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Trip from Clovis, NM to Hatch, NM

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 31m

Distance

326.1 mi

525 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 20m ★
6 AM
6h 32m
8 AM
6h 56m
10 AM
6h 40m
12 PM
6h 38m
3 PM
6h 42m
5 PM
6h 55m
8 PM
6h 24m

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

city in and county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States

Clovis, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Hatch, NM, NM

Hatch, NM

Jahra Tasfia Reza

Trip Overview

Clovis, NM to Hatch, NM is 326.1 miles and takes about 6h 31m via US 70 and I 25, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent landscape for your drive. With 62% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly open road cruising. Plan for a single day of travel, as the estimated duration is well within typical driving limits. This route is straightforward, connecting two points within New Mexico.

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

163 miles from Clovis, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 70 154 mi 2h 56m
West 2nd Street 100.6 mi 2h 7m
I 25 34.3 mi 35m
South Prince Street 17.4 mi 21m
US 54 13.6 mi 17m
East 1st Street 1.6 mi 3m
North Bookout Road 1.5 mi 2m
NM 26 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 70 — 154 mi, about 2h 56m

Traffic on I-25

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~326 veh/hr typical · worst 433

Quietest

2 AM

~31 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

10.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 73 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Hatch, 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

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 25: El Paso, Albuquerque Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 25 North: Albuquerque
15

Merge onto I 25

20 mi · 20 min · I 25
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
17

Merge onto I 25

15 mi · 14 min · I 25
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward NM 26 West: Hatch
19

Turn left onto NM 26

1.1 mi · 1 min · NM 26
20

Continue on West Canal Road

0.3 mi · 32 sec · West Canal Road
21

Turn left onto NM 26

83 ft · 1 sec · West Hall Street
22

Arrive at destination

NM 26

Trip Plan

Given the 6h 31m estimated drive time, leaving Clovis in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive in Hatch with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without services is 154 miles on US 70, so be sure to top off your fuel before you embark on that segment. While Hatch is your destination, consider a brief stop along US 70 for a stretch if needed, though the route data indicates only one recommended stop. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility in your timing.

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 163 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154 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 72 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 163 miles or 3h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hatch, 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 326.1 miles and 6h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 US 70 for about 154 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Mescalero, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mescalero, NM

163 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

Roswell, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mescalero, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 163 miles from Clovis, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Blackwater Draw Rest area

0.1 mi from route

Fort Selden Rest Area Southbound

0.1 mi from route

Fort Selden Rest Area Northbound

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.4 mi from route

Chisum Travel Center

0.5 mi from route

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 112.1 and 326.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.
7
289.3 mi into trip | ~5h 51m in

Take the exit toward I 25: El Paso, Albuquerque

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 25: El Paso, Albuquerque
5
289.4 mi into trip | ~5h 52m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 25 North: Albuquerque

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 25 North: Albuquerque
5
326.1 mi into trip | ~6h 31m in | NM 26 / West Hall Street

Turn left onto NM 26 / West Hall Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.77 one way

$95.54 round trip

$3.72/gal 25.4 MPG avg 114 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.13 $53.04 $106.07
premium $4.49 $57.59 $115.19
diesel $5.60 $71.88 $143.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 114.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 97.8 1 $34.24 $15.65
Efficient EV 81.5 0 $28.53 $13.04
EV Truck/SUV 130.4 1 $45.65 $20.87

Gas CO2

114 kg

EV CO2

38 kg (67% 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 Sep 4, 2026

Origin

Clovis, NM

Evening in Clovis on Saturday

Local time

8:01 PM

MDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hatch, NM

Evening in Hatch on Saturday

Local time

8:01 PM

MDT

Current temp

68°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

3 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

6h 31m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 62% of your 326.1 miles on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 154 miles on US 70. As you transition from US 70 to I 25, expect a shift from rural cruising to more frequent exits and merges. The overall profile is mostly highway driving, minimizing the need for complex navigation. This setup allows for steady progress towards your destination.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154 mi on US 70.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and West 2nd Street. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 112.1 miles in near US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 326.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 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; at 289.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

7,324 ft 3,542 ft

Total Climb

4,930 ft

Total Descent

5,144 ft

Highest Point

7,324 ft

~186.3 mi in

Elevation Range

3,783 ft

Notable High Points

4,409 ft at ~46.6 miles +343 ft prominence
7,324 ft at ~186.3 miles +1,736 ft prominence
4,787 ft at ~279.5 miles +671 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Clovis, NM to Hatch, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.

Albuquerque

289.3 mi in | ~5h 51m

About the Cities

Starting in Clovis, NM

Full guide →

Founded 1906

Clovis is a city in the southeastern region of New Mexico, in Curry County, near the Texas state line. It is famous for the nearby archaeological site where "Clovis man" was discovered. It is a military community supporting nearby Cannon Air Force Base.

Top landmarks

  • Hotel Clovis — historic building in Clovis, New Mexico, US
  • State Theater — movie theater in Clovis, New Mexico, United States
  • Clovis Depot — railway station in Clovis, the United States of America

Arriving in Hatch, NM

Full guide →

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 6h 31m. Total distance: 326.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 154 miles on US 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 5 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 Hatch, 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 5 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 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; at 289.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hatch, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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