NM

Los Chavez, NM

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

The drive from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM covers 288.2 miles and takes about 5h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Pierce Street, Artesia Highway, Seven Rivers Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.53 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 288.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 48m drive with frequent turns across 288.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Pierce Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

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 5h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Pierce Street
Artesia Highway
Seven Rivers Highway
South 1st Street
Roswell Highway
Southeast Main Street
Relief Route
West 2nd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Pierce Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carlsbad, NM and Los Chavez, NM.

1

Start on North Canal Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Canal Street
2

Continue on West Pierce Street

3.4 mi · 5 min · West Pierce Street
3

Continue on Artesia Highway

2.1 mi · 2 min · Artesia Highway
4

Continue on Seven Rivers Highway

25 mi · 28 min · Seven Rivers Highway
5

Continue on South 1st Street

0.6 mi · 41 sec · South 1st Street
6

Continue on Seven Rivers Highway

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Seven Rivers Highway
7

Continue on South 1st Street

5.2 mi · 5 min · South 1st Street
8

Continue on Roswell Highway

7.2 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway
9

Continue on Southeast Main Street

26 mi · 30 min · Southeast Main Street
10

Turn left onto Relief Route

7.9 mi · 10 min · Relief Route
11

Turn left onto West 2nd Street

44 mi · 52 min · West 2nd Street
12

Turn right

107 mi · 2 hr 18 min
13

Keep slight right

0.3 mi · 30 sec
14

Merge slight left

51 mi · 50 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Belen

4.4 mi · 7 min · I 25: Belen
16

Keep slight right to continue on NM 314

2.5 mi · 4 min · NM 314
17

Turn left onto Square Deal Road

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Square Deal Road
18

Arrive at your destination

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 144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, or about 2h 54m into the drive.

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 63 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 144.1 miles or 2h 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 46m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Carlsbad, 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 Carlsbad, NM

This is one driving day of about 288.2 miles and 5h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Carlsbad, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 144.1 mi from Carlsbad, NM · 2h 54m into the drive

village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Capitan, NM

144 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

Artesia, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Capitan, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Los Chavez, NM

The final approach into Los Chavez, NM usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Los Chavez, NM.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.53 one way

$87.05 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $47.78 $95.56
premium $4.56 $51.73 $103.46
diesel $5.61 $63.63 $127.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86.5 1 $30.26 $13.83
Efficient EV 72.1 0 $25.22 $11.53
EV Truck/SUV 115.3 1 $40.35 $18.44

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Carlsbad, NM

Afternoon in Carlsbad on Thursday

Local time

1:11 PM

MDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Chavez, NM

Afternoon in Los Chavez on Thursday

Local time

1:11 PM

MDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

12 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

5h 48m on the road

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM covers 288.2 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Pierce Street, Artesia Highway, Seven Rivers Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.53 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Carlsbad, NM or browse trips ending in Los Chavez, NM.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.

Explore maps for Carlsbad, NM or Los Chavez, NM on MapSof.net.