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Trip from Clovis, NM to Arenas Valley, NM

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

8h 3m

Distance

397.8 mi

640 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$60

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
7h 55m ★
6 AM
8h 4m
8 AM
8h 20m
10 AM
8h 9m
12 PM
8h 8m
3 PM
8h 10m
5 PM
8h 20m
8 PM
7h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States

Clovis, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Arenas Valley, NM, NM

Arenas Valley, NM

Kelly

Trip Overview

This 397.8-mile journey from Clovis, NM to Arenas Valley, NM will take approximately 8 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Primarily using US 70 and West 2nd Street, you'll experience a mixed drive that is best tackled over two days, rather than a single push. With a fuel cost estimated at $60, this route offers a straightforward path through the Desert Southwest region, remaining within New Mexico for its entirety. Planning for two stops along the way will help break up the driving time and make for a more comfortable trip.

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

198.9 miles from Clovis, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 3m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This drive features a 52% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads, though expect a mixed driving experience overall. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 154.7 miles on US 70, so be sure to plan your fuel stops accordingly. As you travel, the road will transition from more urban-feeling segments, like West 2nd Street, to the open expanses of highways like US 70. This blend means you'll encounter varying conditions, from potentially busier areas to more remote stretches.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 154.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.7 miles in near East 1st Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 397.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 18.7 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
18.7 mi into trip | ~23m in | East 1st Street

Turn right onto East 1st Street

Navigation decision point

5
112.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street

Turn right onto US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
226.7 mi into trip | ~4h 40m in | US 70

Take the exit onto US 70

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
298.5 mi into trip | ~6h 7m in | US 70

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward Arizona

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Arizona
5
350.6 mi into trip | ~7h in | US 180

Take the exit onto US 180 toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Ha...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Clovis, NM and Arenas Valley, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.

Arizona

298.5 mi in | ~6h 7m | via US 70

Hatch

350.6 mi in | ~7h | via US 180

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 70 154.7 mi 2h 57m
West 2nd Street 100.6 mi 2h 7m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 51.7 mi 52m
US-180 37.9 mi 45m
South Prince Street 17.4 mi 21m
US 54 13.6 mi 17m
West Picacho Avenue 6.5 mi 9m
North Gold Avenue (Silver City Highway NW) 4 mi 6m
Longest stretch: US 70 — 154.7 mi, about 2h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Arenas Valley, NM.

1

Start on North Main Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto US 60; US 70; US 84

0.5 mi · 46 sec · East 1st Street
3

Turn right onto US 70

17 mi · 21 min · South Prince Street
4

Continue on US 70

0.3 mi · 50 sec · North Chicago Avenue
5

Turn right onto East 1st Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street
6

Continue on US 70

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street
7

Continue on US 70

91 mi · 1 hr 45 min · US 70
8

Turn right onto US 70; US 380

100 mi · 2 hr 6 min · West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
9

Turn left onto North Bookout Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Bookout Road
10

Turn left onto US 54; US 70

8.7 mi · 10 min · US 54; US 70
11

Take the exit onto US 54; US 70

4.9 mi · 7 min · US 54; US 70
12

Take the exit onto US 70

63 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 70

2.4 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn right onto US 70

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on US 70

3.6 mi · 5 min · West Picacho Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 70
Toward Arizona
17

Merge onto I 10

52 mi · 52 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18

Take the exit onto US 180

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 180
Toward US 180 West, NM 26 East: Silver City, Hatch
19

Turn right onto US 180

4.0 mi · 6 min · North Gold Avenue (Silver City Highway NW)
20

Continue on US 180

38 mi · 45 min · US-180
21

Continue on US 180

3.9 mi · 7 min · Silver Heights Boulevard
22

Turn right onto Arenas Valley Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Arenas Valley Road
23

Arrive at destination

Arenas Valley Road

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 8-hour drive, consider starting early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. With a recommended two-day itinerary and two planned stops, you can comfortably cover roughly half the distance each day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 154.7-mile stretch on US 70, as services might be spread out. The $60 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's always wise to budget a little extra. A practical tip for this route is to download offline maps, as cell service can be spotty in certain sections.

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 198.9 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.7 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 88 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 198.9 miles or 4h 3m 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 198.9 miles or 4h 3m

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 6h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arenas Valley, NM than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clovis, 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 Clovis, NM

Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Arenas Valley, NM

Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Clovis, 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 US 70 for about 154.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 198.9 mi from Clovis, NM · 4h 3m into the drive

Downtown Ruidoso, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Ruidoso, NM

199 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Ruidoso, NM

Overnight Options

Night 1

Ruidoso, NM

199 mi · about 4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Ruidoso, NM after about 199 miles or 4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Farwell, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ruidoso, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 198.9 miles from Clovis, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 199 miles or 4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Arenas Valley, NM

The final approach into Arenas Valley, 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 Arenas Valley, NM.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Arenas Valley, NM with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$60.08 one way

$120.15 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 139 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $65.95 $131.90
premium $4.56 $71.40 $142.80
diesel $5.61 $87.83 $175.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$60

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$190–$300

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 119.3 1 $41.77 $19.09
Efficient EV 99.5 1 $34.81 $15.91
EV Truck/SUV 159.1 1 $55.69 $25.46

Gas CO2

139 kg

EV CO2

47 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.

Forecast data refreshed 8 hours ago

Origin

Clovis, NM

Late night in Clovis on Wednesday

Local time

5:49 AM

MDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arenas Valley, NM

Late night in Arenas Valley on Wednesday

Local time

5:49 AM

MDT

Current temp

69°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.

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

14 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

8h 3m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clovis, NM to Arenas Valley, NM covers 397.8 miles and takes about 8h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 70, West 2nd Street, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 199 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 198.9 miles from Clovis, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 397.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.7 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 miles (US 70; US 380 / West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Clovis, NM and Arenas Valley, NM, road signs point toward Arizona and Hatch.

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