Origin
Artesia, NM
Late night in Artesia on Sunday
Local time
4:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Artesia, NM to Carlsbad, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
36.3 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Artesia, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
If you are traveling through the Desert Southwest, the 36.3-mile trek from Artesia to Carlsbad is a quick, straightforward connection that is easily managed in a single day. Expect the drive to take roughly 43 minutes, making it an ideal short-haul trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should be sufficient for this transit, which relies on local roads rather than major interstates. Because both towns sit within the same desert region, you will experience a consistent environment from start to finish. This route is perfect for travelers looking for an efficient transition between these two New Mexico hubs without the need for extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Rivers Highway | 26.3 mi | 29m |
| Pierce Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| South 1st Street | 3 mi | 3m |
| Artesia Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Canal Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Seven Rivers Highway
— 26.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Artesia, NM and Carlsbad, NM.
1
Start on US 82
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on US 82
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 285
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
4
Continue on US 285
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
5
Continue on US 285
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
6
Continue on US 285
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pierce Street
7
Continue on US 285
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canal Street
8
Continue on US 285
155 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Canal Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 285
Heads-up: tricky spots
1 of 11 decision points cluster around mile 0.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 285 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto US 285 / South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.48 one way
$10.96 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.02 | $12.04 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.52 | $13.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.01 | $16.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Sunday
Local time
4:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32 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
43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating via Seven Rivers Highway, Pierce Street, and South 1st Street, with zero percent of the trip dedicated to highway travel. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 26.3-mile stretch on Seven Rivers Highway. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, you should stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you transition between the two towns. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention on the road rather than allowing for the mindless cruising typical of long-distance highway travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.3 mi on Seven Rivers Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 285 / South 1st Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Artesia, NM to Carlsbad, NM is easy. At 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 0.4 miles (US 285 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 36.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.3 miles on Seven Rivers Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 0.4 miles (US 285 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carlsbad, NM before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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