Origin
Tucumcari, NM
Late night in Tucumcari on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucumcari, NM to Clovis, NM
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
83 mi
134 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucumcari, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Clovis, NM
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tucumcari to Clovis is 83 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via South 1st Street, NM 268, and Denby Avenue, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Mexico's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a practical option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. Consider this route for its simplicity and manageable duration, making it easy to fit into a larger travel plan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Tucumcari, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 1st Street | 30.9 mi | 38m |
| NM 268 | 27.5 mi | 38m |
| Denby Avenue | 22.2 mi | 27m |
| West 7th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| West Tucumcari Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South 1st Street
— 30.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucumcari, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on I 40 Business
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
West Tucumcari Boulevard
2
Turn right onto NM 209
31 mi
·
38 min
·
South 1st Street
3
Turn right onto NM 268
27 mi
·
38 min
·
NM 268
4
Turn left onto US 60; US 84
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Denby Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto West 7th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto North Main Street
41 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
7
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 83-mile distance and under two-hour drive time, you have a lot of flexibility. Departing anytime in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to reach Clovis well before dark. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to the transition between road types, especially as you move from town-based roads onto NM 268, to anticipate any changes in speed limits or road conditions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Tucumcari, NM, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.9 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
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 Tucumcari, NM so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucumcari, NM
This is one driving day of about 83 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tucumcari, NM.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South 1st Street for about 30.9 miles.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NM 209 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto NM 209 / South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
31 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
NM 268
Turn right onto NM 268
Navigation decision point
6
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 60; US 84 / Denby Avenue
Turn left onto US 60; US 84 / Denby Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
83 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.53 one way
$25.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.76 | $27.52 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.90 | $29.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.33 | $36.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Clovis, NM
Late night in Clovis on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°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
1 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
1h 49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a mixed profile, with about 33% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on South 1st Street, NM 268, and Denby Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 30.9 miles, which will likely be on South 1st Street. The road characteristics shift throughout the 1 hour and 49-minute drive, moving from what begins as a more urban or town-connected road to potentially more open highway as you progress toward your destination.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.9 mi on South 1st Street.
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 0.1 miles in near NM 209 / South 1st Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tucumcari, NM to Clovis, NM is easy. At 1h 49m with 33% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (NM 209 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (NM 268): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles (US 60; US 84 / Denby Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 83 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.9 miles on South 1st Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.1 miles (NM 209 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (NM 268): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles (US 60; US 84 / Denby Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clovis, NM before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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