Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Ross Place, NM
Alfo Medeiros
Carlsbad, NM to Ross Place, NM is 54 miles and takes about 1h 26m via Jal Highway and Orla Road, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within New Mexico's Desert Southwest region. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that doesn't involve any interstate highways. Given its short distance and straightforward nature, this route is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated journey between two points in the region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jal Highway | 22.8 mi | 33m |
| Orla Road | 10.4 mi | 18m |
| Potash Mines Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Pecos Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Ross Lane | 2.9 mi | 11m |
| North Canal Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South Canal Street | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Carlsbad, NM and Ross Place, NM.
Start on US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 285
Turn left onto NM 31
Turn right onto NM 128
Turn right onto BLM CRL 1
Turn right onto Ross Lane
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 51.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NM 31 / Potash Mines Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto NM 128 / Jal Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto BLM CRL 1 / Orla Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Ross Lane
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.30 one way
$16.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $9.18 | $18.36 |
| premium | $4.65 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.37 | $22.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Carlsbad on Wednesday
Local time
1:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Ross Place on Wednesday
Local time
1:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll be navigating a series of roads rather than a single continuous highway. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire 54 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.8 miles on Jal Highway. This suggests a drive that requires your attention to navigation and potentially involves more frequent turns as you make your way across the landscape.
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 10.2 miles in near NM 31 / Potash Mines Road.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carlsbad, NM to Ross Place, NM is easy. At 1h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles (NM 31 / Potash Mines Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles (NM 128 / Jal Highway): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (BLM CRL 1 / Orla Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
614 ft
Total Descent
456 ft
Highest Point
3,585 ft
~38.5 mi in
Elevation Range
596 ft
Carlsbad is a small city in New Mexico near the Texas border best known for the nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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 with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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