Trip from El Paso, TX to Friendswood, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 47m

Distance

767.1 mi

1,235 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$116

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

12h 36m ★

6 AM

12h 48m

8 AM

13h 11m

10 AM

12h 56m

12 PM

12h 54m

3 PM

12h 57m

5 PM

13h 10m

8 PM

12h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Friendswood, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

El Paso, TX to Friendswood, TX is 767.1 miles and takes about 12h 47m via I 10, Anderson Loop, and South Sam Houston Tollway West, with a fuel budget near $116 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive primarily stays within Texas, crossing the Great Plains region. Given the nearly 13-hour driving time, it's best planned as an overnight trip rather than a single-day push. You'll be on major highways for most of the way, making for a straightforward, if lengthy, transit.

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

383.6 miles from El Paso, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	688.1 mi	11h 9m
Anderson Loop	25.4 mi	29m
South Sam Houston Tollway West	15.4 mi	17m
90th Infantry Division Highway	14.9 mi	15m
West Sam Houston Tollway South	5.6 mi	6m
East Broadway Street	4.3 mi	6m
North Main Street	2.3 mi	3m
West Sam Houston Parkway South	1.9 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 688.1 mi, about 11h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Friendswood, TX.

Start on North Mesa Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Mesa Street

Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · East Franklin Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Toward I 10 East

Merge onto I 10; US 180

167 mi · 2 hr 43 min · I 10; US 180

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

363 mi · 5 hr 44 min · I 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

5.4 mi · 5 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 556B Toward Frontage Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West

Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

0.4 mi · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward Loop 1604 East

Merge onto Loop 1604

25 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

0.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate 10 East

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

15 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; TX 130

152 mi · 2 hr 36 min · I 10; TX 130

Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 756 Toward Sam Houston Tollway Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward SHT South Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto SHT

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Sam Houston Tollway North

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto SHT

5.6 mi · 6 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on BW 8

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Sam Houston Parkway South

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SHT

15 mi · 17 min · South Sam Houston Tollway West

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto BW 8

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Sam Houston Parkway East

Turn right onto TX 35

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Telephone Road

Continue on TX 35

2.3 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

Turn left onto FM 518

4.3 mi · 6 min · East Broadway Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on FM 518

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Friendswood Drive

Continue on FM 518

0.4 mi · 41 sec · South Friendswood Drive

Arrive at destination

FM 518

Trip Plan

For this 12-hour-plus drive, splitting it into two days is the most sensible approach. Aim to leave El Paso early in the morning to make good progress. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point, which would be roughly 300-400 miles into your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch is over 600 miles, and plan your stops accordingly. The final leg into Friendswood will involve more local traffic, so factor that into your arrival time.

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 383.6 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 6h 9m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 688.1 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 169 miles or 2h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 383.6 miles or 6h 9m 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 383.6 miles or 6h 9m

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 11h 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendswood, 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 384 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Friendswood, TX

Aim for roughly 384 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 169 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 10 for about 688.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Big Lake, TX

253 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

506 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 San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

384 mi · about 6.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 384 miles or 6.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Davis, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 169 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 383.6 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 688.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 384 miles or 6.4 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The House Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–1 pm

+19152617542

Coffee Box

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

District Coffee Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19152289050

Visit website

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $10

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19155452233

Visit website

Weso Steakhouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19154449085

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+19152476143

After Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

Visit website

Sunset Heights Co (Coffee Co and Venue)

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

El Paso, Texas

1 mi from route

El Paso Museum of History

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+19152123150

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 767.1

Friendswood, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+12814826055

Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 383.6

Sonora, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13253873754

Visit website

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19152120966

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 167.6 and 757.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

167.6 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in | I 10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

536.4 mi into trip | ~8h 35m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 556B Toward Frontage Road

731.8 mi into trip | ~12h 1m in

Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 756 Toward Sam Houston Tollway

732.2 mi into trip | ~12h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SHT South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward SHT South

757.1 mi into trip | ~12h 31m in

Take the exit toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road

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. Toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$115.91 one way

$231.82 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 268 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$126.87	$253.75
premium	$4.54	$136.96	$273.92
diesel	$5.61	$169.37	$338.73

Estimated Tolls: $1.79

Sam Houston Tollway (22.4 mi) $1.79

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$116

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$248–$358

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 268.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $81 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	230.1	2	$80.55	$36.82
Efficient EV	191.8	2	$67.12	$30.68
EV Truck/SUV	306.8	3	$107.39	$49.09

Gas CO2

268 kg

EV CO2

90 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 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 15, 2026

Origin

El Paso, TX

Late night in El Paso on Sunday

Local time

2:07 AM

MDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Friendswood, TX

Late night in Friendswood on Sunday

Local time

3:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Big Lake, TX

253 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 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

12h 47m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

About 90% of this 767.1-mile route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on I 10. The longest stretch without a significant change in major road is 688.1 miles on I 10. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads like Anderson Loop and the South Sam Houston Tollway West as you approach your destination in Friendswood. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for urban merging as you get closer to the Houston area.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 688.1 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Anderson Loop. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 167.6 miles in near I 10.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 767.1 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 167.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 536.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 731.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Friendswood, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.

Loop 1604 East

537.9 mi in | ~8h 38m

Austin

579.3 mi in | ~9h 25m | via I 10; TX 130

Waco

579.3 mi in | ~9h 25m | via I 10; TX 130

About the Cities

Starting in El Paso, TX

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Friendswood, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1960

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 688.1 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 384 miles on day one.

Expect about $1.79 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Friendswood, 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.8 hours each way, a round trip means 25.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Friendswood, 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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