Origin
Clovis, NM
Evening in Clovis on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clovis, NM to Las Cruces, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 58m
Distance
292.4 mi
471 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 59m
8 AM
6h 25m
10 AM
6h 8m
12 PM
6h 5m
3 PM
6h 9m
5 PM
6h 23m
8 PM
5h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clovis, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Las Cruces, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clovis, NM to Las Cruces, NM is 292.4 miles and takes about 5h 58m via US 70, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent regional experience. It's a straightforward, single-day drive, primarily on US 70, making it a practical option for connecting these two New Mexico communities. Plan for a relatively uninterrupted trip with minimal need to deviate from the main highway.
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
146.2 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 154.2 mi | 2h 56m |
| West 2nd Street | 100.6 mi | 2h 7m |
| South Prince Street | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| US 54 | 13.6 mi | 17m |
| North Main Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| East 1st Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Bookout Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Chicago Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 154.2 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Las Cruces, 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
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto North Church Street
187 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Church Street
15
Continue on North Church Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Church Street
16
Turn right
65 ft
·
9 sec
17
Turn left
284 ft
·
20 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 58m duration, leaving Clovis in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive in Las Cruces with plenty of daylight. While only one stop is suggested by the data, you might want to factor in a brief break around the halfway point of the 154.2-mile stretch on US 70. Fuel costs are estimated at $44, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Clovis, as services can be spread out on this route.
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 146.2 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.2 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 64 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 57m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Las Cruces, 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 292.4 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 154.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.2 miles from Clovis, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.2 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 18.7 and 292.3 — 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.
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.
4
292.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 57m in
|
North Church Street
Enter roundabout onto North Church Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
292.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 58m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.16 one way
$88.32 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $48.48 | $96.95 |
| premium | $4.56 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.56 | $129.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.70 | $14.04 |
| Efficient EV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.58 | $11.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117 | 1 | $40.94 | $18.71 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
Las Cruces, NM
Evening in Las Cruces on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°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
2 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
5h 58m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a mixed drive, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 154.2 miles on US 70, which forms the backbone of this trip. Expect the drive to feel relatively consistent, as you'll spend a significant portion of your time on this main corridor. While there are some urban entries and exits, the majority of the drive is along the open highway.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.2 mi on US 70.
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 around 18.7 miles in near East 1st Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 58m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 292.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.2 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.
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. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Las Cruces, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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