El Paso to Granbury is 578.6 miles and takes about 9h 56m via I 20 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $85 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive entirely within Texas, transitioning between the Great Plains regions. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on interstates, making it a practical choice for covering significant distance. Consider this route if you need to get from West Texas to North Texas efficiently. It's a solid option for a two-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
289.3 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
380.5 mi
6h 16m
I 10
166.8 mi
2h 43m
Lipan Highway
18 mi
31m
South FM 4
10 mi
17m
West Lipan Drive
1.3 mi
2m
North Houston Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West Pearl Street
0.4 mi
1m
I-20 Service Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 380.5 mi, about 6h 16m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,227 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,571
Quietest
2 AM
~205 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 105 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 El Paso, TX and Granbury, 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
381 mi·6 hr 16 min·I 20
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 380Toward FM 4: Palo Pinto, Santo-Lipan
7
Turn straight onto I-20 Service Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·I-20 Service Road
8
Turn right onto FM 4
10.0 mi·17 min·South FM 4
9
Continue on FM 4
0.5 mi·54 sec·Lipan Highway
10
Continue on FM 4
1.3 mi·2 min·West Lipan Drive
11
Continue on FM 4
17 mi·30 min·Lipan Highway
12
Turn right onto FM 4; FM 51
0.4 mi·48 sec·North Houston Street
13
Turn right onto US 377 Bus; FM 51
0.4 mi·1 min·West Pearl Street
14
Turn left onto TX 144; FM 51
86 ft·2 sec·South Morgan Street
15
Arrive at destination
TX 144; FM 51
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 10-hour drive time, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to leave El Paso early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. Plan for at least two stops to break up the drive and refuel. The longest stretch on I 20, over 380 miles, means you'll want to ensure you have enough fuel before entering that segment. Consider Granbury as your overnight destination, allowing you to arrive refreshed.
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 289.3 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 4h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 380.5 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 127 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 289.3 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 289.3 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Granbury, 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 289 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Granbury, TX
Aim for roughly 289 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 127 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 380.5 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 0.2 and 548.5 — 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
548.1 mi into trip|~9h 2m in
Take the exit toward FM 4: Palo Pinto, Santo-Lipan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 380
Toward FM 4: Palo Pinto, Santo-Lipan
4
548.5 mi into trip|~9h 3m in|FM 4 / South FM 4
Turn right onto FM 4 / South FM 4
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$88.59 one way
$177.18 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg202 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$97.77
$195.54
premium
$4.64
$105.65
$211.30
diesel
$6.18
$140.75
$281.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 202.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $61 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
173.6
2
$60.75
$27.77
Efficient EV
144.7
1
$50.63
$23.14
EV Truck/SUV
231.4
2
$81.00
$37.03
Gas CO2
202 kg
EV CO2
68 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Afternoon
in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
3:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
E 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Granbury, TX
Afternoon
in Granbury on Saturday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
65°F
Sweetwater, TX
382 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
1 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
9h 56m 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?
This route is 96% highway driving, so expect to spend most of your time on interstates. The longest stretch without a major road change is 380.5 miles on I 20. You'll experience extended periods of rural cruising, with exits spaced further apart than you might find in more urban areas. The transition to Lipan Highway marks the end of the interstate cruising.
96% 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: 380.5 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 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 56m, 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,657 ft737 ft
Total Climb
1,419 ft
Total Descent
4,395 ft
Highest Point
4,657 ft
~82.7 mi in
Elevation Range
3,921 ft
Notable High Points
4,657 ft at ~82.7 miles+737 ft prominence
4,089 ft at ~165.3 miles+168 ft prominence
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 Granbury, TX, road signs point toward Fm 4: Palo Pinto and Santo-Lipan.
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 380.5 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 289 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 67 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Granbury, 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. There are 67 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Granbury, TX before the return drive.
