Spanning 345.1 miles across West Texas, this drive connects Big Spring to El Paso in approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes. Because the route remains entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the journey. It is easily manageable as a single-day trip, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $53 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since the drive is heavily focused on interstate travel, it is a straightforward trek that prioritizes efficiency over complex navigation.
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
172.6 miles from Big Spring, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
174 mi
2h 50m
I 10
166.7 mi
2h 43m
West Highway 80
2.2 mi
3m
West 3rd Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Mesa Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Gregg Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 174 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Spring, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on I 20 Bus
81 ft·9 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto US 87 Bus
382 ft·15 sec·South Gregg Street
3
Turn left onto I 20 Bus
1.2 mi·2 min·West 3rd Street
4
Continue on I 20 Bus
2.2 mi·3 min·West Highway 80
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
6
Merge onto I 20
174 mi·2 hr 50 min·I 20
7
Merge onto I 10
167 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
10
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 345.1-mile journey, try to depart early in the morning to beat the midday heat and heavy traffic. Since the route only requires one planned stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on your energy levels or fuel needs. Keep a close eye on your gas gauge during the 174-mile I-20 stretch to ensure you don't run low between service intervals. Because the drive is straightforward, you can comfortably reach El Paso by late afternoon if you leave Big Spring shortly after dawn. This flexibility allows you to focus on the road ahead without the pressure of a rigid, multi-day schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.6 miles from Big Spring, TX, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174 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 76 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.6 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
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 Big Spring, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Spring, TX
This is one driving day of about 345.1 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Big Spring, TX.
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 I 20 for about 174 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 344.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Turn left onto US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|I 20 Bus / West 3rd Street
Turn left onto I 20 Bus / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
177.7 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
344.3 mi into trip|~5h 40m 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
4
344.8 mi into trip|~5h 41m in|TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Turn left onto TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.15 one way
$104.29 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$57.08
$114.15
premium
$4.54
$61.62
$123.23
diesel
$5.61
$76.19
$152.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.5
1
$36.24
$16.56
Efficient EV
86.3
0
$30.20
$13.80
EV Truck/SUV
138
1
$48.31
$22.09
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Big Spring, TX
Night
in Big Spring on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Night
in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
10:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
28 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
5h 41m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 345.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 99% of this journey takes place on high-speed highways. You will primarily utilize I-20 and I-10, with short segments on West Highway 80, keeping the pace steady and predictable. Prepare for a significant stretch of open road, with your longest uninterrupted segment lasting 174 miles along I-20. This is a quintessential highway-focused drive, offering a consistent, no-nonsense path across the state. While the road personality is defined by its interstate grind, the high highway percentage ensures you maintain a reliable speed for the duration of your trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 20 Bus / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 177.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 174 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 20 Bus / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 177.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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.
