Origin
El Paso, TX
Late night in El Paso on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Paso, TX to Albany, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 17m
Distance
486.8 mi
783 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 10m
★
6 AM
8h 17m
8 AM
8h 33m
10 AM
8h 23m
12 PM
8h 21m
3 PM
8h 24m
5 PM
8h 32m
8 PM
8h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Albany, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This journey from El Paso, TX to Albany, TX covers 486.8 miles and will take an estimated 8 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best enjoyed over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace. The route sticks to local roads, with no highway percentage mentioned, suggesting a more direct, turn-heavy drive. Budget around $74 for fuel. Both your departure and arrival points are within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape. This trip is designed for those who prefer local roads over interstates, with a couple of planned stops to break up the drive.
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
243.4 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 286.7 mi | 4h 43m |
| I 10 | 166.8 mi | 2h 43m |
| Highway 351 | 23.6 mi | 35m |
| West US Highway 180 | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| East Stamford Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 180 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Mesa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Franklin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 286.7 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Albany, TX.
1
Start on North Mesa Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Mesa Street
2
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Franklin Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 10 East
4
Merge onto I 10; US 180
167 mi
·
2 hr 43 min
·
I 10; US 180
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
287 mi
·
4 hr 43 min
·
I 20
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 288
Toward SH 351: Abilene Christian University, Albany
7
Turn straight onto East Stamford Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stamford Street
8
Continue on East Stamford Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Stamford Street
9
Turn left onto TX 351
24 mi
·
35 min
·
Highway 351
10
Turn straight onto US 180; TX 6
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West US Highway 180
11
Continue on US 180; US 283; TX 6
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 180; US 283; TX 6
12
Turn right onto TX 6
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
South 2nd Street
13
Arrive at destination
TX 6
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-day trip, aim to depart early on your first day to cover a good portion of the 486.8 miles. With 2 recommended stops, plan for a leisurely overnight stay roughly halfway. The estimated fuel cost is $74, so ensure your tank is full before setting out and keep an eye on your gauge, especially since there's no highway percentage, meaning you'll likely be passing through smaller towns for refueling. Pay close attention to your GPS for the frequent turns characteristic of this local road route.
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 243.4 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 286.7 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 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 243.4 miles or 4h 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 243.4 miles or 4h
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 7h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Albany, TX
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from El Paso, 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 20 for about 286.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
243 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 West Odessa, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
243 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near West Odessa, TX after about 243 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 243.4 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 286.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 243 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 486.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Franklin Avenue
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 10; US 180
Merge onto I 10; US 180
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
167.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
454.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 28m in
Take the exit toward SH 351: Abilene Christian University, Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 288
Toward SH 351: Abilene Christian University, Al...
4
486.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 17m in
|
TX 6 / South 2nd Street
Turn right onto TX 6 / South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.56 one way
$147.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
170 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $80.51 | $161.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $86.91 | $173.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $107.48 | $214.96 |
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: 170.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 146 | 1 | $51.11 | $23.37 |
| Efficient EV | 121.7 | 1 | $42.60 | $19.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 194.7 | 2 | $68.15 | $31.16 |
Gas CO2
170 kg
EV CO2
57 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Albany, TX
Late night in Albany on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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.
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 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
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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The profile indicates a focus on navigating local roads rather than cruising on high-speed highways. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the overall character suggests frequent turns and potential changes in speed as you move through different communities. This type of drive offers a more intimate connection with the Texas landscape, but requires your full attention to navigate.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 286.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.2 miles in near East Franklin Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 17m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 El Paso, TX to Albany, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Sh 351: Abilene Christian University along the way.
Sh 351: Abilene Christian University
454.3 mi in
|
~7h 28m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Albany, TX
Full guide →Founded 1874
Top landmarks
- • Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District — historic district in Albany, Shackelford 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
8h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (100%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 286.7 miles on I 20. 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 243 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 Albany, 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 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Albany, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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