Origin
Los Chavez, NM
Late night in Los Chavez on Thursday
Local time
4:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
288.3 mi
464 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 37m
★
6 AM
5h 50m
8 AM
6h 16m
10 AM
5h 59m
12 PM
5h 57m
3 PM
6h 1m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Chavez, NM
RDNE Stock project
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
The drive from Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 288.3 miles and takes about 5h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NM 314, North Main Street, San Antonio for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.54 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
144.2 miles from Los Chavez, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 50m. Total distance: 288.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m 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 50m drive with frequent turns across 288.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NM 314 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
This is a straightforward 5h 50m 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 Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NM 314 | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| San Antonio | — | — |
| 2nd Street | — | — |
| Relief Route | — | — |
| Southeast Main Street | — | — |
| Roswell Highway | — | — |
| North 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
NM 314
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Chavez, NM and Carlsbad, NM.
1
Start on Square Deal Road
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Square Deal Road
2
Turn right onto NM 314
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
NM 314
3
Continue on North Main Street
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
4
Keep slight left
51 mi
·
51 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward San Antonio
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
San Antonio
6
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
7
Continue on 2nd Street
107 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
2nd Street
8
At the end of the road, turn left
43 mi
·
52 min
9
Turn right onto Relief Route
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Relief Route
10
Turn right onto Southeast Main Street
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Southeast Main Street
11
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
12
Continue on North 1st Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
13
Continue on South 1st Street
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
14
Continue on Seven Rivers Highway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
15
Continue on Artesia Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
16
Continue on Pierce Street
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pierce Street
17
Continue on North Canal Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canal Street
18
Continue on North Canal Street
154 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Canal Street
19
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 144.2 miles from Los Chavez, NM, or about 2h 55m 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 144.2 miles or 2h 55m 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 47m
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 Los Chavez, 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 Los Chavez, NM
This is one driving day of about 288.3 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Los Chavez, 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 144.2 mi from Los Chavez, NM · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.2 miles from Los Chavez, 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
$43.54 one way
$87.08 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $47.80 | $95.59 |
| premium | $4.56 | $51.75 | $103.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.65 | $127.31 |
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: 100.9 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 | $30.27 | $13.84 |
| Efficient EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.23 | $11.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.3 | 1 | $40.36 | $18.45 |
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.
Destination
Carlsbad, NM
Late night in Carlsbad on Thursday
Local time
4:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 50m 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 Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 288.3 miles and takes about 5h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NM 314, North Main Street, San Antonio. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.2 miles from Los Chavez, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.54 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 50m 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 Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Chavez, NM to Carlsbad, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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