Origin
Clayton, NM
Evening in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM
Drive Time
4h 47m
Distance
278.7 mi
448 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 34m
★
6 AM
4h 47m
8 AM
5h 14m
10 AM
4h 57m
12 PM
4h 54m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 13m
8 PM
4h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clayton, NM
Colon Freld
Roswell, NM
Thomas K
Trip Overview
The drive from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM covers 278.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 1st Street, US 385 South, West 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
139.3 miles from Clayton, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 47m drive with frequent turns across 278.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 1st Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 385 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wheeler Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mabry Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Prince Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Chicago Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NM and Roswell, NM.
1
Start on Main Street
46 ft
·
9 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Street
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
South 1st Street
3
Continue straight
4.7 mi
·
5 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward US 385 South: Channing
80 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
US 385 South: Channing
5
Turn right onto West 1st Street
21 mi
·
21 min
·
West 1st Street
6
Continue straight
27 mi
·
29 min
7
Continue on Wheeler Avenue
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Wheeler Avenue
8
Continue on Mabry Drive
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Mabry Drive
9
Continue on East 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 1st Street
10
Turn left onto South Prince Street
17 mi
·
21 min
·
South Prince Street
11
Continue on North Chicago Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Chicago Avenue
12
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
13
Continue on West 2nd Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
14
Continue straight
84 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 285 South: Roswell
5.9 mi
·
12 min
·
US 285 South: Roswell
16
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 2nd Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 139.3 miles from Clayton, NM, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.3 miles or 2h 23m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roswell, NM than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clayton, 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 Clayton, NM
This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clayton, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.3 mi from Clayton, NM · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 139.3 miles from Clayton, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Roswell, NM
The final approach into Roswell, NM usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Roswell, NM.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.61 one way
$85.21 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $46.73 | $93.46 |
| premium | $4.61 | $50.58 | $101.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.92 | $123.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.26 | $13.38 |
| Efficient EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.39 | $11.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.5 | 1 | $39.02 | $17.84 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Roswell, NM
Evening in Roswell on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°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
33 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
4h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM covers 278.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 1st Street, US 385 South, West 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.3 miles from Clayton, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clayton, NM to Roswell, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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