Overview
Clayton is a small town in extreme northeastern New Mexico, in the United States. The historic Santa Fe Trail passed near here.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Clayton
Luna Theater
Historic theatre built in 1915, now functions as a cinema.
Herzstein Memorial Museum
Black Jack Ketchum gravesite
Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum, a famous train robber, was hanged in Clayton in 1901 and is buried here.
Clayton-Union County Tourist Information Center
Plan your trip
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AMA Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, Amarillo — 119 mi away. Directions
- LBL Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport, Liberal — 130 mi away. Directions
- COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs — 183 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Herzstein Memorial Museum, Luna Theater
- Afternoon Black Jack Ketchum gravesite, Clayton-Union County Tourist Information Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
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Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
- Routes 56 and 64 connect the city with I-25 an hour and a half to the west, at Springer and Raton, respectively.
- To the northeast, Routes 56 and 64 combine and connect Clayton with Boise City, Oklahoma.
- US 87 connects to Dalhart, Texas.
See
Do
Sleep
Go next
- Capulin Volcano National Monument, about 80 miles northwest of town, preserves a volcanic cinder cone of geologically recent origin. A road leads to the crater rim, and there are a few short trails. Day use: fee $5/vehicle (Park Pass applies). Lodging and other services are almost non-existent between the monument and Clayton; you might as well plan to seek lodging here, and filling your gas tank before heading for Capulin is a good idea.
- Clayton Lake State Park is about 12 miles north of Clayton. It has 500 dinosaur footprints, which are readily available to view via the boardwalk the have amongst they tracks. They are best seen early in the morning when good shadows are being cast. The park also boasts an excellent nature trail which is about a mile around. Some of the best fishing is also available at Clayton Lake State Park. Trout, walleye, catfish and bass are stocked in the lake. The state record walleye was caught here. Trout are easily caught with spinners. The visitors center is quite a sight too. It is made from straw bails which can be seen via a glass window within the building. There is also a great video to watch on the dinosaur tracks specific to Clayton Lake State Park. Camping is quite good here, both primitive and electric RV hookups are available. The primitive sites were moved and redesigned in the summer of 2006, and there are now some excellent camping spots overlooking the lake. They have showers and restrooms available also.
- Kiowa National Grassland, 575 374 9652, . This park north of town preserves a two-mile section of the Santa Fe Trail, offering some great hiking opportunities and the chance to see an almost untouched Trail landscape.
Nearby
Boise City
City / town · 1 listings · 42 mi away
Dalhart
City / town · 7 listings · 46 mi away
Comanche National Grasslands
Park · 9 listings · 61 mi away
Stratford
City / town · 8 listings · 62 mi away
Raton
City / town · 6 listings · 76 mi away
Texhoma
City / town · 2 listings · 78 mi away
Dumas
City / town · 8 listings · 79 mi away
My experience
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