Origin
El Paso, TX
Evening in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
7:13 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Paso, TX to Texas City, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13h 9m
Distance
786.8 mi
1,266 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$119
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
12h 57m
★
6 AM
13h 9m
8 AM
13h 33m
10 AM
13h 17m
12 PM
13h 15m
3 PM
13h 19m
5 PM
13h 32m
8 PM
13h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Texas City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This extensive journey from El Paso, TX, to Texas City, TX, covers 786.8 miles and will take approximately 13 hours and 9 minutes to complete. Given the significant distance, it's best planned as a two-day trip, allowing for a comfortable pace and necessary breaks. The drive primarily utilizes I-10 and the Gulf Freeway, making up 94% of the route, and you can expect a fuel cost of around $119. This long-distance drive is a straightforward transit across Texas, linking the Great Plains region of West Texas to the Great Plains region of Southeast Texas. With three planned stops, you'll have opportunities to rest and refuel along the way.
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
393.4 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 686.7 mi | 11h 8m |
| Gulf Freeway | 32.8 mi | 38m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| Emmett F Lowry Expressway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Katy Tollway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Palmer Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 686.7 mi, about 11h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Texas 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 right at fork onto I 10
363 mi
·
5 hr 44 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
9
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
11
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
14
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10; TX 130
151 mi
·
2 hr 34 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 10; US 90
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 768B
Toward I 45 South: Galveston
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 45
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Take the exit onto FM 1764
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Emmett F Lowry Expressway
Toward FM 1764: Texas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on FM 1764
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Highway
24
Continue on FM 1764
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue North
25
Turn right onto Spur 197
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right
48 ft
·
3 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 13-hour drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving. With three stops suggested, plan them strategically for fuel and rest, especially considering the longest stretch is over 686 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly as you approach the longer segments on I-10. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is serviced before you leave, as you'll be covering a significant distance primarily on major highways with fewer immediate services in some of the very long stretches.
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 393.4 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 6h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 686.7 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 173 miles or 2h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 393.4 miles or 6h 19m 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 393.4 miles or 6h 19m
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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Texas 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 393 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Texas City, TX
Aim for roughly 393 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 173 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 686.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
260 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
519 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
393 mi · about 6.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 393 miles or 6.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 173 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 393.4 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 686.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 393 miles or 6.6 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 167.6 and 744.5 — 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 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
531 mi into trip
|
~8h 29m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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
6
537.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 37m in
|
North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
744.5 mi into trip
|
~12h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South: Galveston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 768B
Toward I 45 South: Galveston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$118.89 one way
$237.77 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
275 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $130.13 | $260.26 |
| premium | $4.54 | $140.48 | $280.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $173.72 | $347.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Katy Tollway
(3.2 mi)
$0.23
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
$119
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$249–$359
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 275.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $83 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 236 | 2 | $82.61 | $37.77 |
| Efficient EV | 196.7 | 2 | $68.84 | $31.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 314.7 | 3 | $110.15 | $50.36 |
Gas CO2
275 kg
EV CO2
92 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.
Destination
Texas City, TX
Evening in Texas City on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Big Lake, TX
260 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
28 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this drive is largely that of a long-haul interstate experience, with 94% of the journey on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-10, including a substantial 686.7-mile stretch, which means consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. While the profile is a long-distance drive, the primary roads like I-10 and the Gulf Freeway are designed for efficient travel, making it a continuous and predictable route. Expect stretches where the landscape is vast and the road is your main focus, with minimal deviations from the main arteries.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 686.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Gulf Freeway. 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
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 21 significant decision points across 786.8 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 531 miles (I 10; US 87): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Texas City, 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 Texas City, TX
Full guide →Texas City is in Galveston County and lies on the Gulf Coast of the Texas mainland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 686.7 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 393 miles on day one.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Katy 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 Texas 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. 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 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 531 miles (I 10; US 87): 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.
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 Texas City, 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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