This 371.6-mile journey from Twin Lakes to Clovis, New Mexico, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 42 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily an Interstate 40 experience with segments on US Highway 60 and South US Highway 84, this route offers a straightforward highway-focused drive through the Desert Southwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $56, it's an economical option for a full day's travel. You'll want to plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the nearly 7-hour commitment. This drive is ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
185.8 miles from Twin Lakes, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
255.7 mi
4h 21m
US Highway 60
56.8 mi
1h 7m
South US Highway 84
41.1 mi
46m
US 491
13.2 mi
18m
West 7th Street
2.4 mi
4m
East Sumner Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
North 4th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Historic Route 66
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 255.7 mi, about 4h 21m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 47 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,871 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,267
Quietest
3 AM
~255 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Twin Lakes, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on this road
8 ft·0 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 491
5.6 mi·7 min·US 491
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 491
7.6 mi·10 min·US 491
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 40 East: Albuquerque
5
Merge onto I 40
256 mi·4 hr 21 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 84 South: Fort Summer
7
Turn right onto US 84
264 ft·3 sec·Historic Route 66
8
Continue on US 84
41 mi·46 min·South US Highway 84
9
Continue on US 84
0.6 mi·45 sec·North 4th Street
10
Continue on US 60; US 84
1.3 mi·1 min·East Sumner Avenue
11
Continue on US 60; US 84
57 mi·1 hr 7 min·US Highway 60
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto West 7th Street
2.4 mi·4 min·West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto North Main Street
41 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 42-minute drive time, starting early from Twin Lakes is recommended to arrive in Clovis with daylight to spare. While the route is manageable in one day, consider planning your single stop strategically to coincide with the longest stretch on I-40. This will help break up the drive efficiently. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long I-40 segment, as services can be spaced out. The $56 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you depart is always a good idea.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.8 miles from Twin Lakes, NM, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 255.7 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 82 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.8 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 29m
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 Twin Lakes, 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 Twin Lakes, NM
This is one driving day of about 371.6 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Twin Lakes, 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 I 40 for about 255.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 369.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.7 mi into trip|~7m in|US 491
Keep slight left at fork onto US 491
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
13.2 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 40 East: Albuquerque
5
13.4 mi into trip|~19m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
269.1 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 84 South: Fort Summer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 84 South: Fort Summer
5
369.2 mi into trip|~6h 37m in|West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.59 one way
$103.17 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$57.72
$115.43
premium
$4.29
$62.75
$125.50
diesel
$4.80
$70.17
$140.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.5
1
$39.02
$17.84
Efficient EV
92.9
1
$32.52
$14.86
EV Truck/SUV
148.6
1
$52.02
$23.78
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Twin Lakes, NM
Late night
in Twin Lakes on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph6% 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 Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Clovis, NM
Late night
in Clovis on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph5% 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 Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 12:08PM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
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
4 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
6h 42m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 140.9
The richly diverse volcanic landscape of El Malpais (el-mal-pie-EES) offers solitude, recreation, and adventure. Explore incredible geologic features such as young lava flows, cinder cones, lava tubes...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 76.9
Imagine the refreshment of finding water after days of dusty travel. A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro (the headland) a popular campsite for hundreds of years....
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 64.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 99% of the route utilizing major roadways. The bulk of your travel, a significant 255.7 miles, will be on Interstate 40. This means you'll encounter stretches of consistent speed and straightforward navigation. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of US Highway 60 and US Highway 84 may offer slight variations in scenery and speed limits as you transition between these key arteries. The overall feel is one of covering distance on well-maintained highways.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 255.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US Highway 60. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near US 491.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles (US 491): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 255.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 20 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: at 5.7 miles (US 491): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petroglyph National Monument, El Malpais National Monument and El Morro National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 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.
