Trip from Archer City, TX to El Paso, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 7m

Distance

548.9 mi

883 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 59m ★

6 AM

10h 8m

8 AM

10h 26m

10 AM

10h 14m

12 PM

10h 12m

3 PM

10h 15m

5 PM

10h 25m

8 PM

10h 2m

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

Best Time

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city in and county seat of Archer County, Texas< United States

Archer City, TX

Wikimedia Commons

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 542.9-mile journey from Archer City, TX, to El Paso, TX, is a substantial trek that will take approximately 8 hours and 40 minutes to complete. Given its length, it's best suited for a two-day trip, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy the drive. The route primarily utilizes Highway 25 West, West Court Plaza, and Commercial Avenue, with no highway driving, suggesting a more local road experience. Budget around $83 for fuel, and plan for about two stops along the way. You'll be traversing the vast Great Plains region throughout this entire Texas adventure.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

274.4 miles from Archer City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US Highway 62	102.3 mi	1h 46m
US Highway 82 West	93.5 mi	1h 38m
Hobbs Highway	47.9 mi	53m
Seagraves Road	40.4 mi	42m
West Carlsbad Highway	39.6 mi	45m
National Parks Highway	33.5 mi	37m
US Highway 82	33.5 mi	35m
US 82	28.8 mi	30m

Longest stretch: US Highway 62 — 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~6,366 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~452 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

14.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Archer City, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on TX 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on TX 25

17 mi · 24 min · State Highway 25 West

Turn left onto US 82; US 277

22 mi · 23 min · US 82; US 277

Continue on US 82; US 183; US 277; US 283

6.7 mi · 6 min · US 82; US 183; US 277; US 283

Take the exit onto US 82

0.4 mi · 52 sec · US 82

Toward US 82, US 183 Business: Seymour, Lubbock

Turn right onto US 82; US 183 Business; US 277 Business; US 283 Business

1.5 mi · 1 min · US Highway 82

Continue on US 82; US 183 Business; US 277 Business; US 283 Business

0.6 mi · 45 sec · North Main Street

Turn right onto US 82; TX 114

1.6 mi · 1 min · East California Street

Continue on US 82; TX 114

93 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US Highway 82 West

Continue on US 82; TX 114

24 mi · 25 min · West Highway 82

Continue on US 82; TX 114

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on US 82; TX 114

7.3 mi · 7 min · US Highway 82

Continue on US 82; TX 114

1.0 mi · 1 min · 4th Street

Continue on US 82; TX 114

25 mi · 26 min · US Highway 82

Turn straight onto US 82

2.5 mi · 3 min · Parkway Drive

Continue on US 82

26 mi · 29 min · Marsha Sharp Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 62; US 82

15 mi · 16 min · US 62; US 82

Continue on US 62; US 385

40 mi · 42 min · Seagraves Road

Turn right onto US 62; US 180

0.3 mi · 18 sec · West Avenue A

Continue on US 62; US 180

28 mi · 31 min · Hobbs Highway

Continue on US 62; US 180

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Marland Boulevard

Continue on US 62; US 180

0.6 mi · 44 sec · East Marland Street

Continue on US 62; US 180

2.5 mi · 2 min · West Marland Boulevard

Continue on US 62; US 180

40 mi · 45 min · West Carlsbad Highway

Continue on US 62; US 180

20 mi · 21 min · Hobbs Highway

Continue on US 62; US 180

6.5 mi · 8 min · East Greene Street

Turn left onto US 62; US 180; US 285

2.0 mi · 2 min · South Canal Street

Turn slight right onto US 62; US 180

34 mi · 37 min · National Parks Highway

Continue on US 62; US 180

102 mi · 1 hr 46 min · US Highway 62

Continue on US 62; US 180

21 mi · 27 min · Montana Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn slight left onto US 62; US 180

0.5 mi · 40 sec · East Paisano Drive

Turn right onto US 180

163 ft · 3 sec · Gateway Boulevard West

Take the ramp onto US 180

0.2 mi · 25 sec · US 180

Toward I 10 West

Merge onto I 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

Trip Plan

For this 8-hour, 40-minute drive, splitting the journey over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. Plan your stops strategically, with two suggested along the 542.9-mile route, ensuring you have ample opportunities for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you'll be on local roads for the entire trip, and factor in the estimated $83 fuel cost. A good tip is to research potential overnight locations in advance to break up the drive comfortably.

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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 274.4 miles from Archer City, TX, or about 5h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.3 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 121 miles or 2h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 274.4 miles or 5h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 274.4 miles or 5h 3m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Archer City, TX 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Archer City, TX

Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Archer City, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US Highway 62 for about 102.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Lubbock, TX

181 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Carlsbad, NM

362 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Carlsbad, NM

Overnight Options

Night 1

Denver City, TX

274 mi · about 5.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Denver City, TX after about 274 miles or 5.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Spur, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Denver City, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 274.4 miles from Archer City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 62 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19152120966

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.4 and 548.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

17.4 mi into trip | ~25m in | US 82; US 277

Turn left onto US 82; US 277

Navigation decision point

45.8 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 82

Take the exit onto US 82 toward US 82, US 183 Business: Seymour, Lubbock

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 82, US 183 Business: Seymour, Lubbock

48.3 mi into trip | ~59m in | US 82; TX 114 / East California Street

Turn right onto US 82; TX 114 / East California Street

Navigation decision point

544.4 mi into trip | ~10h 1m in | I 10

Merge onto I 10

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

548.1 mi into trip | ~10h 6m in

Take the exit toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.18 one way

$150.36 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 192 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$83.98	$167.95
premium	$4.23	$91.30	$182.61
diesel	$4.80	$103.64	$207.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$75

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$205–$315

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 192.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	164.7	2	$57.63	$26.35
Efficient EV	137.2	1	$48.03	$21.96
EV Truck/SUV	219.6	2	$76.85	$35.13

Gas CO2

192 kg

EV CO2

64 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Archer City, TX

Late night in Archer City on Monday

Local time

2:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 14 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

El Paso, TX

Late night in El Paso on Monday

Local time

1:22 AM

MDT

Current temp

93°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

E 7 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

100°F

Carlsbad, NM

362 mi in

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

7 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

10h 7m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chamizal National Memorial

National Memorial

Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 548.9

View on nps.gov

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

National Park

Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permi...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour $10 near mile 435.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a long-distance drive that avoids major interstates, with a 0% highway share. Your journey will primarily consist of navigating local roads like Highway 25 West, West Court Plaza, and Commercial Avenue. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the absence of high-speed highways means you'll likely experience a consistent pace, potentially with more frequent opportunities to observe the changing landscape directly from your vehicle. This route offers a more grounded perspective of the Texas terrain.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 102.3 mi on US Highway 62.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

At 10h 7m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.4 miles in near US 82; US 277.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 548.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 17.4 miles (US 82; US 277): Navigation decision point; at 45.8 miles (US 82): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.3 miles (US 82; TX 114 / East California Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

5,213 ft 1,066 ft

Total Climb

5,171 ft

Total Descent

2,523 ft

Highest Point

5,213 ft

~509.6 mi in

Elevation Range

4,146 ft

Notable High Points

4,720 ft at ~431.2 miles +689 ft prominence

5,213 ft at ~509.6 miles +1,181 ft prominence

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 Archer City, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Lubbock along the way.

Lubbock

45.8 mi in | ~55m | via US 82

About the Cities

Starting in Archer City, TX

Full guide →

Top landmarks

• Archer County Courthouse and Jail — historic place in Archer City, Archer County, Texas

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Full guide →

“The Sun City” · Founded 1680

El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas, with 679,000 residents (2020). It is on the United States-Mexico border. The city on the other side of the border is Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. El Paso is often called the Sun City. Collectively, the city of El Paso and other nearby cities, such as Juarez and Las Cruces, New Mexico are referred to as The Borderland.

Top landmarks

• El Paso Museum of Art — art museum in El Paso, Texas
• Union Depot — historic place in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
• Plaza Theatre — building in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

10h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 102.3 miles on US Highway 62. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 274 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at El Paso, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Chamizal National Memorial and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Paso, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Archer City, TX or browse trips ending in El Paso, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Archer City, TX to El Paso, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-10

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Knox County Westbound Rest Area

Culberson County (near Pine Springs) Rest Area

Rest Area

Crosby County Eastbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

El Paso Museum of History

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Tom Lea Upper Park

International Museum of Art

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Archer City, TX

El Paso, TX

1 hour earlier

7 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 7m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Chamizal National Memorial

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Archer City, TX

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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