Origin
Clovis, NM
Evening in Clovis on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clovis, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
222.1 mi
357 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clovis, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Clovis to Albuquerque covers 222.2 miles across the high desert of New Mexico. You should budget approximately 3 hours and 29 minutes of drive time, making this a manageable day trip that fits easily into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, it is an affordable way to cross the state. You will navigate a mix of local roads including West 7th Street, North 4th Street, and Highway 84 to complete the journey. Since both cities are located within the Desert Southwest, the transition remains consistent throughout the trip. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this route is straightforward enough to complete without needing an overnight stay.
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
111.1 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 116.5 mi | 1h 59m |
| US 60 | 58.1 mi | 1h 8m |
| US Highway 84 | 41.1 mi | 46m |
| West 7th Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Central Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North 4th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Pan American Freeway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Locust Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 116.5 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
1
Start on North Main Street
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto West 7th Street
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West 7th Street
3
Turn right onto US 60; US 84
58 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
US 60; US 84
4
Turn right onto US 84
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
North 4th Street
5
Continue on US 84
41 mi
·
46 min
·
US Highway 84
6
Continue on US 84
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Historic Route 66
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 40 West
8
Merge onto I 40
117 mi
·
1 hr 59 min
·
I 40
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 159B-C
Toward I 25 North, I 25 South: Las Cruces, Santa Fe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 159B
Toward I 25 South: Las Cruces
Use the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 25
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pan American Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Locust Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Locust Street Northeast
14
Turn right onto Central Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
15
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue Northwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 29 minute journey, aim to leave early in the day to account for the turn-heavy nature of these local roads. Since you only have one scheduled stop, use it strategically to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle, keeping that $34 budget in mind. Because this is a shorter trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to avoid local traffic congestion. Pay close attention to signage when transitioning between West 7th Street, North 4th Street, and Highway 84 to stay on track. Keeping your navigation tools handy is essential given the lack of interstate signage on this specific path.
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 111.1 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.5 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.1 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albuquerque, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clovis, 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 Clovis, NM
This is one driving day of about 222.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Clovis, 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 I 40 for about 116.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.1 miles from Clovis, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 220.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 7th Street
Turn right onto West 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
102.3 mi into trip
|
~2h in
Turn left toward I 40 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40 West
8
219.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North, I 25 South: Las Cruces, Santa Fe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 159B-C
Toward I 25 North, I 25 South: Las Cruces, Sant...
8
219.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 South: Las Cruces
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 159B
Toward I 25 South: Las Cruces
8
220.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 224B
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Centra...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.54 one way
$67.08 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $36.82 | $73.64 |
| premium | $4.56 | $39.86 | $79.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.04 | $98.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.32 | $10.66 |
| Efficient EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.43 | $8.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.09 | $14.21 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Albuquerque, NM
Evening in Albuquerque on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Santa Rosa, NM
111 mi in
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
4h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petroglyph National Monument
National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 222.1
Caution: Be City Smart: Take precautions to secure your vehicle and valuables.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 222.2-mile trek. Because the highway share is 0%, your focus will be on navigating local roads and secondary highways rather than sustained high-speed travel. The route demands your full attention as you transition between West 7th Street, North 4th Street, and Highway 84. You will experience a more intimate look at the regional landscape by avoiding major interstates entirely. Plan for a steady pace that requires more active steering than a typical freeway haul, as the road character shifts based on the specific local routes you follow.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 60. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 7th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 222.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 102.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 219.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 222.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (West 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 102.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 219.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Albuquerque, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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