Origin
Carlsbad, NM
Afternoon in Carlsbad on Friday
Local time
12:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlsbad, NM to Upper Fruitland, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 53m
Distance
458.3 mi
737 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 45m
★
6 AM
8h 53m
8 AM
9h 9m
10 AM
8h 59m
12 PM
8h 57m
3 PM
9h 0m
5 PM
9h 8m
8 PM
8h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Upper Fruitland, NM
Mitch Salcido
Trip Overview
The drive from Carlsbad, NM to Upper Fruitland, NM covers 458.3 miles and takes about 8h 53m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
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 $69.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
229.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 53m drive with frequent turns across 458.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 53m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlsbad, NM to Upper Fruitland, 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 | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Shenrick 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 Upper Fruitland, 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
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
10
Continue on South Main Street
113 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
South Main Street
11
Continue on Shenrick Street
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Shenrick Street
12
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
13
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
58 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward San Mateo Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
San Mateo Boulevard
15
Turn right onto San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
San Mateo Boulevard Northeast
16
Turn right onto Pan American Freeway Northeast
354 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pan American Freeway Northeast
17
Take the ramp slight left toward I 25 North: Santa Fe
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 25 North: Santa Fe
18
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Pan American Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 550 North, NM 165 East: Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho
20
Keep slight left to continue on US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 550: Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Coronado Historic Site
21
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
3 min
22
Continue straight
150 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
23
Turn left onto West Broadway Boulevard
11 mi
·
15 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
24
Turn slight right onto East Broadway Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Avenue
25
Turn left onto East Pinon Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Pinon Street
26
Continue on Bisti Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Bisti Highway
27
Turn right onto Upper Fruitland Highway
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Upper Fruitland Highway
28
Continue on Navajo Route 36
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Navajo Route 36
29
Turn left
272 ft
·
30 sec
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 229.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 101 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 229.1 miles or 4h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 229.1 miles or 4h 26m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Fruitland, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carlsbad, NM
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Upper Fruitland, NM
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Carlsbad, NM.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 229.1 mi from Carlsbad, NM · 4h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
229 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Edgewood, NMOvernight Options
Night 1
229 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Edgewood, NM after about 229 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 229.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 229 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Upper Fruitland, NM
The final approach into Upper Fruitland, 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 Upper Fruitland, NM.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Upper Fruitland, NM with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.21 one way
$138.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
160 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $75.98 | $151.96 |
| premium | $4.56 | $82.26 | $164.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $101.19 | $202.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.5 | 1 | $48.12 | $22.00 |
| Efficient EV | 114.6 | 1 | $40.10 | $18.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 183.3 | 2 | $64.16 | $29.33 |
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
54 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.
Destination
Upper Fruitland, NM
Afternoon in Upper Fruitland on Friday
Local time
12:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Edgewood, NM
229 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h 53m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Upper Fruitland, NM covers 458.3 miles and takes about 8h 53m 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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 229 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 229.1 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 $69.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 53m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlsbad, NM to Upper Fruitland, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carlsbad, NM to Upper Fruitland, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Upper Fruitland, NM
More trips to Upper Fruitland, NM
Explore more options from Carlsbad, NM or browse trips ending in Upper Fruitland, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.