How far is Meadow Lake, NM from Carlsbad, NM?
The driving distance from Meadow Lake, NM to Carlsbad, NM is about 310.7 miles (500.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 211.6 miles (340.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 14m 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 07m.
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 Meadow Lake and Carlsbad.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lake and Carlsbad.
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1
Start on Sportsman Court
153 m · 28 sec · Sportsman Court
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2
Turn left onto Sportsman Drive
1007 ft · 50 sec · Sportsman Drive
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3
Turn left onto Meadow Lake Road
7.9 mi · 15 min · Meadow Lake Road
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4
Continue on North el Cerro Loop
1.5 mi · 3 min · North el Cerro Loop
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5
Continue on Vigil Road
1704 ft · 43 sec · Vigil Road
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6
Continue on El Cerro Road
1998 ft · 51 sec · El Cerro Road
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7
Turn left onto Main Street
3.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street
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8
Take the ramp slight right
1682 ft · 41 sec
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9
Merge slight left
22.1 mi · 23 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
1267 ft · 24 sec
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Santa Rosa
2338 ft · 44 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Coronado Freeway
58.1 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Coronado Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward US 285: Vaughn, Santa Fe
1315 ft · 32 sec
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14
Keep slight left
143 m · 15 sec
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15
Turn right onto US Highway 285
27.4 mi · 32 min · US Highway 285
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16
Continue on Oak Street
14.5 mi · 18 min · Oak Street
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17
Continue on 8th Street
91.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min · 8th Street
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18
Continue on North Main Street
6.9 mi · 14 min · North Main Street
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19
Turn slight left onto Southeast Main Street
29.9 mi · 36 min · Southeast Main Street
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20
Continue on Roswell Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Roswell Highway
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21
Continue on North 1st Street
2 mi · 2 min · North 1st Street
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22
Continue on South 1st Street
3 mi · 3 min · South 1st Street
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23
Continue on Seven Rivers Highway
26.3 mi · 30 min · Seven Rivers Highway
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24
Continue on Artesia Highway
2.1 mi · 2 min · Artesia Highway
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25
Continue on Pierce Street
3.4 mi · 5 min · Pierce Street
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26
Continue on North Canal Street
1.1 mi · 1 min · North Canal Street
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27
Continue on North Canal Street
47 m · 10 sec · North Canal Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Canal Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Meadow Lake and Carlsbad.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
8th Street
Continue on 8th Street
91.9 mi · 01h 41m
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 Meadow Lake and Sunny near Carlsbad.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Meadow Lake to Carlsbad?
The road trip is about 310.7 miles (500.1 km) and usually takes 06h 07m 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 155.5 miles from Meadow Lake and 155.3 miles from Carlsbad.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 211.6 miles (340.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 99.1 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 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 $41.54 one way or $83.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Meadow Lake 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 Meadow Lake and Carlsbad. Straight-line distance: 211.65 mi (340.61 km).
#1 Meadow Lake
Human settlement in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States of America
| Population | 4,708 |
| Coordinates | 34.8014400, -106.5436300 |
| Altitude | 1661 |
| 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: 500 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $41.54 | $83.09 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $46.72 | $93.44 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $50.74 | $101.47 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $59.40 | $118.81 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.