Origin
Chimayo, NM
Night in Chimayo on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 1m
Distance
295.1 mi
475 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 49m
★
6 AM
6h 2m
8 AM
6h 27m
10 AM
6h 11m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chimayo, NM
Ken Jacobsen
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
The drive from Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 295.1 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 76, Santa Cruz Road, La Puebla Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.57 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
147.6 miles from Chimayo, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 1m drive with frequent turns across 295.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 76 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 1m, 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 Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 76 | — | — |
| Santa Cruz Road | — | — |
| La Puebla Road | — | — |
| Santa Fe Highway | — | — |
| Taos Highway | — | — |
| US 84 | — | — |
| North Saint Francis Drive | — | — |
| Guadalupe Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Route 76
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chimayo, NM and Carlsbad, NM.
1
Start on Route 76
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 76
2
Continue on Santa Cruz Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Cruz Road
3
Turn left onto La Puebla Road
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
La Puebla Road
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Santa Fe Highway
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Santa Fe Highway
5
Continue on Taos Highway
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Taos Highway
6
Continue on US 84/285
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 84/285
7
Continue on North Saint Francis Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Saint Francis Drive
8
Take the exit slight left toward Guadalupe Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Guadalupe Street
9
Continue on North Guadalupe Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Guadalupe Street
10
Turn left onto West Alameda Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Alameda Street
11
Turn right onto Old Santa Fe Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Santa Fe Trail
12
Continue on Old Pecos Trail
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Pecos Trail
13
Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
14
Merge slight left
6.2 mi
·
6 min
15
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
16
Keep slight right
175 mi
·
3 hr 20 min
17
Continue on North Main Street
6.9 mi
·
14 min
·
North Main Street
18
Turn slight left onto Southeast Main Street
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
19
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
20
Continue on North 1st Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
21
Continue on South 1st Street
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
22
Continue on Seven Rivers Highway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
23
Continue on Artesia Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
24
Continue on Pierce Street
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pierce Street
25
Continue on North Canal Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canal Street
26
Continue on North Canal Street
154 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Canal Street
27
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.6 miles from Chimayo, NM, or about 3h 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 65 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.6 miles or 3h 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlsbad, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chimayo, 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 Chimayo, NM
This is one driving day of about 295.1 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Chimayo, 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 147.6 mi from Chimayo, NM · 3h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.6 miles from Chimayo, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carlsbad, NM
The final approach into Carlsbad, 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 Carlsbad, 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
$44.57 one way
$89.13 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $48.92 | $97.85 |
| premium | $4.56 | $52.97 | $105.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.15 | $130.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.99 | $14.16 |
| Efficient EV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.82 | $11.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118 | 1 | $41.31 | $18.89 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Carlsbad, NM
Night in Carlsbad on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Santa Rosa, NM
148 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
13 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 295.1 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 76, Santa Cruz Road, La Puebla Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.6 miles from Chimayo, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.57 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 1 meaningful break 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 6h 1m, 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 Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chimayo, NM to Carlsbad, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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