Embark on a 383.3-mile journey from Clovis, NM, to Columbus, NM, a drive that will take approximately 7 hours and 49 minutes. This route, primarily utilizing US 70 and incorporating stretches of West 2nd Street and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, is best tackled in a single day, though you'll want to consider an early start. With an estimated fuel cost of $58, this trip through the Desert Southwest region offers a mixed driving experience. Plan for a couple of stops along the way to break up the journey and make the most of your time on the road.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
191.7 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 70
154.7 mi
2h 57m
West 2nd Street
100.6 mi
2h 7m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
51.7 mi
52m
Columbus Road
31 mi
46m
South Prince Street
17.4 mi
21m
US 54
13.6 mi
17m
West Picacho Avenue
6.5 mi
9m
North Main Street
2.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 154.7 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Columbus, NM.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 60; US 70; US 84
0.5 mi·46 sec·East 1st Street
3
Turn right onto US 70
17 mi·21 min·South Prince Street
4
Continue on US 70
0.3 mi·50 sec·North Chicago Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
6
Continue on US 70
1.0 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
7
Continue on US 70
91 mi·1 hr 45 min·US 70
8
Turn right onto US 70; US 380
100 mi·2 hr 6 min·West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto North Bookout Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Bookout Road
10
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi·10 min·US 54; US 70
11
Take the exit onto US 54; US 70
4.9 mi·7 min·US 54; US 70
12
Take the exit onto US 70
63 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 70
2.4 mi·5 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto US 70
2.9 mi·4 min·West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 70
3.6 mi·5 min·West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 70
Toward Arizona
17
Merge onto I 10
52 mi·52 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit onto US 180
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 180
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
19
Turn left onto US 180
0.2 mi·20 sec·North Gold Avenue
20
Continue on NM 11
0.4 mi·41 sec·South Gold Avenue
21
Turn straight onto NM 11
0.7 mi·1 min·South Cody Road
22
Continue on NM 11
31 mi·46 min·Columbus Road
23
Arrive at destination
NM 11
Trip Plan
To maximize your comfort on this 7-hour, 49-minute drive, aim for an early morning departure from Clovis, NM. This will allow you to complete the 383.3-mile trip with ample daylight and potentially avoid the longest stretch of 154.7 miles on US 70 during peak sun. With only two recommended stops, be strategic about where you refuel and rest, keeping the $58 fuel cost in mind. The mixed drive profile means you'll want to stay alert for changes in road conditions and speed limits as you transition between highway and local roads.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.7 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.7 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 84 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.7 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clovis, NM
This is one driving day of about 383.3 miles and 7h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Clovis, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 70 for about 154.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.7 and 350.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
18.7 mi into trip|~23m in|East 1st Street
Turn right onto East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
226.7 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
298.5 mi into trip|~6h 7m in|US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward Arizona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Arizona
5
350.6 mi into trip|~7h in|US 180
Take the exit onto US 180 toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Ha...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.89 one way
$115.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$63.55
$127.09
premium
$4.56
$68.80
$137.60
diesel
$5.61
$84.63
$169.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115
1
$40.25
$18.40
Efficient EV
95.8
1
$33.54
$15.33
EV Truck/SUV
153.3
1
$53.66
$24.53
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 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
Clovis, NM
Evening
in Clovis on Saturday
Local time
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, NM
Evening
in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
54°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
29 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
7h 49m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
White Sands National Park
National Park
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$25
near mile 251.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 383.3-mile drive presents a mixed profile, with 44% of the travel occurring on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 154.7 miles along US 70, which forms the backbone of this route. While much of the drive involves more direct, faster-paced travel, expect some transitions as you navigate through towns and onto local roads like West 2nd Street. The character of the drive shifts as you move through the New Mexico landscape, offering a blend of open road and necessary urban navigation.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.7 mi on US 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.7 miles in near East 1st Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 383.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 18.7 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clovis, NM and Columbus, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.
Arizona
298.5 mi in|~6h 7m|via US 70
Hatch
350.6 mi in|~7h|via US 180
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 49m. Total distance: 383.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.7 miles on US 70. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbus, 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 2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.7 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — White Sands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Columbus, NM before the return drive.
