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Trip from El Paso, TX to Reno, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 40m

Distance

745.4 mi

1,200 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$113

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
12h 29m ★
6 AM
12h 41m
8 AM
13h 4m
10 AM
12h 49m
12 PM
12h 47m
3 PM
12h 50m
5 PM
13h 3m
8 PM
12h 34m

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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Downtown El Paso, TX, TX

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Reno, TX, TX

Reno, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

This is a substantial 745.4-mile journey from El Paso, TX to Reno, TX, estimated to take around 12 hours and 40 minutes of driving time. Given the length and duration, it's best tackled over two days to avoid excessive fatigue. You'll primarily be on major interstates, with I-20 and I-10 forming the backbone of this trip, supplemented by East R L Thornton Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is about $113. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent driving experience across Texas.

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

372.7 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 20 421.1 mi 6h 59m
I 10 166.8 mi 2h 43m
East R L Thornton Freeway 55.6 mi 1h
TX 24 46.8 mi 51m
Tom Landry Freeway 31 mi 36m
West Freeway 15.2 mi 17m
Southeast Loop 286 4.9 mi 5m
Lamar Road 2.6 mi 3m
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 Reno, 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 left at fork onto I 30

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway
Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 30

31 mi · 36 min · Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 30; US 67

7.5 mi · 9 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67

48 mi · 51 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Exit 101 Toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris
11

Continue on TX 24

47 mi · 51 min · TX 24
Toward TX 24: Commerce, Paris
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
13

Merge onto Loop 286

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Southwest Loop 286
14

Continue on Loop 286

4.8 mi · 5 min · Southeast Loop 286
Use the straight lane.
15

Take the exit onto Southeast Loop 286

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Southeast Loop 286
16

Turn right onto US 82

339 ft · 7 sec · Lamar Avenue
17

Continue on US 82

2.6 mi · 3 min · Lamar Road
18

Take the exit

253 ft · 14 sec
19

Turn sharp left onto FM 1508

22 ft · 0 sec · Airport Road
20

Take the ramp

83 ft · 2 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 12-hour, 40-minute drive, planning an overnight stop is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving. With 3 planned stops, you can break up the journey effectively, ensuring you have opportunities to rest and refuel. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on I-20, as services can be spaced out. The total distance of 745.4 miles makes splitting it over two days the most sensible approach for comfort and safety.

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 372.7 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 6h 9m 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 164 miles or 2h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 372.7 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 372.7 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reno, 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 373 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Reno, TX

Aim for roughly 373 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 164 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.

Downtown Midland, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Midland, TX

246 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.

city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fort Worth, TX

492 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 Fort Worth, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Mount Pleasant, TX

373 mi · about 6.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Mount Pleasant, TX after about 373 miles or 6.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Davis, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 164 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sweetwater, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 372.7 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 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 421.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 373 miles or 6.3 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 167.6 and 745.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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 30 / West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
7
642.4 mi into trip | ~10h 48m in | I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
6
690.5 mi into trip | ~11h 39m in

Take the exit toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 101 Toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris
6
745.4 mi into trip | ~12h 40m in | FM 1508 / Airport Road

Turn sharp left onto FM 1508 / Airport Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$112.63 one way

$225.26 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 261 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $123.28 $246.57
premium $4.54 $133.09 $266.17
diesel $5.61 $164.57 $329.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$113

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$243–$353

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 260.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $78 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 223.6 2 $78.27 $35.78
Efficient EV 186.4 2 $65.22 $29.82
EV Truck/SUV 298.2 3 $104.36 $47.71

Gas CO2

261 kg

EV CO2

87 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 Apr 14, 2026

Origin

El Paso, TX

Late night in El Paso on Tuesday

Local time

4:57 AM

MDT

Current temp

80°F

Patchy Blowing Dust

SW 16 to 20 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 1:54PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 1:45PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Reno, TX

Late night in Reno on Tuesday

Local time

5:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 15 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 1:54PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 1:45PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

12h 40m 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?

Expect a high percentage of highway driving, with 99% of this route utilizing major interstates. The road is largely characterized by long, straight stretches, particularly the 421.1-mile segment on I-20, which will be your longest uninterrupted drive. This interstate-heavy profile means you'll experience efficient travel, but it's important to be prepared for the long-haul nature of the drive. The consistent road type across Texas provides a predictable journey.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?

9/10

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 167.6 miles in near I 20.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 14 significant decision points across 745.4 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 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 588.6 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 642.4 miles (I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Reno, TX, road signs point toward Fm 1737: Commerce and Paris.

Fm 1737: Commerce

690.5 mi in | ~11h 39m

Paris

690.5 mi in | ~11h 39m

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 Reno, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1868

Top landmarks

  • • Reno — railway station in Reno, Nevada, United States
  • • Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts — theater in Reno, Nevada, United States
  • • Mizpah Hotel — former hotel building in Reno, Nevada, USA

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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 373 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 Reno, 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 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 588.6 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 642.4 miles (I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.7 hours each way, a round trip means 25.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Reno, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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