How far is Los Alamos, NM from Sunland Park, NM?

The driving distance from Los Alamos, NM to Sunland Park, NM is about 360.3 miles (579.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 283.2 miles (455.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 53m 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
360.34 mi
05h 26m
Flight
283.13 mi
455.66 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
283.13 mi
Kilometers
455.66 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
360.34 mi
Kilometers
579.91 km
Drive Time
05h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sunland Park
Wed, Jun 3, 7:52 AM MDT
Return by in Los Alamos
Wed, Jun 3, 1:19 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Alamos
2026-06-03T02:26
Arrive Sunland Park
Wed, Jun 3, 7:52 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:27 AM to 1:27 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
6:06 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
179 mi
02h 43m
To Sunland Park
181.3 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
89°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Alamos and Sunland Park.

  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

    18.9 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    12 mi · 14 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward 375 Toll East, US 85 South: Paisano Drive, Sunland Park Drive

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Sunland Park Drive

    916 ft · 22 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    102 m · 8 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Sunland Park Drive

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Sunland Park Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto McNutt Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · McNutt Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Loma Vista Drive

    26 m · 4 sec · Loma Vista Drive

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Loma Vista Drive

    1262 ft · 58 sec · Loma Vista Drive

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Valle Vista Drive

    113 m · 16 sec · Valle Vista Drive

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Valle Vista Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Saint Francis Drive
288 mi · 80%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18.9 mi · 5%
East Road
16.7 mi · 5%
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
12.5 mi · 3%
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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+77.1 mi
283.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Socorro
02h 43m from Los Alamos
Leave By
6:06 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Los Alamos and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sunland Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Los Alamos to Sunland Park?

The road trip is about 360.3 miles (579.9 km) and usually takes 05h 26m 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 179 miles from Los Alamos and 181.3 miles from Sunland Park.

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

The direct path is about 283.2 miles (455.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.1 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 6:06 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.13 one way or $96.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Los Alamos and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sunland Park.

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 Sunland Park. Straight-line distance: 283.13 mi (455.66 km).

Los Alamos

#1 Los Alamos

Townsite in New Mexico

Population12,019
Coordinates35.8880800, -106.3069700
Altitude2198
CountryUnited States
Sunland Park

#2 Sunland Park

City in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States

Population18,449
Coordinates31.7965000, -106.5799900
Altitude1160
CountryUnited States
Start: Orange Street (-106.307139, 35.887911)
End: Valle Vista Drive (-106.57999, 31.796345)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 580 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.71 gal
48.13 L · about $48.13
Round trip
$96.27
25.42 gal · 96.26 L
Estimated CO2
113 kg one way
Round trip: 225.9 kg / 498 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $48.13 $96.27
Mid-grade $4.26 $54.13 $108.26
Premium $4.63 $58.78 $117.57
Diesel $5.42 $68.82 $137.65

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Los Alamos and Sunland Park. The current time is 02:26:22.

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.