Origin
Carlsbad, NM
Morning in Carlsbad on Sunday
Local time
8:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlsbad, NM to Ross Place, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
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
Trip Overview
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.
Main Roads
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Jal Highway
— 22.8 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlsbad, NM and Ross Place, NM.
1
Start on US 285
308 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Canal Street
2
Continue on US 285
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Canal Street
3
Continue on US 285
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Canal Street
4
Continue on US 285
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Pecos Highway
5
Turn left onto NM 31
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Potash Mines Road
6
Turn right onto NM 128
23 mi
·
33 min
·
Jal Highway
7
Turn right onto BLM CRL 1
10 mi
·
18 min
·
Orla Road
8
Turn right onto Ross Lane
2.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Ross Lane
9
Arrive at destination
Ross Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Carlsbad, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 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.
3
10.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
NM 31 / Potash Mines Road
Turn left onto NM 31 / Potash Mines Road
Navigation decision point
3
17.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
NM 128 / Jal Highway
Turn right onto NM 128 / Jal Highway
Navigation decision point
3
40.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
BLM CRL 1 / Orla Road
Turn right onto BLM CRL 1 / Orla Road
Navigation decision point
3
51.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Ross Lane
Turn right onto Ross Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.16 one way
$16.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.95 | $17.91 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.69 | $19.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Ross Place, NM
Morning in Ross Place on Sunday
Local time
8:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
87°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
4 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
1h 26m 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?
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.
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: 22.8 mi on Jal 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 10.2 miles in near NM 31 / Potash Mines Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
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.
Who Is This Route For?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.8 miles on Jal 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.
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.
Yes — Carlsbad Caverns National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ross Place, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Ross Place, NM
Explore more options from Carlsbad, NM or browse trips ending in Ross Place, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.