Origin
Santa Teresa, NM
Late night in Santa Teresa on Wednesday
Local time
5:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountData 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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Teresa, NM
El Puerto de Santa María
Clovis, NM
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
Loading map...
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward US 54: Kenworthy Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Gateway North Boulevard
Navigation decision point
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Teresa, NM and Clovis, NM.
Start on North Apache Gold Loop
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
Enter roundabout onto Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
Continue on Rancho Santa Teresa Boulevard
Turn left onto NM 273
Turn right onto NM 136
Continue on TX 178
Turn left onto North Desert Boulevard
Turn right onto Loop 375
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork onto Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive
Turn left onto Gateway North Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 54
Continue on US 54
Continue on US 54
Continue on US 54
Turn right onto US 54
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
Turn right onto South Bookout Road
Keep slight left at fork onto South Bookout Road
Turn right onto Old Mescalero Road
Turn right onto US 70
Turn left onto US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
Continue on US 70 Truck; US 285 Truck
Continue on US 70 Truck
Turn slight left onto US 70
Turn left onto US 60; US 84
Turn right onto North Main Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before Central Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.6 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$48.43 one way
$96.87 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Santa Teresa on Wednesday
Local time
5:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Clovis on Wednesday
Local time
5:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Santa Teresa, NM or browse trips ending in Clovis, NM.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NM road trips.
Explore maps for Santa Teresa, NM or Clovis, NM on MapSof.net.