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
156.1 miles from Clayton, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 385
80.1 mi
1h 24m
North 1st Street
73.7 mi
1h 17m
South 1st Street
56.3 mi
1h 4m
TX 214
24.8 mi
26m
NM 132
21 mi
31m
West 1st Street
20.8 mi
21m
US Highway 82
14.5 mi
14m
FM 769
8.6 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
US 385
— 80.1 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NM and Hobbs, NM.
1
Start on US 56; US 64; US 412
45 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 87
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·South 1st Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 87; US 385
4.7 mi·5 min·US 87; US 385
4
Take the exit onto US 385
80 mi·1 hr 24 min·US 385
Toward US 385 South: Channing
5
Turn right onto US 60
21 mi·21 min·West 1st Street
6
Continue on US 60
1.3 mi·2 min·US 60
7
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
3.8 mi·5 min·Grand Avenue
8
Continue on TX 214
25 mi·26 min·TX 214
9
Keep slight right at fork
323 ft·5 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 70; TX 214
74 mi·1 hr 17 min·North 1st Street
11
Turn slight right
362 ft·13 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 82; US 380
0.9 mi·1 min·Cowboy Way
13
Turn left onto US 82
0.4 mi·35 sec·Highway 82
14
Continue on US 82
15 mi·14 min·US Highway 82
15
Turn left onto FM 769
8.6 mi·15 min·FM 769
16
At end of road, turn right onto NM 132
21 mi·31 min·NM 132
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 destination
North Turner Street
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 156.1 miles from Clayton, NM, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 69 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.1 miles or 2h 49m 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 36m
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 312.2 miles and 5h 51m.
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.
The longest stretch is on US 385 for about 80.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 290.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 87 / South 1st Street
Turn left onto US 87 / South 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
61 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 385
Take the exit onto US 385 toward US 385 South: Channing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 385 South: Channing
4
163.2 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
191.8 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
290.1 mi into trip|~5h 17m in|NM 132
At end of road, turn right onto NM 132
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.34 one way
$86.68 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$48.49
$96.98
premium
$4.29
$52.72
$105.44
diesel
$4.80
$58.95
$117.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.7
1
$32.78
$14.99
Efficient EV
78.1
0
$27.32
$12.49
EV Truck/SUV
124.9
1
$43.71
$19.98
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Clayton, NM
Late night
in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Hobbs, NM
Late night
in Hobbs on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 to 15 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 51m 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.
More Details
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.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 mi on US 385.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 87 / South 1st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles (US 385): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 163.2 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,051 ft3,192 ft
Total Climb
1,019 ft
Total Descent
2,448 ft
Highest Point
5,051 ft
Elevation Range
1,860 ft
Notable High Points
4,035 ft at ~111.5 miles+167 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 80.1 miles on US 385. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 6 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: near the start (US 87 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles (US 385): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 163.2 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
