Carlsbad Caverns (El Paso, Alamo: construction, distance, average)

[Riley620]

How far is it to Carlsbad Caverns? Google says 4 hours but its only 151 miles which if we average 60 mph would be about 2.5 hrs

[danieloneil01]

Don't go by any map websites. They say it takes 3hrs 4min to drive to Ruidoso, but I drive there every few weeks and it takes 2hrs 10min. And to Carlsbad should be quicker since there isn't crap between here and there. So you could probably average 75-80mph.


EDIT: Carlsbad and Ruidoso are the same distance so 2hrs should be it.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by danieloneil01

So you could probably average 75-80mph.

I have always allowed 3 hours for the El Paso to Caverns, and 2-1/2 for El Paso to Ruidoso. And I abide by the speed limits.

The speed limit on 2-lane highways in NM is still 55-65mph. Not sure about Texas.
Speed limit on 4-lane divided highways in NM is 70-75mph.

US-180 is still a 2-lane from El Paso to Carlsbad. Whereas US-54 is now 4-lane from El Paso to Alamogordo. Other sections of US-54/70 have reduced speed limits from Alamogordo to Ruidoso.

[br7or13]

From E.P., just head east on Montana until it becomes 62/180. Slow going from Guadalupe Mtns. to TX/NM state line, then to C-Bad Caverns. Last I drove through there a month ago, there was road construction on the N.M. side, lots of orange barrells, speed limit something like 40 MPH. About 3 hours. Watch out for TX cops east of E.P. to Guadalupe Mtns.

[Riley620]

We went today it only took about 2 hours 40 min with a potty break. I don't know why Google was so far off my GPS and Yahoo said 2.5 hours so they were correct. Very little construction and I think we saw one cop