Spanning 244.2 miles across the high desert, your journey from Los Lunas to Clovis takes approximately 4 hours and 29 minutes. This route is best suited as a straightforward one-day trip, allowing you to traverse the heart of New Mexico without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Coronado Freeway, US Highway 60, and South US Highway 84, keeping your travel on major roads for 97% of the trip. Budgeting around $37 for fuel should cover your transit, making this an economical choice for a cross-state drive. Since both cities are located within the Desert Southwest, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout your time behind the wheel.
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
122.1 miles from Los Lunas, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Coronado Freeway
116.9 mi
2h
US Highway 60
56.8 mi
1h 7m
South US Highway 84
41.1 mi
46m
I 25
22.1 mi
23m
West 7th Street
2.4 mi
4m
East Sumner Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Main Street Northwest
0.9 mi
1m
Main Street Southwest
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Coronado Freeway
— 116.9 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Lunas, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on this road
32 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Turn slight right onto Luna Avenue Southeast
151 ft·8 sec·Luna Avenue Southeast
3
Turn left onto NM 6
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street Northeast
4
Continue on NM 6
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street Southwest
5
Continue on NM 6
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street Northwest
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
7
Merge onto I 25
22 mi·23 min·I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 226B-AToward I 40: Gallup, Santa RosaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 226AToward I 40 East: Santa RosaUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
117 mi·2 hr·Coronado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 84 South: Fort Summer
12
Turn right onto US 84
264 ft·3 sec·Historic Route 66
13
Continue on US 84
41 mi·46 min·South US Highway 84
14
Continue on US 84
0.6 mi·45 sec·North 4th Street
15
Continue on US 60; US 84
1.3 mi·1 min·East Sumner Avenue
16
Continue on US 60; US 84
57 mi·1 hr 7 min·US Highway 60
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto West 7th Street
2.4 mi·4 min·West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto North Main Street
41 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your 244.2-mile journey comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a single-day commitment, consider departing early in the morning to avoid midday sun and ensure you reach Clovis with plenty of daylight remaining. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longest 116.9-mile freeway segment, as service intervals may vary in these remote stretches. Your $37 fuel budget is an estimate, so it is wise to fill up before leaving Los Lunas to avoid price spikes in smaller, isolated towns along the way. Utilizing that single planned stop effectively will help maintain your focus throughout the drive.
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 122.1 miles from Los Lunas, NM, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.9 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 54 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.1 miles or 2h 8m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clovis, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Los Lunas, 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 Los Lunas, NM
This is one driving day of about 244.2 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Los Lunas, 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 Coronado Freeway for about 116.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 241.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 25
Merge onto I 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.1 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226B-A
Toward I 40: Gallup, Santa Rosa
8
24.4 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226A
Toward I 40 East: Santa Rosa
5
24.8 mi into trip|~28m in|I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Coronado Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
241.8 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.88 one way
$73.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$40.49
$80.97
premium
$4.56
$43.83
$87.66
diesel
$5.61
$53.92
$107.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.3
0
$25.64
$11.72
Efficient EV
61.1
0
$21.37
$9.77
EV Truck/SUV
97.7
1
$34.19
$15.63
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Los Lunas, NM
Late night
in Los Lunas on Sunday
Local time
1:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clovis, NM
Late night
in Clovis on Sunday
Local time
1:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Edgewood, NM
122 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
41 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
4h 29m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 25.3
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?
Expect a highway-focused drive that favors steady speeds over technical maneuvers. The experience is defined by a significant 116.9-mile stretch on the Coronado Freeway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. Because 97% of your travel occurs on major highways, the pace remains consistent and efficient for the duration of the 4.5-hour drive. As you transition from the freeway onto US Highway 60 and South US Highway 84, you will settle into a rhythmic, long-distance driving pace. This is a practical route for those who prefer predictable road conditions and open horizons over winding backroads.
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: 116.9 mi on Coronado Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Coronado Freeway and US Highway 60. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near I 25.
Driving Effort6/10
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 244.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 2 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Los Lunas, NM to Clovis, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Rosa along the way.
Santa Rosa
24.1 mi in|~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 244.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.9 miles on Coronado Freeway. 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 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 Clovis, 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 2 miles (I 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Clovis, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
