How far is Elephant Butte, NM from Alamogordo, NM?

The driving distance from Elephant Butte, NM to Alamogordo, NM is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 73 miles (117.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
142.72 mi
02h 22m
Flight
72.99 mi
117.47 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elephant Butte.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
72.99 mi
Kilometers
117.47 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
142.72 mi
Kilometers
229.68 km
Drive Time
02h 22m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alamogordo
Fri, Apr 17, 3:44 AM MDT
Return by in Elephant Butte
Fri, Apr 17, 6:07 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elephant Butte
2026-04-17T01:21
Arrive Alamogordo
Fri, Apr 17, 3:44 AM MDT
Route Timing
02h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:44 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elephant Butte
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Doña Ana
NM

Census designated place

From Elephant Butte
71.3 mi
01h 11m
To Alamogordo
71.4 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 25 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Friday

Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elephant Butte and Alamogordo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elephant Butte and Alamogordo.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    103 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    650 ft · 54 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1381 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue

    4.7 mi · 10 min · East 3rd Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Date Street

    1293 ft · 47 sec · North Date Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  7. 7

    Continue on South Broadway Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · South Broadway Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight

    1334 ft · 30 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left

    68.8 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1786 ft · 46 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1124 ft · 25 sec · North Main Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Bataan Memorial Highway

    20.1 mi · 24 min · Bataan Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on US Highway 70 West

    42.3 mi · 46 min · US Highway 70 West

  14. 14

    Continue on South White Sands Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South White Sands Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on North White Sands Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · North White Sands Boulevard

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North White Sands Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elephant Butte and Alamogordo.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 70 West
42.3 mi · 30%
Bataan Memorial Highway
20.1 mi · 14%
East 3rd Avenue
4.73 mi · 3%
South Broadway Street
2.91 mi · 2%
South White Sands Boulevard
1.56 mi · 1%
Main Street
0.66 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

68.8 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.7 mi
73 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Doña Ana
01h 11m from Elephant Butte
Leave By
1:44 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Elephant Butte and Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust near Alamogordo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elephant Butte to Alamogordo?

The road trip is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km) and usually takes 02h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Doña Ana is a useful midpoint, sitting about 71.3 miles from Elephant Butte and 71.4 miles from Alamogordo.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 73 miles (117.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:44 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.09 one way or $38.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elephant Butte and Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust near Alamogordo.

Stop Ideas Near Doña Ana

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Doña Ana, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Doña Ana.

BUS

Las Cruces, New Mexico

11 mi away
304 Wyatt Drive
RAIL

Union Depot

76 mi away
700 San Francisco St.
BUS

El Paso (Bus Station), Texas

77 mi away
200 W. San Antonio Ave.
RAIL

Deming station

90 mi away
400 East Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elephant Butte and Alamogordo. Straight-line distance: 72.99 mi (117.47 km).

Elephant Butte

#1 Elephant Butte

City in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States

Population1,320
Coordinates33.1486800, -107.1847500
Altitude1361
CountryUnited States
Alamogordo

#2 Alamogordo

City in Otero County, New Mexico, United States

Population32,126
Coordinates32.8995300, -105.9602700
Altitude1323
CountryUnited States
Start: (-107.184699, 33.14881)
End: North White Sands Boulevard (-105.960303, 32.89953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 230 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.04 gal
19.06 L · about $19.09
Round trip
$38.17
10.08 gal · 38.12 L
Estimated CO2
44.8 kg one way
Round trip: 89.6 kg / 198 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $19.09 $38.17
Mid-grade $4.26 $21.47 $42.93
Premium $4.63 $23.31 $46.62
Diesel $5.42 $27.29 $54.58

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Mexico · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Elephant Butte and Alamogordo. The current time is 01:21:53.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.