How far is Las Cruces, NM from Meadow Lake, NM?

The driving distance from Las Cruces, NM to Meadow Lake, NM is about 213.9 miles (344.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
213.85 mi
03h 52m
Flight
172.51 mi
277.63 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Las Cruces.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
172.51 mi
Kilometers
277.63 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
213.85 mi
Kilometers
344.16 km
Drive Time
03h 52m

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 03h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meadow Lake
Sun, May 31, 7:04 AM MDT
Return by in Las Cruces
Sun, May 31, 10:56 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Las Cruces
2026-05-31T03:12
Arrive Meadow Lake
Sun, May 31, 7:04 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:52 AM to 11:52 AM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:16 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Las Cruces
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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
Elephant Butte
NM

City in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States

From Las Cruces
107.1 mi
01h 56m
To Meadow Lake
106.8 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
94°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph NW
Destination
87°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Las Cruces and Meadow Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Las Cruces and Meadow Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    87 m · 23 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right

    20 m · 10 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Church Street

    641 ft · 18 sec · North Church Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Main Street

    15 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street

    2.6 mi · 6 min · North Main Street

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Albuquerque

    1158 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    20.1 mi · 21 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    2010 ft · 49 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    176.5 mi · 2 hr 57 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NM 6: Los Lunas

    1279 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Main Street Southwest

    726 ft · 12 sec · Main Street Southwest

  12. 12

    Continue on Main Street Northwest

    1.3 km · 1 min · Main Street Northwest

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street Southwest

    1 km · 60 sec · Main Street Southwest

  14. 14

    Continue on Main Street Northeast

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Main Street Northeast

  15. 15

    Turn right onto El Cerro Road

    1998 ft · 49 sec · El Cerro Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Vigil Road

    1664 ft · 43 sec · Vigil Road

  17. 17

    Continue on North el Cerro Loop

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North el Cerro Loop

  18. 18

    Continue on Meadow Lake Road

    7.9 mi · 15 min · Meadow Lake Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Sportsman Drive

    1007 ft · 48 sec · Sportsman Drive

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Sportsman Court

    153 m · 22 sec · Sportsman Court

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sportsman Court

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Las Cruces and Meadow Lake.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 25 North
197 mi · 92%
Meadow Lake Road
7.88 mi · 4%
North Main Street
2.63 mi · 1%
Main Street Northeast
1.61 mi · 1%
North el Cerro Loop
1.53 mi · 1%
Main Street Northwest
0.8 mi
Longest Stretch

I 25 North

Merge slight left

176 mi · 02h 57m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.4 mi
172.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elephant Butte
01h 56m from Las Cruces
Leave By
9:16 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Las Cruces and Sunny near Meadow Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Las Cruces to Meadow Lake?

The road trip is about 213.9 miles (344.2 km) and usually takes 03h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Elephant Butte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.1 miles from Las Cruces and 106.8 miles from Meadow Lake.

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

The direct path is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:16 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.59 one way or $57.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Las Cruces and Sunny near Meadow Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Elephant Butte

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elephant Butte, 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 Elephant Butte.

BUS

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

6 mi away
8 South Date St.
BUS

Las Cruces, New Mexico

102 mi away
304 Wyatt Drive
RAIL

Deming station

111 mi away
400 East Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Las Cruces and Meadow Lake. Straight-line distance: 172.51 mi (277.63 km).

Las Cruces

#1 Las Cruces

The second most populous city in New Mexico.

Population105,096
Coordinates32.3123200, -106.7783400
Altitude1191
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Meadow Lake

Human settlement in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States of America

Population4,708
Coordinates34.8014400, -106.5436300
Altitude1661
CountryUnited States
Start: Las Cruces (-106.77834, 32.31232)
End: Meadow Lake (-106.54363, 34.80144)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 344 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.55 gal
28.57 L · about $28.59
Round trip
$57.18
15.1 gal · 57.14 L
Estimated CO2
67.1 kg one way
Round trip: 134.2 kg / 296 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $28.59 $57.18
Mid-grade $4.26 $32.16 $64.31
Premium $4.63 $34.92 $69.84
Diesel $5.42 $40.88 $81.77

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Las Cruces and Meadow Lake. The current time is 03:12:34.

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.