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Trip from Clayton, NM to Hobbs, NM

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 10m

Distance

312.9 mi

504 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 58m ★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in New Mexico

Clayton, NM

Wikimedia Commons

city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States

Hobbs, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 312.9-mile journey from Clayton, New Mexico, to Hobbs, New Mexico, is estimated to take about 5 hours and 10 minutes of driving time. It's a straightforward, one-day trip that can easily be completed within daylight hours, with an estimated fuel cost of $48. The route primarily utilizes South 1st Street and US 385 South before transitioning to West 1st Street as you approach your destination. Both locations are situated within the Desert Southwest region, so you'll experience consistent arid landscapes throughout your drive. With only one recommended stop, this trip is designed for efficiency and should be manageable for most drivers looking for a direct connection between these two New Mexico towns.

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

156.5 miles from Clayton, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South 1st Street — —
US 385 South — —
West 1st Street — —
Grand Avenue — —
North 1st Street — —
Cowboy Way — —
Highway 82 — —
East Sanger Street — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South 1st Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NM and Hobbs, NM.

1

Start on Main Street

46 ft · 9 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto South 1st Street

56 mi · 1 hr 4 min · South 1st Street
3

Continue straight

4.7 mi · 5 min
4

Take the exit slight right toward US 385 South: Channing

80 mi · 1 hr 24 min · US 385 South: Channing
5

Turn right onto West 1st Street

21 mi · 21 min · West 1st Street
6

Continue straight

1.3 mi · 2 min
7

Turn left onto Grand Avenue

3.8 mi · 5 min · Grand Avenue
8

Continue straight

25 mi · 26 min
9

Keep slight right

325 ft · 5 sec
10

Turn straight onto North 1st Street

74 mi · 1 hr 17 min · North 1st Street
11

Turn slight right

361 ft · 13 sec
12

Turn straight onto Cowboy Way

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cowboy Way
13

Turn left onto Highway 82

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Highway 82
14

Continue on US Highway 82

15 mi · 14 min · US Highway 82
15

Turn left

8.6 mi · 15 min
16

At the end of the road, turn right

21 mi · 31 min
17

Turn right onto East Sanger Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Sanger Street
18

Turn left onto North Turner Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Turner Street
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour and 10-minute drive from Clayton to Hobbs, departing in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility with your single recommended stop. The $48 fuel cost is a good estimate, but checking current prices before you leave is always wise. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive with no long highway stretches, be prepared for frequent adjustments and keep your navigation system active. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition, as you'll be covering 312.9 miles and might encounter fewer services than on a major interstate. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage as you transition between South 1st Street, US 385 South, and West 1st Street to avoid unexpected detours.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.5 miles from Clayton, NM, or about 2h 35m into the drive.

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 69 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 156.5 miles or 2h 35m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hobbs, NM than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clayton, 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 Clayton, NM

This is one driving day of about 312.9 miles and 5h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Clayton, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Deaf Smith County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hereford, TX

156 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Dumas, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hereford, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 156.5 miles from Clayton, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Clayton, New Mexico

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 44.7

Dalhart, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18062440111

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 44.7

Dalhart, Texas

+18333994638

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 111.8

Vega, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Pilot EV Charging Station

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 111.8

Vega, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18062670011

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.26 one way

$94.51 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 110 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $51.87 $103.75
premium $4.56 $56.16 $112.32
diesel $5.61 $69.08 $138.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 109.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.9 1 $32.85 $15.02
Efficient EV 78.2 0 $27.38 $12.52
EV Truck/SUV 125.2 1 $43.81 $20.03

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

37 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 15, 2026

Origin

Clayton, NM

Evening in Clayton on Saturday

Local time

8:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hobbs, NM

Evening in Hobbs on Saturday

Local time

8:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

82°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

34 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 10m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 312.9-mile route, as indicated by its profile. With a 0% highway share, you won't be cruising on high-speed interstates. Instead, you'll navigate a series of local roads, including South 1st Street and US 385 South, which will likely involve more frequent turns and potentially lower speed limits. The absence of a 'longest stretch' data point suggests a more varied driving experience without extended periods of uninterrupted travel. This type of drive requires consistent attention to navigation and road conditions, offering a more intimate connection with the local terrain rather than a fast-paced transit.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South 1st Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clayton, NM to Hobbs, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Arriving in Hobbs, NM

Full guide →

Hobbs is a city of 39,000 people (2019) in Southeast New Mexico.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 312.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clayton, NM to Hobbs, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hobbs, NM before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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