Clovis, NM to Santa Teresa, NM is 320.6 miles and takes about 6h 34m via US 70 and 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 straightforward journey through New Mexico. Given its duration and distance, it’s a manageable one-day trip for most drivers. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this drive if you're looking for a no-fuss transition 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
160.3 miles from Clovis, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m 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
10.2 mi
14m
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 Santa Teresa, 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·14 min·Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
22
Turn left onto South Desert Boulevard
1.8 mi·3 min·South Desert Boulevard
23
Turn right onto TX 178
3.0 mi·3 min·Artcraft Road
24
Continue on NM 136
1.1 mi·1 min·Peter V. Domenici International Highway
25
Turn left onto NM 273
1.6 mi·2 min·McNutt Road
26
Turn right onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
27
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
192 ft·6 sec·North Country Club Road
28
Continue on North Country Club Road
416 ft·16 sec·North Country Club Road
29
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
0.2 mi·55 sec·North Apache Gold Loop
30
Arrive at destination
North Apache Gold Loop
Trip Plan
For this 320.6-mile drive, starting early in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight, especially since it’s designed as a single-day trip. While there's only one recommended stop, plan for additional breaks as needed, particularly during the 100.6-mile stretch on West 2nd Street where services might be sparse. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $48, and it's always wise to top off when you have the opportunity. Given the 6h 34m estimated duration, you should have ample flexibility to adjust your pace and take spontaneous breaks if something catches your eye along US 70 or US Highway 54 South.
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 160.3 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 3h 15m 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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.3 miles or 3h 15m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Teresa, 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 320.6 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.7 and 320.4 — 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.
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...
5
320.3 mi into trip|~6h 32m in|North Country Club Road
Enter roundabout onto North Country Club Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
320.4 mi into trip|~6h 33m in|North Apache Gold Loop
Turn left onto North Apache Gold Loop
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.42 one way
$96.84 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$53.15
$106.30
premium
$4.56
$57.54
$115.09
diesel
$5.61
$70.78
$141.57
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: 112.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.2
1
$33.66
$15.39
Efficient EV
80.2
0
$28.05
$12.82
EV Truck/SUV
128.2
1
$44.88
$20.52
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Santa Teresa, NM
Evening
in Santa Teresa on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°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
28 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
6h 34m 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 232.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with 53% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 70 and US Highway 54 South, which are typically good, open roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 100.6 miles on West 2nd Street, suggesting a period where services might be less frequent. While much of the drive will be on these main arteries, expect some sections that feel more like local roads as you navigate through towns. The overall feel is less about sweeping vistas and more about covering ground effectively.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 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?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 34m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 301.3 miles: 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 6h 34m. Total distance: 320.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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 Santa Teresa, 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. 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 301.3 miles: 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 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 Santa Teresa, NM before the return drive.
