I've not driven it, but have seen a couple post on this forum that it is a very good road.
I however have driven US-285 from Carlsbad to Pecos Texas (I-20) to Fort Stockton Texas (I-10). There has been a lot of oil field work in that area in recent years, and the road shows a lot of damage, especially the NM section. You can also expect to be passed or tailgated by a lot of big, heavy trucks on that route.
Not enough to make me not take that route this fall on our way to Arizona - but enough to make me wish there was an alternate that doesn't add a couple hundred miles to the trip.
