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Trip from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h 36m

Distance

198.4 mi

319 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 24m ★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m

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

town in New Mexico

Clayton, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM covers 198.4 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 87, US Highway 385, US 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.3 miles on US 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.96 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

99.2 miles from Clovis, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 198.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 36m highway drive covering 198.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 87 and US Highway 385. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.3 miles on US 87.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and US Highway 385. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 57.2 miles in near US 385 / South 25 Mile Avenue.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM is easy. At 3h 36m with 80% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 57.2 miles (US 385 / South 25 Mile Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 198.4 miles (US 56; US 64; US 412 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

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

3
57.2 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | US 385 / South 25 Mile Avenue

Turn left onto US 385 / South 25 Mile Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
198.4 mi into trip | ~3h 36m in | US 56; US 64; US 412 / Main Street

Turn right onto US 56; US 64; US 412 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 87 56.3 mi 1h 4m
US Highway 385 49.4 mi 50m
US 60 47.6 mi 50m
South 25 Mile Avenue 29.7 mi 30m
Mabry Drive 8.5 mi 10m
US 385 4.7 mi 5m
South Main Street 1.1 mi 2m
East 1st Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 87 — 56.3 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, NM and Clayton, 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

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street
3

Continue on US 60; US 70; US 84

8.5 mi · 10 min · Mabry Drive
4

Turn left onto US 60

27 mi · 29 min · US 60
5

Continue on US 60

8.0 mi · 8 min · US 60
6

Continue on US 60

13 mi · 12 min · US 60
7

Turn left onto US 385

30 mi · 30 min · South 25 Mile Avenue
8

Continue on US 385

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
9

Continue on US 385

49 mi · 50 min · US Highway 385
10

Take the ramp onto US 385

4.7 mi · 5 min · US 385
11

Continue on US 87; US 385

56 mi · 1 hr 4 min · US 87; US 385
12

Turn right onto US 56; US 64; US 412

45 ft · 1 sec · Main Street
13

Arrive at destination

US 56; US 64; US 412

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 99.2 miles from Clovis, NM, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 44 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 99.2 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clovis, NM

This is one driving day of about 198.4 miles and 3h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Clovis, 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 US 87 for about 56.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99.2 mi from Clovis, NM · 1h 47m into the drive

city in Deaf Smith County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hereford, TX

99 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

Friona, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Amarillo, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99.2 miles from Clovis, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clayton, NM

The final approach into Clayton, 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 Clayton, 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

$29.96 one way

$59.93 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $32.89 $65.78
premium $4.56 $35.61 $71.22
diesel $5.61 $43.80 $87.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.5 0 $20.83 $9.52
Efficient EV 49.6 0 $17.36 $7.94
EV Truck/SUV 79.4 0 $27.78 $12.70

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Clovis, NM

Night in Clovis on Thursday

Local time

9:08 PM

MDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clayton, NM

Night in Clayton on Thursday

Local time

9:08 PM

MDT

Current temp

48°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

35 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

3h 36m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM covers 198.4 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 87, US Highway 385, US 60. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.2 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 $29.96 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM is easy. At 3h 36m with 80% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.2 miles (US 385 / South 25 Mile Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 198.4 miles (US 56; US 64; US 412 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Clovis, NM to Clayton, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Clayton, NM to Clovis, NM

Plan the drive back the other way.

168.2 mi 3h 4m

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