How far is Los Alamos, NM from Chaparral, NM?

The driving distance from Los Alamos, NM to Chaparral, NM is about 356.2 miles (573.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 267.1 miles (429.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 51m 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
356.26 mi
05h 25m
Flight
267.03 mi
429.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Los Alamos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
267.03 mi
Kilometers
429.75 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
356.26 mi
Kilometers
573.35 km
Drive Time
05h 25m

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 05h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chaparral
Sun, Apr 19, 3:07 AM MDT
Return by in Los Alamos
Sun, Apr 19, 8:33 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Alamos
2026-04-18T21:42
Arrive Chaparral
Sun, Apr 19, 3:07 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:26 AM to 1:26 PM MDT

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

Leave by
6:08 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Los Alamos
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
Socorro
NM

City in New Mexico

From Los Alamos
177 mi
02h 42m
To Chaparral
179.3 mi
02h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
75°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Los Alamos and Chaparral.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Alamos and Chaparral.

  1. 1

    Start on Orange Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Orange Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Diamond Drive

    1524 ft · 45 sec · Diamond Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Canyon Road

    1 km · 1 min · Canyon Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Central Avenue

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Road

    47 m · 2 sec · East Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto East Road

    4.8 mi · 8 min · East Road

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    8.7 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    1668 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Santa Fe Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min · Santa Fe Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Taos Highway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Taos Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on US 84/285

    7.5 mi · 9 min · US 84/285

  13. 13

    Continue on North Saint Francis Drive

    2.4 mi · 4 min · North Saint Francis Drive

  14. 14

    Continue on South Saint Francis Drive

    3.5 mi · 7 min · South Saint Francis Drive

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    3084 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    283.7 mi · 4 hr 50 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    17 mi · 17 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward NM 404: Anthony, Chaparral

    1231 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East O'Hara Road

    8.1 mi · 12 min · East O'Hara Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward War Road

    75 m · 4 sec · War Road

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto War Road

    1119 ft · 27 sec · War Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West Lisa Drive

    4.7 mi · 9 min · West Lisa Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Prescott Anthony Drive

    1.6 km · 4 min · Prescott Anthony Drive

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Prescott Anthony Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Alamos and Chaparral.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Saint Francis Drive
288 mi · 81%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17 mi · 5%
East Road
16.7 mi · 5%
East O'Hara Road
8.08 mi · 2%
US 84/285
7.52 mi · 2%
Taos Highway
4.67 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

South Saint Francis Drive

Merge slight left

284 mi · 04h 50m

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
05h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+89.1 mi
267.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Socorro
02h 42m from Los Alamos
Leave By
6:08 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Los Alamos and Sunny near Chaparral.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Los Alamos to Chaparral?

The road trip is about 356.2 miles (573.3 km) and usually takes 05h 25m 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?

Socorro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 177 miles from Los Alamos and 179.3 miles from Chaparral.

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

The direct path is about 267.1 miles (429.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 89.1 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 6:08 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.60 one way or $95.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Alamos and Sunny near Chaparral.

Stop Ideas Near Socorro

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

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

BUS

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

108 mi away
8 South Date St.
RAIL

Alvarado Transportation Center

116 mi away
320 First Street SW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Los Alamos and Chaparral. Straight-line distance: 267.03 mi (429.75 km).

Los Alamos

#1 Los Alamos

Townsite in New Mexico

Population12,019
Coordinates35.8880800, -106.3069700
Altitude2198
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chaparral

Chaparral is a place in New Mexico, United States.

Population0
Coordinates32.0237600, -106.3856600
Altitude1239
CountryUnited States
Start: Orange Street (-106.307139, 35.887911)
End: El Paseo Real Drive (-106.385672, 32.023774)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 573 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.57 gal
47.59 L · about $47.60
Round trip
$95.21
25.14 gal · 95.18 L
Estimated CO2
111.7 kg one way
Round trip: 223.4 kg / 493 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $47.60 $95.21
Mid-grade $4.26 $53.54 $107.07
Premium $4.63 $58.14 $116.27
Diesel $5.42 $68.07 $136.13

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

There is no time difference between Los Alamos and Chaparral. The current time is 21:42:02.

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.