How far is Los Alamos, NM from Carlsbad, NM?
The driving distance from Los Alamos, NM to Carlsbad, NM is about 302.6 miles (487 km), with a travel time of about 06h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 09m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Human settlement in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Alamos and Carlsbad.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Alamos and Carlsbad.
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1
Start on Orange Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Orange Street
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2
Turn left onto Diamond Drive
1524 ft · 45 sec · Diamond Drive
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3
Turn left onto Canyon Road
1 km · 1 min · Canyon Road
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4
Continue on Central Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Central Avenue
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Road
47 m · 2 sec · East Road
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6
Exit the roundabout onto East Road
4.8 mi · 8 min · East Road
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7
Continue straight
2.8 mi · 4 min
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8
Continue straight
8.7 mi · 12 min
-
9
Take the exit slight right
1668 ft · 41 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Santa Fe Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · Santa Fe Highway
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11
Continue on Taos Highway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Taos Highway
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12
Continue on US 84/285
7.5 mi · 9 min · US 84/285
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13
Continue on North Saint Francis Drive
1.5 mi · 2 min · North Saint Francis Drive
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14
Take the exit slight left toward Guadalupe Street
1568 ft · 37 sec
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15
Continue on North Guadalupe Street
1.4 km · 2 min · North Guadalupe Street
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16
Turn left onto West Alameda Street
2176 ft · 1 min · West Alameda Street
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17
Turn right onto Old Santa Fe Trail
3036 ft · 1 min · Old Santa Fe Trail
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18
Continue on Old Pecos Trail
3 mi · 5 min · Old Pecos Trail
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19
Take the ramp straight toward I 25 North: Las Vegas, Clines Corners
2133 ft · 52 sec
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20
Merge slight left
6.2 mi · 6 min
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21
Take the exit slight right
1028 ft · 25 sec
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22
Keep slight right
175 mi · 3 hr 20 min
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23
Continue on North Main Street
6.9 mi · 14 min · North Main Street
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24
Turn slight left onto Southeast Main Street
29.9 mi · 36 min · Southeast Main Street
-
25
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway
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26
Continue on North 1st Street
2 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street
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27
Continue on South 1st Street
3 mi · 3 min · South 1st Street
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28
Continue on Seven Rivers Highway
26.3 mi · 30 min · Seven Rivers Highway
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29
Continue on Artesia Highway
2.1 mi · 2 min · Artesia Highway
-
30
Continue on Pierce Street
3.4 mi · 5 min · Pierce Street
-
31
Continue on North Canal Street
1.1 mi · 1 min · North Canal Street
-
32
Continue on North Canal Street
47 m · 10 sec · North Canal Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Canal Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Alamos and Carlsbad.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 25 North
Keep slight right
175 mi · 03h 20m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Los Alamos and Sunny near Carlsbad.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Alamos to Carlsbad?
The road trip is about 302.6 miles (487 km) and usually takes 06h 09m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Vaughn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.5 miles from Los Alamos and 151.1 miles from Carlsbad.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.2 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 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.45 one way or $80.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Alamos and Sunny near Carlsbad.
Stop Ideas Near Vaughn
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vaughn.
Las Vegas station
Lamy station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Alamos and Carlsbad. Straight-line distance: 267.4 mi (430.34 km).
#1 Los Alamos
Townsite in New Mexico
| Population | 12,019 |
| Coordinates | 35.8880800, -106.3069700 |
| Altitude | 2198 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Carlsbad
Town in Eddy County, New Mexico, USA
| Population | 29,664 |
| Coordinates | 32.4206700, -104.2288400 |
| Altitude | 945 |
| Country | United States |
End: Carlsbad (-104.22884, 32.42067)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 487 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 04m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 03m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 02m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 46m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $40.45 | $80.89 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $45.49 | $90.97 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $49.39 | $98.79 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $57.83 | $115.66 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.