Traveling from Ruidoso to Clovis covers 182.2 miles across the high plains of New Mexico. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 44 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. You will primarily navigate via US 70 and the Clovis Highway, with a total estimated fuel cost of $28. Since both locations sit within the Desert Southwest, you can anticipate a consistent regional landscape throughout the entire trip. This route is manageable for most drivers without the need for an overnight stay, offering a reliable path through the state.
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
91.1 miles from Ruidoso, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Clovis Highway
85.9 mi
1h 39m
US 70
85 mi
1h 47m
Relief Route
6.2 mi
8m
Sudderth Drive
2.8 mi
4m
Highway Relief Route
1.3 mi
1m
East 1st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Clovis Highway
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruidoso, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on NM 48
2.8 mi·4 min·Sudderth Drive
2
Merge onto US 70
67 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 70
3
Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
6.2 mi·8 min·Relief Route
4
Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
1.3 mi·1 min·Highway Relief Route
5
Continue on US 70 Truck
86 mi·1 hr 39 min·Clovis Highway
6
Turn slight left onto US 70
18 mi·22 min·US 70
7
Turn left onto US 60; US 84
0.5 mi·48 sec·East 1st Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·North Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For a smooth journey, plan for at least one stop to break up the 3-hour and 44-minute drive. Because the fuel cost is modest at roughly $28, you have plenty of flexibility in your budget for snacks or extra supplies. Aim to depart early in the day to take full advantage of the daylight hours, especially since you will be covering a relatively long distance in a single push. Since you have a nearly 86-mile stretch on the Clovis Highway, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before hitting that segment to avoid any unnecessary stress. Use the single recommended stop to stretch your legs and reset before finishing the final leg of the trip.
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 91.1 miles from Ruidoso, NM, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 3m
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 Ruidoso, 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 Ruidoso, NM
This is one driving day of about 182.2 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Ruidoso, 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 Clovis Highway for about 85.9 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 181.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in|US 70
Merge onto US 70
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
181.2 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|US 60; US 84 / East 1st Street
Turn left onto US 60; US 84 / East 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.52 one way
$55.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.21
$60.41
premium
$4.56
$32.70
$65.41
diesel
$5.61
$40.23
$80.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Hotel Ruidoso
Ruidoso, NM
FCN
4 DCFC
Allsups - Roswell #102160
Roswell, NM
FCN
4 DCFC
Hamilton Ford
Clovis, NM
FORD_CHARGE
2 DCFC
CASINO APACHE STATION 2
Mescalero, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
CASINO APACHE STATION 1
Mescalero, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ROSWELL DC EV ROSWELLDC1
Roswell, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ROSWELL DC EV ROSWELLDC2
Roswell, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ROSWELL DC EV ROSWELLDC3
Roswell, NM
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 8
FCN: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.7
0
$19.13
$8.75
Efficient EV
45.6
0
$15.94
$7.29
EV Truck/SUV
72.9
0
$25.51
$11.66
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ruidoso, NM
Late night
in Ruidoso on Tuesday
Local time
3:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clovis, NM
Late night
in Clovis on Tuesday
Local time
3:21 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Roswell, NM
91 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
19 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 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps the experience varied. Approximately 47% of your time will be spent on highways, balancing faster stretches with more localized roads. You should prepare for a significant 85.9-mile stretch on the Clovis Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. As you transition between these segments, you will navigate a mix of road types that requires you to stay alert through different speed zones. The interplay between highway travel and smaller road passages defines the character of this 182.2-mile trek.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 mi on Clovis Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 2.8 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ruidoso, NM to Clovis, NM is easy. At 3h 44m with 47% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 181.2 miles (US 60; US 84 / East 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 181.7 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Ruidoso is a town in southeastern New Mexico. Its attractions include pleasant mountain recreation and world-caliber horse racing. During the summer population triples as New Mexicans and Texans arrive to enjoy the horse races, gambling, and cool mountain air.
Top landmarks
•Old Dowlin Mill — watermill and grinding mill in Ruidoso, New Mexico
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on Clovis Highway. 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.
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: at 2.8 miles (US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 181.2 miles (US 60; US 84 / East 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 181.7 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Clovis, NM, but most travelers stay overnight.
