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US Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in Texas

Routes

60

Avg Distance

834 mi

Avg Drive

14h 8m

Destinations

20

Texas offers drivers a diverse range of experiences, with 60 routes averaging 833 miles and nearly 14 hours. You'll encounter drives with scores as high as 8, featuring varied terrain from mostly flat stretches to hilly landscapes with moderate elevation changes up to 3,961 feet. While EV charging infrastructure varies, the focus here is on the expansive vistas and changing topography across the Lone Star State.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.48/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$109–$212

One-way, ~834 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~292 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-07-13

Climate through the year: Texas

Texas peaks at around 98°F in Aug and cools to 63°F / 42°F in Jan. Wettest month is May at ~5 in of rain.

Month High °F Low °F Rain in Snow in
Jan 63 42 2.6 —
Feb 67 46 1.9 0.2
Mar 73 52 2.9 —
Apr 80 59 2.4 —
May 87 67 5 —
Jun 93 73 3.7 —
Jul 97 75 2 —
Aug 98 75 2.7 —
Sep 91 70 3.5 —
Oct 83 61 3.9 —
Nov 72 51 2.9 —
Dec 64 43 2.7 —

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for TX — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.
Current regular gas averages $3.48/gallon in Texas (week of 2026-07-13). Diesel: $4.80/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $109 and $212. Source: US Energy Information Administration.
Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.
Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Editor's pick

Houston, TX → Los Angeles, CA

1545.8 mi 26h 23m Score: 8/10 ~$212 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots High drive quality

This long-haul drive boasts a strong drive score of 8 and traverses high-altitude sections with climbs reaching 4,658 feet. With access to parks, it offers a significant change in elevation and terrain over its 1,545.8 miles.

Editor's pick

Converse, TX → Indianapolis, IN

1159.7 mi 20h 28m Score: 8/10 ~$159 fuel

Through: Fort Worth → Texarkana → Convention Center +4 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Check out this route for its predominantly flat terrain and a drive score of 8. Covering 1,159.7 miles, it includes park access and a maximum elevation of just 821 feet, making for a different kind of touring experience.

Editor's pick

Hemphill, TX → El Paso, TX

862.2 mi 14h 55m Score: 8/10 ~$118 fuel

Through: Loop 287 West: Tyler

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Experience a true Texas traverse on this 862.2-mile route, marked by hilly terrain and moderate elevation changes up to 3,961 feet. It scores an 8 for its drive and provides access to parks across its span.

Buna, TX → El Paso, TX

860.8 mi 14h 31m Score: 7/10 ~$118 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Milam, TX → El Paso, TX

855.2 mi 14h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$117 fuel

Through: Loop 287 West: Tyler

5 tricky spots High drive quality

El Paso, TX → Orange, TX

854.7 mi 14h 24m Score: 7/10 ~$117 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 East → Austin → Waco

5 tricky spots

West Orange, TX → El Paso, TX

849.1 mi 14h 23m Score: 7/10 ~$116 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

South Padre Island, TX → El Paso, TX

845.4 mi 14h 32m Score: 7/10 ~$116 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Orange County, TX → El Paso, TX

844.8 mi 14h 15m Score: 7/10 ~$116 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Vidor, TX

837.4 mi 14h 4m Score: 7/10 ~$115 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 East → Austin → Waco

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Port Neches, TX

836 mi 14h 7m Score: 7/10 ~$115 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 East → Austin → Waco

5 tricky spots

Groves, TX → El Paso, TX

834.2 mi 14h 3m Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Central Gardens, TX → El Paso, TX

833.4 mi 14h 2m Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Kountze, TX → El Paso, TX

833.4 mi 14h 11m Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Laguna Heights, TX → El Paso, TX

832.6 mi 14h 18m Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Port Arthur, TX → El Paso, TX

831.8 mi 14h Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Beaumont, TX → El Paso, TX

830.3 mi 13h 58m Score: 7/10 ~$114 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Bevil Oaks, TX → El Paso, TX

825.1 mi 13h 57m Score: 7/10 ~$113 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Pinewood Estates, TX → El Paso, TX

823.9 mi 13h 59m Score: 7/10 ~$113 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Center, TX → El Paso, TX

822 mi 14h 6m Score: 8/10 ~$113 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

El Paso, TX → Laureles, TX

821.5 mi 13h 44m Score: 7/10 ~$113 fuel

Through: Downtown → Brownsville

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Los Fresnos, TX

820.3 mi 13h 42m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Downtown → Brownsville

5 tricky spots

Pine Island, TX → El Paso, TX

816.8 mi 13h 44m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Olmito, TX → El Paso, TX

816.7 mi 13h 56m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Atlanta, TX

816 mi 13h 51m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Shreveport → Winona

5 tricky spots

Rancho Viejo, TX → El Paso, TX

815.4 mi 13h 56m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Fannett, TX → El Paso, TX

814.4 mi 13h 41m Score: 7/10 ~$112 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Texarkana, TX → El Paso, TX

813.8 mi 13h 47m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel
5 tricky spots

Socorro, TX → Brownsville, TX

813.5 mi 13h 35m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

China, TX → El Paso, TX

813.3 mi 13h 40m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Diboll, TX

812.9 mi 14h 2m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel

Through: Shreveport

5 tricky spots

Wake Village, TX → El Paso, TX

811.5 mi 13h 43m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel
5 tricky spots

Tenaha, TX → El Paso, TX

810.9 mi 13h 53m Score: 8/10 ~$111 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

El Paso, TX → Heidelberg, TX

808.3 mi 13h 33m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

Nash, TX → El Paso, TX

808.3 mi 13h 39m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel
5 tricky spots

Franklin, TX → El Paso, TX

806.8 mi 13h 35m Score: 7/10 ~$111 fuel

Through: San Antonio → Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Red Lick, TX → El Paso, TX

806.7 mi 13h 40m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel
5 tricky spots

Stowell, TX → El Paso, TX

805.9 mi 13h 33m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Progreso, TX → El Paso, TX

805.5 mi 13h 38m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Rio Hondo, TX → El Paso, TX

805.3 mi 13h 45m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Maud, TX

804.8 mi 13h 40m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel
5 tricky spots

Winnie, TX → El Paso, TX

803.9 mi 13h 30m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Mercedes, TX → El Paso, TX

803.9 mi 13h 33m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Linden, TX

802.4 mi 13h 35m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Shreveport → Winona

5 tricky spots

Jefferson, TX → El Paso, TX

802.4 mi 13h 31m Score: 8/10 ~$110 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

El Paso, TX → Redland, TX

800.8 mi 13h 49m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: Shreveport

5 tricky spots

Shepherd, TX → El Paso, TX

799.9 mi 13h 20m Score: 7/10 ~$110 fuel

Through: San Antonio → Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Scissors, TX → El Paso, TX

798.2 mi 13h 29m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Daisetta, TX → El Paso, TX

798.2 mi 13h 26m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Midway South, TX

797.4 mi 13h 21m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Hidalgo, TX

797.2 mi 13h 22m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Mission, TX

796.6 mi 13h 20m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

Port Isabel, TX → Amarillo, TX

795.9 mi 14h 20m Score: 8/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Alamodome → Menard → Lubbock

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Mila Doce, TX → El Paso, TX

795.1 mi 13h 30m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Corrigan, TX → El Paso, TX

795 mi 13h 51m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Fredericksburg

5 tricky spots

Galveston, TX → El Paso, TX

794.2 mi 13h 19m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

Anahuac, TX → El Paso, TX

794 mi 13h 23m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Loop 1604 North

5 tricky spots

El Paso, TX → Olivarez, TX

792.6 mi 13h 19m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Downtown

5 tricky spots

La Villa, TX → El Paso, TX

792.5 mi 13h 24m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

Palmhurst, TX → El Paso, TX

792.3 mi 13h 26m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Alamodome

5 tricky spots

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Texas Trips