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

The driving distance from Meadow Lake, NM to Las Cruces, NM is about 211.6 miles (340.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 35m 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
211.56 mi
03h 17m
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 Meadow Lake.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
211.56 mi
Kilometers
340.48 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Las Cruces
Sun, May 31, 5:17 AM MDT
Return by in Meadow Lake
Sun, May 31, 8:35 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Meadow Lake
2026-05-31T01:59
Arrive Las Cruces
Sun, May 31, 5:17 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 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
10:24 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Meadow Lake
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 Meadow Lake
107 mi
01h 38m
To Las Cruces
104.6 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
94°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Sportsman Court

    153 m · 28 sec · Sportsman Court

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Sportsman Drive

    1007 ft · 50 sec · Sportsman Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Meadow Lake Road

    7.9 mi · 15 min · Meadow Lake Road

  4. 4

    Continue on North el Cerro Loop

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North el Cerro Loop

  5. 5

    Continue on Vigil Road

    1704 ft · 43 sec · Vigil Road

  6. 6

    Continue on El Cerro Road

    1998 ft · 51 sec · El Cerro Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Main Street

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn left

    1270 ft · 33 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    196.7 mi · 3 hr 17 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1786 ft · 47 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    2.5 mi · 6 min · North Main Street

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Church Street

    57 m · 5 sec · North Church Street

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto North Church Street

    615 ft · 19 sec · North Church Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    20 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    87 m · 21 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Main Street
200 mi · 95%
Meadow Lake Road
7.87 mi · 4%
North Main Street
2.49 mi · 1%
North el Cerro Loop
1.52 mi · 1%
El Cerro Road
0.38 mi
Vigil Road
0.32 mi
Longest Stretch

Main Street

Merge slight left

197 mi · 03h 17m

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 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.1 mi
172.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elephant Butte
01h 38m from Meadow Lake
Leave By
10:24 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Meadow Lake and Sunny near Las Cruces.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 211.6 miles (340.5 km) and usually takes 03h 17m 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 miles from Meadow Lake and 104.6 miles from Las Cruces.

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 39.1 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 10:24 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.29 one way or $56.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Meadow Lake and Las Cruces. Straight-line distance: 172.51 mi (277.63 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Meadow Lake

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

Population4,708
Coordinates34.8014400, -106.5436300
Altitude1661
CountryUnited States
Las Cruces

#2 Las Cruces

The second most populous city in New Mexico.

Population105,096
Coordinates32.3123200, -106.7783400
Altitude1191
CountryUnited States
Start: Sportsman Court (-106.54336, 34.801373)
End: (-106.778417, 32.312306)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 340 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.47 gal
28.26 L · about $28.29
Round trip
$56.58
14.94 gal · 56.52 L
Estimated CO2
66.4 kg one way
Round trip: 132.8 kg / 293 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $28.29 $56.58
Mid-grade $4.26 $31.81 $63.63
Premium $4.63 $34.55 $69.10
Diesel $5.42 $40.45 $80.90

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 Meadow Lake and Las Cruces. The current time is 01:59:58.

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.