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Trip from Santa Teresa, NM to Clovis, NM

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

6h 36m

Distance

320.7 mi

516 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 25m ★
6 AM
6h 37m
8 AM
7h 1m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 43m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 29m

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

Downtown Santa Teresa, NM, NM

Santa Teresa, NM

El Puerto de Santa María

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

Clovis, NM

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 320.7-mile drive from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to Clovis, New Mexico, will take approximately 6 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. It's a manageable one-day trip, so you can depart and arrive within the same day. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $48. You'll primarily be on Central Avenue and Clovis Highway, eventually transitioning to US Highway 54 South. The route offers a mixed driving experience, and since both your origin and destination are in the Desert Southwest region, expect consistent arid landscapes throughout. This trip is a straightforward journey across 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

160.4 miles from Santa Teresa, NM

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The personality of this drive is largely defined by its mixed profile, with a significant 31% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches that feel more like city streets, particularly on Central Avenue, which accounts for the longest continuous segment at 98.6 miles. As you progress, the road will transition, offering a blend of faster highway driving and potentially more local road segments. This variety means you won't be stuck in one type of driving experience for the entire 6.5-hour duration, keeping the journey engaging.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 98.6 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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Country Club Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 320.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.2 miles (North Country Club Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Country Club Road

Turn right onto North Country Club Road

Navigation decision point

7
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
18.5 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward US 54: Kenworthy Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21 Toward US 54: Kenworthy Street
5
18.8 mi into trip | ~29m in | Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive

Keep slight left at fork onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
18.9 mi into trip | ~29m in | Gateway North Boulevard

Turn left onto Gateway North Boulevard

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Central Avenue 98.6 mi 2h 5m
Clovis Highway 85.9 mi 1h 39m
US Highway 54 South 34.6 mi 38m
US Highway 54 28.9 mi 30m
US 70 17.9 mi 22m
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive 10.3 mi 15m
Patriot Freeway 9.9 mi 12m
US 54,70 8.7 mi 10m
Longest stretch: Central Avenue — 98.6 mi, about 2h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Teresa, NM and Clovis, NM.

1

Start on North Apache Gold Loop

0.2 mi · 57 sec · North Apache Gold Loop
2

Turn right onto North Country Club Road

416 ft · 13 sec · North Country Club Road
3

Enter roundabout onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard

58 ft · 1 sec · Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
4

Continue on Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
5

Turn left onto NM 273

1.6 mi · 2 min · McNutt Road
6

Turn right onto NM 136

1.1 mi · 1 min · Peter V. Domenici International Highway
7

Continue on TX 178

3.0 mi · 4 min · Artcraft Road
8

Turn left onto North Desert Boulevard

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Desert Boulevard
9

Turn right onto Loop 375

10 mi · 14 min · Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 21 Toward US 54: Kenworthy Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive

484 ft · 19 sec · Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
12

Turn left onto Gateway North Boulevard

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Gateway North Boulevard
13

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
14

Merge onto US 54

9.9 mi · 12 min · Patriot Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on US 54

29 mi · 30 min · US Highway 54
16

Continue on US 54

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
17

Continue on US 54

35 mi · 38 min · US Highway 54 South
18

Turn right onto US 54

5.4 mi · 8 min · Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route
19

Turn left onto US 54; US 70

8.7 mi · 10 min · US 54,70
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto South Bookout Road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · South Bookout Road
21

Keep slight left at fork onto South Bookout Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Bookout Road
22

Turn right onto Old Mescalero Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Old Mescalero Road
23

Turn right onto US 70

99 mi · 2 hr 5 min · Central Avenue
24

Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck

6.2 mi · 8 min · Relief Route
25

Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck

1.3 mi · 1 min · Highway Relief Route
26

Continue on US 70 Truck

86 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Clovis Highway
27

Turn slight left onto US 70

18 mi · 22 min · US 70
28

Turn left onto US 60; US 84

0.5 mi · 48 sec · East 1st Street
Use the left lane.
29

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.4 mi · 53 sec · North Main Street
30

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 320.7-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Santa Teresa to maximize your daylight hours. With a duration of 6 hours and 36 minutes, it's entirely feasible as a single-day trip, but plan for at least one stop for fuel and a break. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 98.6 miles on Central Avenue; ensure you have sufficient fuel before entering this segment. The estimated fuel cost of $48 is a helpful budget point to keep in mind as you plan your expenses for this Desert Southwest journey.

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 160.4 miles from Santa Teresa, NM, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.6 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 160.4 miles or 3h 20m 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 27m

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 Santa Teresa, 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 Santa Teresa, NM

This is one driving day of about 320.7 miles and 6h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Teresa, 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 Central Avenue for about 98.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 160.4 mi from Santa Teresa, NM · 3h 20m into the drive

Downtown Ruidoso, NM, NM

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ruidoso, NM

160 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.

Popular next leg

Ruidoso, NM to Clovis, NM

182.2 mi · 3h 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Ruidoso, NM

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Roswell, NM

Meal break

The midpoint is around 160.4 miles from Santa Teresa, NM, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Central Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.6 miles.

Arriving in Clovis, NM

The final approach into Clovis, 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 Clovis, 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

$48.43 one way

$96.87 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 112 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $53.17 $106.34
premium $4.56 $57.56 $115.12
diesel $5.61 $70.81 $141.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 112.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 96.2 1 $33.67 $15.39
Efficient EV 80.2 0 $28.06 $12.83
EV Truck/SUV 128.3 1 $44.90 $20.52

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

38 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 4 days ago

Origin

Santa Teresa, NM

Late night in Santa Teresa on Wednesday

Local time

5:43 AM

MDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clovis, NM

Late night in Clovis on Wednesday

Local time

5:43 AM

MDT

Current temp

83°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

3 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 36m 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 Santa Teresa, NM to Clovis, NM covers 320.7 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Avenue, Clovis Highway, US Highway 54 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.4 miles from Santa Teresa, NM. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.43 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 320.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.2 miles (North Country Club Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Santa Teresa, NM to Clovis, NM does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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