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CNM to SMX: distance & flight time
Carlsbad (Cavern City Air Terminal) → Santa Maria (Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field)
947 mi
1,525 km · 823 nm
2h 32m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading west
See live CNM→SMX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
947 miles nonstop takes roughly 2h 32m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal · Carlsbad, United States
- SMX — Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field · Santa Maria, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near CNM
- HOB · Lea County Regional Airport66 mi away
- ROW · Roswell International Air Center Airport68 mi away
- INK · Winkler County Airport73 mi away
- PEQ · Pecos Municipal Airport79 mi away
Near SMX
- VBG · Vandenberg Air Force Base13 mi away
- LPC · Lompoc Airport16 mi away
- SBP · San Luis County Regional Airport26 mi away
- SQA · Santa Ynez Airport30 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is CNM from SMX?
The flight distance from Carlsbad (CNM) to Santa Maria (SMX) is 947 miles (1,525 km, 823 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from CNM to SMX?
A nonstop flight takes about 2h 32m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from CNM to SMX?
Nonstop service on CNM–SMX depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 2h 32m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Carlsbad and Santa Maria?
Santa Maria is 1 hour behind Carlsbad.
What is the cheapest way to fly from CNM to SMX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on CNM–SMX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some CNM to SMX fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain CNM–SMX tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.