El Paso to Robert Lee is 407 miles and takes about 6h 52m via I 10, I 20, and East State Highway 158, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas and the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway drive that should be straightforward for a single-day excursion. The route is efficient, making it a practical option for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.5 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
166.8 mi
2h 43m
I 20
137.4 mi
2h 13m
East State Highway 158
61.4 mi
1h 9m
Robert Lee Highway
34.4 mi
35m
US Highway 87 North
2.6 mi
2m
Garden City Highway
1.2 mi
1m
4th Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Interstate 20
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 166.8 mi, about 2h 43m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~2,937 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~277 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
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 Robert Lee, 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
137 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 20
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 137BToward TX 158, FM 715: Garden City, San Angelo
7
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.9 mi·1 min·East Interstate 20
8
Turn right onto TX 158
1.2 mi·1 min·Garden City Highway
9
Continue on TX 158
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·East State Highway 158
10
Merge onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163
2.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 87 North
11
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi·2 min·4th Street
12
Turn left onto TX 158
34 mi·35 min·Robert Lee Highway
13
Turn right onto Loop 229
91 ft·2 sec·East 7th Street
14
Arrive at destination
Loop 229
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 52m estimated drive time, leaving El Paso in the morning will allow you to reach Robert Lee with plenty of daylight to spare. The 407-mile distance is manageable in one day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one main stop to refuel and stretch your legs, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to East State Highway 158, as services may become less frequent than on I 10 and I 20.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.5 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 90 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.5 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Robert Lee, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from El Paso, TX
This is one driving day of about 407 miles and 6h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from El Paso, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 166.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 372.5 — 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
305 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward TX 158, FM 715: Garden City, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 137B
Toward TX 158, FM 715: Garden City, San Angelo
4
372.5 mi into trip|~6h 16m in|TX 158 / Robert Lee Highway
Turn left onto TX 158 / Robert Lee Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.75 one way
$111.49 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$62.27
$124.54
premium
$4.23
$67.70
$135.40
diesel
$4.80
$76.85
$153.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122.1
1
$42.74
$19.54
Efficient EV
101.8
1
$35.61
$16.28
EV Truck/SUV
162.8
2
$56.98
$26.05
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Afternoon
in El Paso on Monday
Local time
12:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 to 9 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Robert Lee, TX
Afternoon
in Robert Lee on Monday
Local time
1:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph81% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.
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
7 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
6h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 drive is 91% highway, meaning you'll be on major interstates for most of the 407 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 10 spans 166.8 miles, offering a good period of uninterrupted cruising. After leaving the interstate system, you'll transition to East State Highway 158 for the final portion of the trip. Expect a rural feel as you approach Robert Lee, with fewer exits and services compared to the interstate segments.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.8 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 20. 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 6h 52m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 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
Gently rolling terrain
4,577 ft1,822 ft
Total Climb
1,334 ft
Total Descent
3,226 ft
Highest Point
4,577 ft
~87.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,755 ft
Notable High Points
4,577 ft at ~87.2 miles+181 ft prominence
4,429 ft at ~145.4 miles+33 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 Robert Lee, TX, road signs point toward Fm 715: Garden City and San Angelo.
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 166.8 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 39 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 Robert Lee, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 39 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Robert Lee, TX before the return drive.
