The drive from Elephant Butte, NM to Clovis, NM covers 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 2nd Street, Clovis Highway, US 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.3 miles on 2nd Street.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.55 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
164.1 miles from Elephant Butte, NM
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 42m. Total distance: 328.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Elephant Butte, NM to Clovis, NM covers 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
2nd Street is the longest continuous segment at about 107.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
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 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NM 177): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.8 miles (NM 195 / Lakeshore Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|NM 177
At end of road, turn left onto NM 177
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
4.8 mi into trip|~10m in|NM 195 / Lakeshore Road
At end of road, turn left onto NM 195 / Lakeshore Road
Navigation decision point
4
64.7 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward San Antonio
4
172.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|US 70; US 380
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; US 380
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Elephant Butte, NM to Clovis, NM, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
San Antonio
64.7 mi in|~1h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
2nd Street
107.3 mi
2h 18m
Clovis Highway
85.9 mi
1h 39m
US 70
61.4 mi
1h 15m
I 25
55.5 mi
55m
Relief Route
6.2 mi
8m
Lakeshore Road
4.4 mi
9m
East 3rd Avenue
2.3 mi
5m
NM 179
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
2nd Street
— 107.3 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elephant Butte, NM and Clovis, NM.
1
Start on this road
337 ft·25 sec·this road
2
Turn right
0.1 mi·53 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto NM 177
0.3 mi·1 min·NM 177
4
Turn right onto NM 51
2.3 mi·5 min·East 3rd Avenue
5
Turn right onto NM 179
2.1 mi·3 min·NM 179
6
At end of road, turn left onto NM 195
4.4 mi·9 min·Lakeshore Road
7
Take the ramp onto I 25
56 mi·55 min·I 25
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward San Antonio
9
Continue on US 380
107 mi·2 hr 18 min·2nd Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; US 380
44 mi·53 min·US 70; US 380
11
Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
6.2 mi·8 min·Relief Route
12
Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
1.3 mi·1 min·Highway Relief Route
13
Continue on US 70 Truck
86 mi·1 hr 39 min·Clovis Highway
14
Turn slight left onto US 70
18 mi·22 min·US 70
15
Turn left onto US 60; US 84
0.5 mi·48 sec·East 1st Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·North Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
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 164.1 miles from Elephant Butte, NM, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 72 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.1 miles or 3h 24m 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 31m
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 Elephant Butte, 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 Elephant Butte, NM
This is one driving day of about 328.1 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Elephant Butte, 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 2nd Street for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.1 mi from Elephant Butte, NM
· 3h 24m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Elephant Butte, NM
Morning
in Elephant Butte on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clovis, NM
Morning
in Clovis on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
SW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
31 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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elephant Butte, NM to Clovis, NM covers 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 2nd Street, Clovis Highway, US 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.1 miles from Elephant Butte, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.55 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 42m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NM 177): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.8 miles (NM 195 / Lakeshore Road): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Elephant Butte, NM to Clovis, NM, road signs begin pointing toward San Antonio along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
