Las Cruces to Merced: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Las Cruces from Merced?

The distance from Las Cruces to Merced is 849.4 miles (1367 km) as the crow flies. Merced is located WNW of Las Cruces. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1019.3 miles, taking about 20h 30min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 13min. Both are located in United States — Las Cruces in New Mexico and Merced in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Las Cruces and Merced. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.