Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Carlsbad, NM to Los Chavez, NM
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 48m
Distance
288.2 mi
464 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 36m
★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Los Chavez, NM
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
Carlsbad to Los Chavez is 288.2 miles and takes about 5h 48m via US 380 and I 25, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within New Mexico, moving from the Desert Southwest region to another part of the same region. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads, so expect varied conditions. It's a manageable drive for a single day, especially if you're looking for a straightforward route through the state.
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
144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 380 | 107.3 mi | 2h 18m |
| I 25 | 50.6 mi | 50m |
| West 2nd Street | 43.6 mi | 52m |
| Southeast Main Street | 26.4 mi | 30m |
| Seven Rivers Highway | 25.6 mi | 29m |
| Relief Route | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Roswell Highway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| South 1st Street | 5.8 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
US 380
— 107.3 mi, about 2h 18m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~439 veh/hr typical · worst 653
Quietest
1 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlsbad, NM and Los Chavez, NM.
1
Start on US 285
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canal Street
2
Continue on US 285
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West Pierce Street
3
Continue on US 285
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Artesia Highway
4
Continue on US 285
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Seven Rivers Highway
5
Continue on US 285
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
South 1st Street
6
Continue on US 285
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Seven Rivers Highway
7
Continue on US 285
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
South 1st Street
8
Continue on US 285
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Roswell Highway
9
Continue on US 285
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Southeast Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 285 Truck
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Relief Route
11
Turn left onto US 70; US 380
44 mi
·
52 min
·
West 2nd Street
12
Turn right onto US 380
107 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
US 380
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
14
Merge onto I 25
51 mi
·
50 min
·
I 25
15
Take the exit onto I 25 Business
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 25 Business
Toward I 25: Belen
16
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 314
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NM 314
17
Turn left onto Square Deal Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Square Deal Road
18
Arrive at destination
Square Deal Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have plenty of daylight for the entire trip. The route has just one recommended stop, so plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 107.3-mile stretch on US 380, as services might be more spread out in that section. The estimated fuel cost is around $44, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready.
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 144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 miles.
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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.1 miles or 2h 53m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Chavez, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carlsbad, 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 Carlsbad, NM
This is one driving day of about 288.2 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Carlsbad, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 380 for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 144.1 miles from Carlsbad, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 380 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Critters Oil Change
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Hodges Oil Company Inc.
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.8 mi from route
Dr. John Clarke Rest Area
1.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 71.4 and 288 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
US 285 Truck / Relief Route
Turn left onto US 285 Truck / Relief Route
Navigation decision point
4
230.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
281.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
I 25 Business
Take the exit onto I 25 Business toward I 25: Belen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 25: Belen
4
285.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 43m in
|
NM 314
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 314
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
288 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m in
|
Square Deal Road
Turn left onto Square Deal Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.30 one way
$88.59 round trip
$3.90/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $48.99 | $97.99 |
| premium | $4.65 | $52.73 | $105.45 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $60.70 | $121.41 |
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: 100.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.26 | $13.83 |
| Efficient EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.22 | $11.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.3 | 1 | $40.35 | $18.44 |
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.
Origin
Carlsbad, NM
Afternoon in Carlsbad on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear
SE 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 25 at 12:00AM MDT until May 26 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Los Chavez, NM
Afternoon in Los Chavez on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 25 at 12:00AM MDT until May 26 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
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
9 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
5h 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
National Park
High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when s...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$1
near mile 9.9
View on nps.gov
Petroglyph National Monument
National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 288.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 57% highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 107.3 miles on US 380. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a mixed driving experience with some sections offering faster speeds and others requiring more attention to local traffic and changing speed limits.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on US 380.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 71.4 miles in near US 285 Truck / Relief Route.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 48m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 71.4 miles (US 285 Truck / Relief Route): Navigation decision point; at 230.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 281.2 miles (I 25 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,325 ft
3,107 ft
Total Climb
3,814 ft
Total Descent
2,097 ft
Highest Point
6,325 ft
~144.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,219 ft
Notable High Points
6,325 ft at ~144.1 miles
+838 ft prominence
5,919 ft at ~185.2 miles
+432 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Carlsbad, NM
Full guide →Carlsbad is a small city in New Mexico near the Texas border best known for the nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Top landmarks
- • First National Bank of Eddy — historic building in Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States
Arriving in Los Chavez, NM
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 288.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on US 380. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.4 miles (US 285 Truck / Relief Route): Navigation decision point; at 230.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 281.2 miles (I 25 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Los Chavez, NM before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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