Clovis, NM to La Union, NM is 319.2 miles and takes about 6h 33m via US Highway 54 South, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape. It's a straightforward drive with a mix of highway and surface roads, suitable for a single-day trip. Plan for a steady pace as you navigate between these two New Mexico locations.
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
159.6 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West 2nd Street
100.6 mi
2h 7m
US 70
91.7 mi
1h 46m
US Highway 54 South
34.8 mi
37m
US Highway 54
28.9 mi
30m
South Prince Street
17.4 mi
21m
US 54
15.7 mi
20m
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
10.4 mi
15m
Gateway South Boulevard
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— 100.6 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and La Union, 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
0.3 mi·1 min·US 70
13
Turn left onto US Highway 54 South
35 mi·37 min·US Highway 54 South
14
Continue on US 54
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Continue on US 54
29 mi·30 min·US Highway 54
16
Continue on US 54
7.6 mi·9 min·Gateway South Boulevard
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
2.2 mi·2 min·US 54
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 29Toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain DriveUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto Gateway South Boulevard
0.2 mi·18 sec·Gateway South Boulevard
20
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
21
Continue on Loop 375
10 mi·15 min·Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
22
Turn right onto Loop 375
0.8 mi·1 min·Talbot Avenue
23
At end of road, turn right onto TX 20
0.5 mi·51 sec·Doniphan Drive
24
Turn left onto FM 259
1.2 mi·2 min·Canutillo la Union Avenue
25
Continue on NM 28
0.3 mi·34 sec·Canutillo-la Union Road
26
Keep slight right at fork onto NM 28
2.8 mi·4 min·Canutillo-la Union Road
27
Turn left onto NM 182
1.0 mi·2 min·Mercantil Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
NM 182
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 33m duration, starting your drive from Clovis in the morning will allow you to reach La Union with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to factor in an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on surface roads, as services might be more spaced out. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices. Consider making your sole planned stop during a break from the 100.6-mile segment on West 2nd Street.
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 159.6 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.6 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 70 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.6 miles or 3h 14m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Union, 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 319.2 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 West 2nd Street for about 100.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.7 and 301.3 — 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.
4
227 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|US Highway 54 South
Turn left onto US Highway 54 South
Navigation decision point
4
299.2 mi into trip|~6h in|US 54
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
301.3 mi into trip|~6h 3m in
Take the exit toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward Loop 375: Woodrow Bean Transmountain Dri...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.76 one way
$93.52 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$51.91
$103.83
premium
$4.49
$56.38
$112.75
diesel
$5.60
$70.36
$140.72
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: 111.7 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
95.8
1
$33.52
$15.32
Efficient EV
79.8
0
$27.93
$12.77
EV Truck/SUV
127.7
1
$44.69
$20.43
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Aug 16, 2026
Origin
Clovis, NM
Late night
in Clovis on Wednesday
Local time
12:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 16 at 12:50AM MDT until August 16 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
La Union, NM
Late night
in La Union on Wednesday
Local time
12:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 3 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 16 at 12:50AM MDT until August 16 at 6:00PM 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
4 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 33m 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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
$25
near mile 231.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 54% highway driving, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 100.6 miles on West 2nd Street, indicating a significant period of non-highway cruising. Expect to transition from highway speeds to more varied conditions as you move onto US-70 and US Highway 54 South, eventually reaching surface streets in populated areas.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.6 mi on West 2nd Street.
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 14 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 319.2 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 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 227 miles (US Highway 54 South): Navigation decision point.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 319.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 100.6 miles on West 2nd Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 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 La Union, 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 3 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 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 227 miles (US Highway 54 South): Navigation decision point.
Yes — White Sands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 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 La Union, NM before the return drive.
