How far is Sunland Park, NM from La Cienega, NM?

The driving distance from Sunland Park, NM to La Cienega, NM is about 309.9 miles (498.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 261.5 miles (420.8 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
309.95 mi
05h 26m
Flight
261.5 mi
420.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sunland Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
261.5 mi
Kilometers
420.85 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
309.95 mi
Kilometers
498.82 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 La Cienega
Sun, Apr 19, 12:29 AM MDT
Return by in Sunland Park
Sun, Apr 19, 5:55 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sunland Park
2026-04-18T19:02
Arrive La Cienega
Sun, Apr 19, 12:29 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 Sunland Park
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 Sunland Park
155.2 mi
02h 43m
To La Cienega
154.8 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph NE
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sunland Park and La Cienega.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sunland Park and La Cienega.

  1. 1

    Start on Valle Vista Drive

    113 m · 22 sec · Valle Vista Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Loma Vista Drive

    1347 ft · 1 min · Loma Vista Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto McNutt Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · McNutt Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Sunland Park Drive

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Sunland Park Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1363 ft · 35 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    1.1 km · 46 sec · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  7. 7

    Take the exit straight toward I 10 West

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    11 mi · 13 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  9. 9

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    19.6 mi · 20 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque

    1.6 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    26.1 mi · 28 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    2010 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    244.8 mi · 4 hr 7 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 50F: La Clenega

    1194 ft · 35 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Entrada la Cienega

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Entrada la Cienega

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Camino Capilla Vieja

    1922 ft · 1 min · Camino Capilla Vieja

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Camino Capilla Vieja

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sunland Park and La Cienega.

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
17 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 25 North
272 mi · 88%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
19.6 mi · 6%
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
12.4 mi · 4%
Sunland Park Drive
1.9 mi · 1%
Entrada la Cienega
1.11 mi
McNutt Road
0.88 mi
Longest Stretch

I 25 North

Merge slight left

245 mi · 04h 07m

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
+48.4 mi
261.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Socorro
02h 43m from Sunland Park
Leave By
6:06 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sunland Park and Sunny near La Cienega.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sunland Park to La Cienega?

The road trip is about 309.9 miles (498.8 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 155.2 miles from Sunland Park and 154.8 miles from La Cienega.

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

The direct path is about 261.5 miles (420.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.4 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 $41.43 one way or $82.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sunland Park and Sunny near La Cienega.

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 Sunland Park and La Cienega. Straight-line distance: 261.5 mi (420.85 km).

Sunland Park

#1 Sunland Park

City in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States

Population18,449
Coordinates31.7965000, -106.5799900
Altitude1160
CountryUnited States
La Cienega

#2 La Cienega

City in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States of America

Population3,819
Coordinates35.5628100, -106.1308600
Altitude1808
CountryUnited States
Start: Sunland Park (-106.57999, 31.7965)
End: La Cienega (-106.13086, 35.56281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 499 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.94 gal
41.4 L · about $41.43
Round trip
$82.86
21.88 gal · 82.8 L
Estimated CO2
97.2 kg one way
Round trip: 194.4 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $41.43 $82.86
Mid-grade $4.26 $46.59 $93.19
Premium $4.63 $50.60 $101.20
Diesel $5.42 $59.24 $118.48

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 Sunland Park and La Cienega. The current time is 19:02:43.

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.