Clovis, NM to Ponderosa Pine, NM is 209.4 miles and takes about 3h 59m via I 40, US 60, and US Highway 84, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, beginning and ending in New Mexico. With nearly all of the drive on highways, you'll cover a good distance efficiently. It's a straightforward route that's easy to complete in a single day if you're looking for a simple, direct path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.7 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
89.1 mi
1h 29m
US 60
58.1 mi
1h 8m
US Highway 84
41.1 mi
46m
NM 217
10.6 mi
17m
Old Route 66
3.3 mi
4m
West 7th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Deputy Sheriff James F. McGrane Junior Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Old US Highway 66
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 89.1 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,021 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,556
Quietest
2 AM
~333 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 102 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 Ponderosa Pine, 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
89 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward NM 344: Edgewood
10
Keep slight left at fork
293 ft·10 sec
Toward NM 344 South: Historical Route 66
11
Turn slight left onto NM 344
0.2 mi·24 sec·NM-344
12
Turn right onto NM 333
3.3 mi·4 min·Old Route 66
13
Continue on NM 333
1.1 mi·1 min·Old US Highway 66
14
Turn left onto NM 217
8.9 mi·14 min·NM 217
15
Continue on NM 217
1.7 mi·2 min·NM 217
16
Turn right onto NM 337
2.2 mi·3 min·Deputy Sheriff James F. McGrane Junior Memorial Highway
17
Turn left onto Kuhn Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Kuhn Drive
18
Turn left onto Armin Road
113 ft·4 sec·Armin Road
19
Arrive at destination
Armin Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 59m duration, it’s best to depart Clovis in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any unforeseen delays. The route is mostly highway, so you won't need to worry about frequent stops for navigation. There's one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary, though the fuel cost is estimated at only $30. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Ponderosa Pine, as services might become less frequent on the final stretch.
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 104.7 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.1 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 3m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ponderosa Pine, 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 209.4 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 89.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 209.4 — 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
4
191.6 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward NM 344: Edgewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NM 344: Edgewood
6
191.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NM 344 South: Historical Route 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NM 344 South: Historical Route 66
5
209.4 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|Armin Road
Turn left onto Armin Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.60 one way
$65.19 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.94
$71.87
premium
$4.71
$38.84
$77.68
diesel
$6.18
$50.94
$101.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.99
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.32
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Clovis, NM
Morning
in Clovis on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 15 to 30 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Ponderosa Pine, NM
Morning
in Ponderosa Pine on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
E 15 to 20 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 12:04AM MDT until October 17 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
73°F
Santa Rosa, NM
105 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
2 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
3h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 209.4
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, so expect continuous driving on major roads for most of your trip. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 89.1 miles on I 40. You'll experience mostly highway cruising, with very little time spent on surface roads. The transition to non-highway driving will likely occur near your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 60. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 7th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 191.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 89.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 191.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ponderosa Pine, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
