Origin
Meadow Lake, NM
Afternoon in Meadow Lake on Saturday
Local time
12:18 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meadow Lake, NM to Carlsbad, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 7m
Distance
310.7 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 54m
★
6 AM
6h 7m
8 AM
6h 33m
10 AM
6h 16m
12 PM
6h 14m
3 PM
6h 18m
5 PM
6h 32m
8 PM
6h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meadow Lake, NM
Jean-Paul Wettstein
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
The drive from Meadow Lake, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 310.7 miles and takes about 6h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sportsman Drive, Meadow Lake Road, North el Cerro Loop for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.92 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
155.4 miles from Meadow Lake, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sportsman Drive | — | — |
| Meadow Lake Road | — | — |
| North el Cerro Loop | — | — |
| Vigil Road | — | — |
| El Cerro Road | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| I 40 | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sportsman Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lake, NM and Carlsbad, NM.
1
Start on Sportsman Court
502 ft
·
28 sec
·
Sportsman Court
2
Turn left onto Sportsman Drive
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Sportsman Drive
3
Turn left onto Meadow Lake Road
7.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Meadow Lake Road
4
Continue on North el Cerro Loop
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North el Cerro Loop
5
Continue on Vigil Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Vigil Road
6
Continue on El Cerro Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
El Cerro Road
7
Turn left onto Main Street
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
8
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
9
Merge slight left
22 mi
·
23 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Santa Rosa
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 40 East: Santa Rosa
12
Merge slight left onto Coronado Freeway
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Coronado Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
14
Keep slight left
469 ft
·
15 sec
15
Turn right onto US Highway 285
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US Highway 285
16
Continue on Oak Street
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Oak Street
17
Continue on 8th Street
92 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
8th Street
18
Continue on North Main Street
6.9 mi
·
14 min
·
North Main Street
19
Turn slight left onto Southeast Main Street
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Southeast Main Street
20
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
21
Continue on North 1st Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Street
22
Continue on South 1st Street
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
23
Continue on Seven Rivers Highway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
24
Continue on Artesia Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
25
Continue on Pierce Street
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pierce Street
26
Continue on North Canal Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canal Street
27
Continue on North Canal Street
154 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Canal Street
28
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 155.4 miles from Meadow Lake, NM, or about 3h 3m 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 68 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.4 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 1m
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 Meadow Lake, 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 Meadow Lake, NM
This is one driving day of about 310.7 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Meadow Lake, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.4 miles from Meadow Lake, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.92 one way
$93.85 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $51.51 | $103.02 |
| premium | $4.56 | $55.77 | $111.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.60 | $137.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.62 | $14.91 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.19 | $12.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.3 | 1 | $43.50 | $19.88 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Carlsbad on Saturday
Local time
12:18 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Las Vegas, NM
155 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
8 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 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
310.7 mi in 6h 7m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Sportsman Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 7m, 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 Meadow Lake, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 310.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Carlsbad, NM before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NM can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Meadow Lake, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carlsbad, NM before the return drive.
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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