Spanning 816 miles across Texas, this journey from El Paso to Atlanta requires roughly 13 hours and 51 minutes of pure drive time. Given the significant distance, attempting this in a single day is grueling, so I highly recommend planning for a two-day trip to keep your focus sharp. You will primarily navigate via I-10, I-20, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Budgeting approximately $125 for fuel is a smart baseline for your travel costs. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can expect a consistent, long-distance driving experience. Taking this drive in stages will turn an exhausting haul into a much more manageable cross-state trek.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
408 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
421.1 mi
6h 59m
I 10
166.8 mi
2h 43m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
124.2 mi
2h 8m
State Highway 155
40.2 mi
45m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22 mi
23m
North Tyler Street
14.9 mi
17m
US 59
14.4 mi
17m
State Highway 155 North
9.5 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 421.1 mi, about 6h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Atlanta, 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
421 mi·6 hr 59 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20
23 mi·24 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, ShreveportUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
14 mi·14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
22 mi·23 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
88 mi·1 hr 29 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: ShreveportUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward TX 155: UT Health Center, Winona
11
Turn left onto TX 155
2.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 155 North
12
Continue on TX 155
1.1 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on TX 155
6.7 mi·7 min·State Highway 155 North
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
15
Turn left onto TX 155
15 mi·17 min·North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto TX 155
40 mi·45 min·State Highway 155
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 59
14 mi·17 min·US 59
18
Arrive at destination
FM 249
Trip Plan
To tackle this 816-mile route effectively, aim to split your drive over two days to avoid driver fatigue. With three planned stops suggested, pace yourself by breaking up the longest stretch on I-20 to ensure you stay alert. I recommend leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially when navigating the transition onto the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $125 cost estimate assumes consistent highway speeds; planning your refueling stops ahead of time will help you avoid unnecessary stress during the long segments. Always prioritize safety over speed when traversing such vast distances across the state.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 408 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 6h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421.1 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 180 miles or 2h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 408 miles or 6h 44m 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 408 miles or 6h 44m
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 12h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, 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 408 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Atlanta, TX
Aim for roughly 408 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 180 miles from El Paso, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 421.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 647.1 — 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
6
167.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
588.6 mi into trip|~9h 44m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
7
611.2 mi into trip|~10h 9m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
647.1 mi into trip|~10h 47m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$123.30 one way
$246.60 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg286 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$134.96
$269.92
premium
$4.54
$145.69
$291.38
diesel
$5.61
$180.16
$360.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$123
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$253–$363
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 285.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $86 in charging
· 3 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
244.8
3
$85.68
$39.17
Efficient EV
204
2
$71.40
$32.64
EV Truck/SUV
326.4
4
$114.24
$52.22
Gas CO2
286 kg
EV CO2
95 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Evening
in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Patchy Blowing Dust
SW 16 to 20 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Atlanta, TX
Evening
in Atlanta on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
6 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
13h 51m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a serious interstate grind, as 83% of this 816-mile route consists of highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-20, which features a massive 421.1-mile uninterrupted stretch that dominates the middle portion of the trip. While the road is efficient for making time, the sheer length demands sustained attention behind the wheel. The transition between the major interstates and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway keeps the drive functional, though you should be prepared for the repetitive nature of long-haul highway travel. It is a straightforward, high-speed route designed for distance rather than technical maneuvering.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 421.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Franklin Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 816 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 588.6 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between El Paso, TX and Atlanta, TX, road signs point toward Shreveport and Winona.
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 421.1 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 408 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 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 Atlanta, 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 3 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 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 588.6 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 13.9 hours each way, a round trip means 27.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Atlanta, TX before the return drive.
