Anthony, NM to Portales, NM is 297.9 miles and takes about 6h 1m via Central Avenue and US Highway 70 West, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest for its entirety. Expect a route that largely utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a direct path without extensive highway time, and it can comfortably be completed in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.9 miles from Anthony, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central Avenue
98.6 mi
2h 5m
Clovis Highway
85.7 mi
1h 39m
US Highway 70 West
42.3 mi
46m
Bataan Memorial Highway
19.9 mi
23m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.6 mi
17m
US 54,70
8.7 mi
10m
Relief Route
6.2 mi
8m
I 25
5.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue
— 98.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anthony, NM and Portales, NM.
1
Start on this road
107 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Miller Street
177 ft·9 sec·Miller Street
3
Turn right onto NM 460
1.5 mi·2 min·South Anthony Drive
4
Turn right onto NM 404
0.9 mi·1 min·East O'Hara Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 10
18 mi·17 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
8
Continue on I 25
5.7 mi·6 min·I 25
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
10
Keep slight left at fork
354 ft·8 sec
Toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 70 East: Alamogordo
12
Merge onto US 70
20 mi·23 min·Bataan Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on US 70
42 mi·46 min·US Highway 70 West
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 70
0.1 mi·18 sec·South White Sands Boulevard
15
Take the exit onto US 70
0.1 mi·34 sec·US 70
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
16
Merge onto US 54; US 70
5.0 mi·7 min·Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route
17
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi·10 min·US 54,70
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto South Bookout Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Bookout Road
19
Keep slight left at fork onto South Bookout Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Bookout Road
20
Turn right onto Old Mescalero Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Old Mescalero Road
21
Turn right onto US 70
99 mi·2 hr 5 min·Central Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
6.2 mi·8 min·Relief Route
23
Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
1.3 mi·1 min·Highway Relief Route
24
Continue on US 70 Truck
86 mi·1 hr 39 min·Clovis Highway
25
Turn right onto NM 88
247 ft·5 sec·South Abilene Avenue
26
Turn left onto NM 88
183 ft·4 sec·East 3rd Street
27
Arrive at destination
NM 88
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive in Anthony, NM, early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one planned stop and the majority of the route on surface roads, be mindful of your pace and plan for potential delays in populated areas. The fuel cost is estimated at $45, so ensure your tank is full before departing Anthony. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer stretches, and look for services in larger towns along US Highway 70 West.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.9 miles from Anthony, NM, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 66 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portales, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anthony, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anthony, NM
This is one driving day of about 297.9 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Anthony, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Central Avenue for about 98.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 89.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.3 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North: Las Cruces, Albuquerque
5
27 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
7
27.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Las Cruces, Alamogordo
6
27.2 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 70 East: Alamogordo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 70 East: Alamogordo
6
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, T...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.99 one way
$89.98 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$49.39
$98.78
premium
$4.56
$53.47
$106.94
diesel
$5.61
$65.77
$131.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.4
1
$31.28
$14.30
Efficient EV
74.5
0
$26.07
$11.92
EV Truck/SUV
119.2
1
$41.71
$19.07
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Anthony, NM
Late night
in Anthony on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portales, NM
Late night
in Portales on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 19% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 98.6 miles on Central Avenue before transitioning to other main roads. This means you'll be navigating through towns and varying speed limits for a significant portion of your travel. Expect more frequent intersections and opportunities to observe the local environment rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.6 mi on Central Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 297.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anthony, NM and Portales, NM, road signs point toward Albuquerque, Alamogordo and Tularosa.
Portales is a small, fairly quiet college and agricultural town in Southeast New Mexico, United States. Home of Eastern New Mexico University. Nearest sizable town is Clovis; close to Cannon Air Force Base. Located almost adjacent to the Texas border. 90 miles from Roswell of UFO fame.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 297.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.6 miles on Central Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Portales, NM before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NM can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Portales, NM before the return drive.
