Trip from Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM

Drive Time

4h 40m

Distance

238.8 mi

384 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 27m ★

6 AM

4h 40m

8 AM

5h 7m

10 AM

4h 49m

12 PM

4h 47m

3 PM

4h 51m

5 PM

5h 6m

8 PM

4h 32m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Carlsbad, NM

Malcolm Garret

Trip Overview

The drive from Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 238.8 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Center Avenue, Howard Cavazos Boulevard South, Howard Cavazos Boulevard North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.51 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

119.4 miles from Moriarty, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 40m drive with frequent turns across 238.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Center Avenue 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 4h 40m 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 Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Center Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Howard Cavazos Boulevard South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Howard Cavazos Boulevard North	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 285	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 285	Unavailable	Refreshing
Oak Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
8th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Center Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 4th Street

141 ft · 8 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Center Avenue

292 ft · 10 sec · Center Avenue

Turn right onto Howard Cavazos Boulevard South

1.1 mi · 2 min · Howard Cavazos Boulevard South

Continue on Howard Cavazos Boulevard North

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Howard Cavazos Boulevard North

Take the ramp right

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Merge slight left

21 mi · 21 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe

0.2 mi · 32 sec · US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe

Keep slight left

469 ft · 15 sec

Turn right onto US Highway 285

27 mi · 31 min · US Highway 285

Continue on Oak Street

14 mi · 17 min · Oak Street

Continue on 8th Street

92 mi · 1 hr 41 min · 8th Street

Continue on North Main Street

6.9 mi · 14 min · North Main Street

Turn slight left onto Southeast Main Street

30 mi · 35 min · Southeast Main Street

Continue on Roswell Highway

7.2 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway

Continue on North 1st Street

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street

Continue on South 1st Street

3.0 mi · 3 min · South 1st Street

Continue on Seven Rivers Highway

26 mi · 29 min · Seven Rivers Highway

Continue on Artesia Highway

2.1 mi · 2 min · Artesia Highway

Continue on Pierce Street

3.4 mi · 5 min · Pierce Street

Continue on North Canal Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Canal Street

Continue on North Canal Street

154 ft · 10 sec · North Canal Street

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 119.4 miles from Moriarty, NM, or about 2h 20m 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.4 miles or 2h 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 49m

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 Moriarty, 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 Moriarty, NM

This is one driving day of about 238.8 miles and 4h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Moriarty, 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 119.4 mi from Moriarty, NM · 2h 20m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Farwell, TX

119 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

Clovis, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Farwell, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.4 miles from Moriarty, 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

$36.51 one way

$73.01 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$40.04	$80.08
premium	$4.61	$43.34	$86.68
diesel	$5.64	$53.05	$106.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	71.6	0	$25.07	$11.46
Efficient EV	59.7	0	$20.90	$9.55
EV Truck/SUV	95.5	1	$33.43	$15.28

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Moriarty, NM

Night in Moriarty on Sunday

Local time

9:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carlsbad, NM

Night in Carlsbad on Sunday

Local time

9:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

51°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

22 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

4h 40m 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 Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM covers 238.8 miles and takes about 4h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Center Avenue, Howard Cavazos Boulevard South, Howard Cavazos Boulevard North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 119.4 miles from Moriarty, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.51 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 4h 40m 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 Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Moriarty, NM to Carlsbad, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.