Buchanan Dam, TX to El Paso, TX is 530.3 miles and takes about 8h 59m via I 10 and TX 29, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive crosses the Great Plains, beginning in Central Texas and ending in West Texas. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making this a straightforward trip focused on covering distance. With a recommended two days for this drive, you can comfortably break it up and avoid a full day behind the wheel.
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
265.1 miles from Buchanan Dam, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
436 mi
6h 55m
TX 29
51.8 mi
1h
North US Highway 377
18.4 mi
26m
US Highway 377
15.4 mi
22m
United States Highway 377
6.7 mi
9m
US 83
0.9 mi
1m
East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Mesa Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 436 mi, about 6h 55m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,745 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,111
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Buchanan Dam, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on Island Lodges Drive
141 ft·8 sec·Island Lodges Drive
2
Turn right onto TX 29
52 mi·1 hr·TX 29
3
Turn left onto US 377; TX 29
4.2 mi·6 min·US Highway 377
4
Continue on US 377
9.7 mi·14 min·US Highway 377
5
Continue on US 377
1.5 mi·2 min·US Highway 377
6
Continue on US 377
6.7 mi·9 min·United States Highway 377
7
Continue on US 377
18 mi·26 min·North US Highway 377
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 83; US 377
0.9 mi·1 min·US 83; US 377
9
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
374 ft·7 sec·Interstate 10 West
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
11
Merge onto I 10
436 mi·6 hr 55 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
14
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
For this 530.3-mile drive, consider splitting it into two days to make it more relaxed. Leaving early in the morning from Buchanan Dam will give you a good head start. Plan for at least two stops along the way to refuel and stretch your legs; the longest stretch without services might be on I 10. With a fuel cost estimated at $77, keep an eye on your gas gauge, especially during the 436-mile segment on I 10. Breaking up the drive is advisable, perhaps stopping around the halfway point to rest before the final push to El Paso.
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 265.1 miles from Buchanan Dam, TX, or about 4h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 436 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 117 miles or 2h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 265.1 miles or 4h 45m 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 265.1 miles or 4h 45m
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 1m
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 Buchanan Dam, 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 Buchanan Dam, TX
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Buchanan Dam, 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 I 10 for about 436 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 529.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 29
Turn right onto TX 29
Navigation decision point
4
92.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 83; US 377
At end of road, turn left onto US 83; US 377
Navigation decision point
4
93.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
Navigation decision point
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
5
93.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
529.5 mi into trip|~8h 57m 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
$72.63 one way
$145.27 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg186 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$81.13
$162.26
premium
$4.23
$88.21
$176.42
diesel
$4.80
$100.13
$200.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$203–$313
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 185.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
159.1
1
$55.68
$25.45
Efficient EV
132.6
1
$46.40
$21.21
EV Truck/SUV
212.1
2
$74.24
$33.94
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Buchanan Dam, TX
Night
in Buchanan Dam on Monday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
El Paso, TX
Night
in El Paso on Monday
Local time
10:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 7 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
8h 59m 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 530.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 100% highway driving, so expect to stay on major roads for the entire 530.3 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 436 miles on I 10. You'll primarily be cruising on I 10, which offers a consistent driving experience with frequent exits for services. Given the extensive mileage on the interstate, be prepared for the possibility of merging traffic and passing other vehicles.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 436 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and TX 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 29.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 29): Navigation decision point; at 92.3 miles (US 83; US 377): Navigation decision point; at 93.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
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
The longest stretch is about 436 miles on I 10. 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 265 miles on day one.
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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 29): Navigation decision point; at 92.3 miles (US 83; US 377): Navigation decision point; at 93.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.0 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.
