Silver City, NM to Clovis, NM is 403.5 miles and takes about 8h 16m via Central Avenue and Clovis Highway, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you depart early. This trip stays within New Mexico, traversing the Desert Southwest region. Expect a drive that largely utilizes surface roads, so plan for a more deliberate pace. With a recommended two days for this drive, you can break up the 403.5 miles and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
201.8 miles from Silver City, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central Avenue
98.6 mi
2h 5m
Clovis Highway
85.9 mi
1h 39m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
51.1 mi
51m
US Highway 70 West
42.3 mi
46m
Tom Foy Boulevard
37.9 mi
45m
US 70
25.2 mi
34m
Bataan Memorial Highway
20.1 mi
24m
Silver Heights Boulevard
9.3 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue
— 98.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~770 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,116
Quietest
2 AM
~145 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 32 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 Silver City, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on North Cooper Street
24 ft·2 sec·North Cooper Street
2
Turn right onto West Broadway
0.3 mi·1 min·West Broadway
3
Turn left onto NM 90
0.8 mi·59 sec·North Hudson Street
4
Continue on US 180
9.3 mi·17 min·Silver Heights Boulevard
5
Continue on US 180
38 mi·45 min·Tom Foy Boulevard
6
Continue on US 180
4.1 mi·6 min·North Gold Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 180
0.4 mi·27 sec·East Cedar Street
8
Take the exit onto US 180
0.4 mi·45 sec·US 180
9
Merge onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit onto US 70
7.2 mi·11 min·US 70
Toward US 70 East: Picacho AvenueUse the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 70
2.5 mi·5 min·North Main Street
12
Continue on US 70
20 mi·24 min·Bataan Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on US 70
42 mi·46 min·US Highway 70 West
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 70
0.1 mi·18 sec·South White Sands Boulevard
15
Take the exit onto US 70
0.1 mi·34 sec·US 70
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
16
Merge onto US 54; US 70
5.0 mi·7 min·Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route
17
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi·10 min·US 54,70
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto South Bookout Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Bookout Road
19
Keep slight left at fork onto South Bookout Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Bookout Road
20
Turn right onto Old Mescalero Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Old Mescalero Road
21
Turn right onto US 70
99 mi·2 hr 5 min·Central Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
6.2 mi·8 min·Relief Route
23
Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
1.3 mi·1 min·Highway Relief Route
24
Continue on US 70 Truck
86 mi·1 hr 39 min·Clovis Highway
25
Turn slight left onto US 70
18 mi·22 min·US 70
26
Turn left onto US 60; US 84
0.5 mi·48 sec·East 1st Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·North Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 403.5-mile drive, consider splitting it into two days to make the most of your 8h 16m travel time. Departing Silver City in the morning will give you ample time to reach your first overnight stop. The longest stretch on surface roads is nearly 100 miles, so be sure to fuel up before you embark on those sections, as services might be less frequent. With two recommended days, you can comfortably make stops along the way without feeling pressed for time.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 201.8 miles from Silver City, NM, or about 4h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 89 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.8 miles or 4h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 201.8 miles or 4h 7m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 4m
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 Silver City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Silver City, NM
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Clovis, NM
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Silver City, NM.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Central Avenue for about 98.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 181.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Broadway
Turn right onto West Broadway
Navigation decision point
4
52.4 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|US 180 / East Cedar Street
Turn left onto US 180 / East Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
6
104.3 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 70 East: Picacho Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 70 East: Picacho Avenue
6
176.5 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, Tularosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 North, US 70 East: Relief Route, T...
4
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|US 54; US 70 / US 54,70
Turn left onto US 54; US 70 / US 54,70
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.01 one way
$112.03 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$62.67
$125.34
premium
$4.29
$68.13
$136.27
diesel
$4.80
$76.19
$152.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$186–$296
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.1
1
$42.37
$19.37
Efficient EV
100.9
1
$35.31
$16.14
EV Truck/SUV
161.4
2
$56.49
$25.82
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Silver City, NM
Evening
in Silver City on Saturday
Local time
7:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 8 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 8:32PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:28PM MDT until July 16 at 10:15PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Destination
Clovis, NM
Evening
in Clovis on Saturday
Local time
7:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 8:32PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:28PM MDT until July 16 at 10:15PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
3 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
8h 16m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$25
near mile 153.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route sees only 19% of its mileage on highways, meaning most of your 8h 16m drive will be on surface roads like Central Avenue and Clovis Highway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 98.6 miles on Central Avenue. You'll notice the shift from highway cruising to surface street driving as you progress, encountering more intersections and varying speed limits.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.6 mi on Central Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Broadway.
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 403.5 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (West Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (US 180 / East Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 104.3 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,124 ft3,797 ft
Total Climb
2,847 ft
Total Descent
4,507 ft
Highest Point
6,124 ft
~230.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,327 ft
Notable High Points
4,332 ft at ~86.5 miles+45 ft prominence
6,124 ft at ~230.6 miles+352 ft prominence
4,366 ft at ~345.9 miles+157 ft prominence
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 Silver City, NM to Clovis, NM, road signs begin pointing toward Tularosa along the way.
Silver City is a town in the southwestern part of New Mexico, USA. An old mining town, it is undergoing rebirth as a modest high-tech center and jumping-off point to a number of attractive areas in the mountains. The small nearby towns of Bayard, Hurley, etc., are also covered in this article.
Top landmarks
•Silver City Woman's Club — historic building in Silver City, New Mexico, United States
•Chihuahua Hill Historic District — historic district in Silver City, 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.
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
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.6 miles on Central Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 202 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (US 180 / East Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 104.3 miles (US 70): 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 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Clovis, NM before the return drive.
