Spanning 486.2 miles across the Texas landscape, this journey from Childress to El Paso is an ambitious trek that typically requires about 7 hours and 58 minutes of actual drive time. While it is physically possible to complete this distance in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $74 for fuel to cover the trip. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains region, the terrain remains consistent throughout the drive. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer a direct, purposeful journey rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
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
243.9 miles from Childress, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 62
102.3 mi
1h 46m
Easley Street
62.2 mi
1h 18m
Hobbs Highway
47.9 mi
53m
Seagraves Road
40.4 mi
42m
West Carlsbad Highway
39.6 mi
45m
US 62
39.4 mi
43m
National Parks Highway
33.5 mi
37m
US Highway 83 North
30.7 mi
36m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 62
— 102.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Childress, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on US 287
1.4 mi·1 min·Avenue F Northeast
2
Turn left onto US 62; US 83
31 mi·36 min·US Highway 83 North
3
Turn right onto US 62; US 70
62 mi·1 hr 18 min·Easley Street
4
Turn left onto US 62; TX 207
22 mi·29 min·South Ralls Highway
5
Turn right onto US 62; US 82; TX 114
24 mi·26 min·US 62; US 82; TX 114
6
Turn straight onto US 82
2.5 mi·3 min·Parkway Drive
7
Continue on US 82
26 mi·29 min·Marsha Sharp Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 62; US 82
15 mi·16 min·US 62; US 82
9
Continue on US 62; US 385
40 mi·42 min·Seagraves Road
10
Turn right onto US 62; US 180
0.3 mi·18 sec·West Avenue A
11
Continue on US 62; US 180
28 mi·31 min·Hobbs Highway
12
Continue on US 62; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·North Marland Boulevard
13
Continue on US 62; US 180
0.6 mi·44 sec·East Marland Street
14
Continue on US 62; US 180
2.5 mi·2 min·West Marland Boulevard
15
Continue on US 62; US 180
40 mi·45 min·West Carlsbad Highway
16
Continue on US 62; US 180
20 mi·21 min·Hobbs Highway
17
Continue on US 62; US 180
6.5 mi·8 min·East Greene Street
18
Turn left onto US 62; US 180; US 285
2.0 mi·2 min·South Canal Street
19
Turn slight right onto US 62; US 180
34 mi·37 min·National Parks Highway
20
Continue on US 62; US 180
102 mi·1 hr 46 min·US Highway 62
21
Continue on US 62; US 180
21 mi·27 min·Montana Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn slight left onto US 62; US 180
0.5 mi·40 sec·East Paisano Drive
23
Turn right onto US 180
163 ft·3 sec·Gateway Boulevard West
24
Take the ramp onto US 180
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 180
Toward I 10 West
25
Merge onto I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
28
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
Plan for at least two stops along the way to break up the nearly eight-hour duration and keep your energy levels steady. Because this is a turn-heavy, local-road-dependent route, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you reach El Paso before late-night fatigue sets in. Since fuel costs hover around $74, verify your tank levels before departing Childress to avoid any unnecessary stress on less-traveled segments. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the reliance on local streets like Easley Street and South Ralls Highway requires more frequent navigation checks than a simple interstate route would.
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 243.9 miles from Childress, TX, or about 4h 46m 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 107 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 243.9 miles or 4h 46m 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 243.9 miles or 4h 46m
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 8m
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 Childress, 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 Childress, TX
Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Childress, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 487 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 62; US 83 / US Highway 83 North
Turn left onto US 62; US 83 / US Highway 83 North
Navigation decision point
4
32.1 mi into trip|~37m in|US 62; US 70 / Easley Street
Turn right onto US 62; US 70 / Easley Street
Navigation decision point
4
224.8 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|US 62; US 180 / West Avenue A
Turn right onto US 62; US 180 / West Avenue A
Navigation decision point
5
483.4 mi into trip|~9h 11m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
487 mi into trip|~9h 16m 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
$73.71 one way
$147.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg171 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$80.68
$161.36
premium
$4.54
$87.09
$174.19
diesel
$5.61
$107.70
$215.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
146.3
1
$51.22
$23.41
Efficient EV
122
1
$42.68
$19.51
EV Truck/SUV
195.1
2
$68.29
$31.22
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 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
Childress, TX
Night
in Childress on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Night
in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
10:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Seminole, TX
244 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
5 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
9h 17m 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 487.8
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$10
near mile 386.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route relies on Highway 83 North, Easley Street, and South Ralls Highway. With 0% highway share, you will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 486.2-mile trip. This configuration creates a distinct driving experience that demands more focus than a typical high-speed corridor. Because the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, you will find the pace is dictated by the specific local roads you follow. It is a practical path that prioritizes navigation over mindless cruising.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 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?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near US 62; US 83 / US Highway 83 North.
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 9h 17m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (US 62; US 83 / US Highway 83 North): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (US 62; US 70 / Easley Street): Navigation decision point; at 224.8 miles (US 62; US 180 / West Avenue A): 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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 244 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: at 1.4 miles (US 62; US 83 / US Highway 83 North): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (US 62; US 70 / Easley Street): Navigation decision point; at 224.8 miles (US 62; US 180 / West Avenue A): Navigation decision point.
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 9.3 hours each way, a round trip means 18.6 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.
