El Paso to Ore City is 780.1 miles and takes about 13 hours 9 minutes via I 10 and I 20, with a fuel budget near $124 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This long-haul drive spans across Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same region. Given the distance, it's recommended to split this trip over two days to avoid excessive driving. You'll be spending most of your time on major interstate highways, making for a straightforward, albeit long, transit across the state.
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
390 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 26m 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
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22 mi
23m
State Highway 155
15.6 mi
17m
North Tyler Street
14.9 mi
17m
State Highway 155 North
9.5 mi
10m
US 259
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 421.1 mi, about 6h 59m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 70 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,701 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,082
Quietest
2 AM
~237 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Ore City, 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
16 mi·17 min·State Highway 155
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
18
Merge onto US 259
2.7 mi·3 min·US 259
19
Arrive at destination
US 259
Trip Plan
For a drive of this length, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to ensure safety and comfort. Plan to leave El Paso in the morning, allowing you to cover roughly half the distance on day one. The longest stretch on I 20 is over 421 miles, so be sure to fuel up before embarking on that section, as services can be spaced out. With an estimated fuel cost of $124, budget accordingly. Aim to stop for the night around the halfway point to break up the 13-hour driving 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 390 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 6h 26m 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 172 miles or 2h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 390 miles or 6h 26m 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 390 miles or 6h 26m
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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ore City, 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 390 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ore City, TX
Aim for roughly 390 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 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 14
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
$118.43 one way
$236.86 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg273 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$130.53
$261.06
premium
$4.58
$140.66
$281.33
diesel
$5.35
$164.31
$328.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$118
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: 272.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $82 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
234
2
$81.91
$37.44
Efficient EV
195
2
$68.26
$31.20
EV Truck/SUV
312
3
$109.21
$49.93
Gas CO2
273 kg
EV CO2
91 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Afternoon
in El Paso on Wednesday
Local time
12:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ore City, TX
Afternoon
in Ore City on Wednesday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive 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
4 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
13h 9m 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 primarily interstate cruising, with 82% of the drive on major highways like I 10 and I 20. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 421.1 miles on I 20, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you near your destination, likely as you exit the interstate system. Expect a lot of rural cruising with fewer exits for significant stretches, especially during the longest segment.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 780.1 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,617 ft329 ft
Total Climb
1,286 ft
Total Descent
4,671 ft
Highest Point
4,617 ft
~111.4 mi in
Elevation Range
4,288 ft
Notable High Points
4,617 ft at ~111.4 miles+597 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 Ore City, 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.
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 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 390 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 88 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 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 Ore City, 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. There are 88 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 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 13.2 hours each way, a round trip means 26.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ore City, TX before the return drive.
