Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
33.2 mi
54 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portales, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Causey, NM
Israel Torres
Portales to Causey is 33.2 miles and takes about 44 minutes via South Avenue D and NM 114, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Desert Southwest region, primarily in New Mexico. Expect a straightforward drive that's easy to fit into a larger travel plan, whether you're starting your day or looking for a quick transit between towns. It's a practical segment for those familiar with the area or needing to reach their destination without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Avenue D | 16.6 mi | 20m |
| NM 114 | 16 mi | 22m |
| South Avenue C | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portales, NM and Causey, NM.
Start on NM 88
Continue on East 3rd Street
Turn left onto NM 206
Continue on NM 206
Continue on NM 206
Turn left onto NM 114
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 17.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NM 206 / South Avenue C
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto NM 114
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $5.64 | $11.29 |
| premium | $4.65 | $6.07 | $12.15 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.99 | $13.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Portales on Wednesday
Local time
7:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Causey on Wednesday
Local time
7:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route offers a mix of highway and surface road driving, with 48% of the 33.2 miles on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of 16.6 miles on South Avenue D before transitioning to NM 114. The latter part of the drive will feel more like rural cruising as you move between towns. The road surface is generally mixed, so be prepared for variations.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near NM 206 / South Avenue C.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Portales, NM to Causey, NM is easy. At 44m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (NM 206 / South Avenue C): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles (NM 114): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
295 ft
Total Descent
225 ft
Highest Point
4,285 ft
~21.4 mi in
Elevation Range
291 ft
Notable High Points
Portales is a small, fairly quiet college and agricultural town in Southeast New Mexico, United States. Home of Eastern New Mexico University. Nearest sizable town is Clovis; close to Cannon Air Force Base. Located almost adjacent to the Texas border. 90 miles from Roswell of UFO fame.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 33.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
