Origin
Chaparral, NM
Late night in Chaparral on Sunday
Local time
4:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chaparral, 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
3h 18m
Distance
174.1 mi
280 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaparral, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Carlsbad, NM
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
Chaparral, NM to Carlsbad, NM is 174.1 miles and takes about 3h 18m via US Highway 62, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward journey across New Mexico. It's a practical route, primarily utilizing major highways, making it a solid option for a single-day drive. You'll find the drive largely consistent, with a significant portion on US Highway 62, so planning for this main road is key.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87 miles from Chaparral, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 62 | 102.3 mi | 1h 46m |
| National Parks Highway | 33.6 mi | 37m |
| Montana Avenue | 14.3 mi | 17m |
| Loop 375 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| McCombs Street | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| South Canal Street | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Hermosa Drive | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| McCombs Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 62
— 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaparral, NM and Carlsbad, NM.
1
Start on Prescott Anthony Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Prescott Anthony Drive
2
Turn right onto Hermosa Drive
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Hermosa Drive
3
Turn left onto McCombs Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McCombs Drive
4
Continue on McCombs Street
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
McCombs Street
5
Turn left onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
7
Merge onto Loop 375
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Loop 375
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 62, US 180: Montana Avenue
9
Keep slight right at fork
105 ft
·
2 sec
10
Turn slight right
181 ft
·
4 sec
11
Merge onto US 62; US 180
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Montana Avenue
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
13
Merge onto US 62; US 180
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Montana Avenue
14
Continue on US 62; US 180
102 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
US Highway 62
15
Continue on US 62; US 180
34 mi
·
37 min
·
National Parks Highway
16
Merge onto US 62; US 180; US 285
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Canal Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 285
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 18m duration and 174.1-mile distance, this is comfortably a one-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since the longest stretch without a break is over 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be more spread out between Chaparral and Carlsbad; budgeting around $26 for fuel is a good starting point. The single recommended stop suggests you can largely drive straight through, but it’s wise to plan for a brief pause to stretch your legs about halfway.
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 87 miles from Chaparral, NM, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.3 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 38 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
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 Chaparral, 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 Chaparral, NM
This is one driving day of about 174.1 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Chaparral, 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 Highway 62 for about 102.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87 miles from Chaparral, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 62 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 21.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Hermosa Drive
Turn right onto Hermosa Drive
Navigation decision point
3
10 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Turn left onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Navigation decision point
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Loop 375
Merge onto Loop 375
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward US 62, US 180: Montana Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 62, US 180: Montana Avenue
5
21.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.29 one way
$52.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $28.86 | $57.73 |
| premium | $4.56 | $31.25 | $62.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.44 | $76.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.28 | $8.36 |
| Efficient EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.23 | $6.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.37 | $11.14 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
4:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 18m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with 59% of it being on highway. You'll encounter stretches that feel more like a consistent cruise, especially the longest uninterrupted segment of 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. While not a technical or winding road, the nature of the drive shifts between highway speeds and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination via National Parks Highway and Montana Avenue. Expect a generally open road feel for most of the journey.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.3 mi on US Highway 62.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Hermosa Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Hermosa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (Loop 375): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 174.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.5 miles (Hermosa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (Loop 375): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Carlsbad, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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