Trip from Franklin, TX to El Paso, 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 35m

Distance

806.8 mi

1,298 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$122

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

13h 24m ★

6 AM

13h 36m

8 AM

14h 0m

10 AM

13h 44m

12 PM

13h 42m

3 PM

13h 46m

5 PM

13h 59m

8 PM

13h 28m

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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Franklin, TX

Jeff Stapleton

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking on the 806.8-mile journey from Franklin, Texas, to El Paso, Texas, is a significant undertaking, requiring an estimated 13 hours and 35 minutes of driving time. Given its length and the substantial fuel cost of approximately $122, this trip is best planned as a two-day adventure rather than a single-day push. You'll spend 95% of your time on major highways, primarily I-10, the Katy Freeway, and North Grand Parkway East. The drive spans across the vast Great Plains region of Texas, offering a true sense of the state's expansive landscape. With three planned stops, you can break up the journey effectively to manage fatigue and enjoy the drive.

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

403.4 miles from Franklin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	538.4 mi	8h 36m
Katy Freeway	149.1 mi	2h 30m
North Grand Parkway East	51.7 mi	56m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
US 59	14.3 mi	15m
TX 105	12.6 mi	18m
East Houston Street	6.2 mi	9m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 538.4 mi, about 8h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on TX 105

13 mi · 18 min · TX 105

Use the left / right lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto TX 105; TX 321

6.2 mi · 9 min · East Houston Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto TX 105 Business; Loop 573

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Washington Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto TX 105 Business

0.4 mi · 45 sec · West Southline Street

Turn left

446 ft · 7 sec

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward US 59 South

Merge onto US 59

14 mi · 15 min · US 59

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec

Toward TX 99 Toll Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Eastex Freeway Frontage Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Eastex Freeway Frontage Road

Use the straight / uturn lanes.

Turn right onto North Grand Parkway East

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Grand Parkway East

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · this road

Toward TX 99 Toll West

Merge onto TX 99 Toll

51 mi · 55 min · North Grand Parkway East

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Antonio Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

149 mi · 2 hr 30 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

1.9 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto FM 1518

5.4 mi · 9 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1518

At end of road, turn left onto FM 78

2.0 mi · 3 min · Gordon A Blake Highway

Turn left

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Take the ramp

265 ft · 6 sec

Toward Loop 1604 North

Merge onto Loop 1604

20 mi · 22 min · Anderson Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward Frontage Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

535 mi · 8 hr 33 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

Trip Plan

To best manage this 13-hour, 35-minute drive, plan for an overnight stop to break up the 806.8 miles. Starting early in the morning, especially on a weekday, can help you navigate the initial stretches through populated areas before hitting the open road. The longest stretch, 538.4 miles on I-10, means you'll want to ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on that segment; look for services at major junctions. With three stops recommended, strategically place them to include rest breaks and meals, keeping in mind the total fuel cost estimated at $122.

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 403.4 miles from Franklin, TX, or about 7h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 538.4 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 177 miles or 3h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 403.4 miles or 7h 7m 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 403.4 miles or 7h 7m

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 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, TX

Aim for roughly 403 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 403 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 177 miles from Franklin, 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 538.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States, that is the seat of Comal County

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

New Braunfels, TX

266 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

Big Lake, TX

532 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 Big Lake, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

403 mi · about 6.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 403 miles or 6.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 177 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 403.4 miles from Franklin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 538.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 403 miles or 6.8 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 806.8

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The House Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 806.8

Hours: 6 am–1 pm

+19152617542

Coffee Box

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

District Coffee Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 806.8

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 806.8

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19152289050

Visit website

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $10 mile 806.8

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19155452233

Visit website

Weso Steakhouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 806.8

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19154449085

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 806.8

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+19152476143

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 806.8

Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+526563058131

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 806 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

12.6 mi into trip | ~18m in | TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street

At end of road, turn right onto TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

88.2 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in

Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Antonio

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Anton...

88.8 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

240.5 mi into trip | ~4h 21m in

Take the exit toward TX 1518: Schertz

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz

806 mi into trip | ~13h 34m in

Take the exit toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$121.91 one way

$243.82 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 282 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$133.44	$266.88
premium	$4.54	$144.05	$288.10
diesel	$5.61	$178.13	$356.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$122

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$252–$362

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 282.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $85 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	242	2	$84.71	$38.73
Efficient EV	201.7	2	$70.59	$32.27
EV Truck/SUV	322.7	4	$112.95	$51.64

Gas CO2

282 kg

EV CO2

94 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 18, 2026

Origin

Franklin, TX

Evening in Franklin on Saturday

Local time

8:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Evening in El Paso on Saturday

Local time

7:13 PM

MDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Big Lake, TX

532 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 earlier

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

13h 35m 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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 807.6

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 250.6

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

27 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 306.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This is predominantly an interstate experience, with 95% of the route utilizing major highways. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, particularly the significant 538.4-mile segment on I-10. While the drive is efficient, it's characterized as a long-distance drive, suggesting a focus on covering ground rather than winding scenic byways. As you progress westward, the landscape will unfold across the expansive Great Plains, offering a consistent, albeit perhaps monotonous for some, driving environment. The character remains largely uniform due to the extensive highway usage.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 538.4 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 28 significant decision points across 806.8 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 12.6 miles (TX 105; TX 321 / East Houston Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.8 miles: 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 Franklin, TX and El Paso, TX, road signs point toward San Antonio and Loop 1604 North.

San Antonio

88.2 mi in | ~1h 46m

Loop 1604 North

248.3 mi in | ~4h 35m

About the Cities

Arriving 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.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 538.4 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 403 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 El Paso, 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.

Yes — Chamizal National Memorial, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 13.6 hours each way, a round trip means 27.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Paso, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Franklin, TX or browse trips ending in El Paso, TX.

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Trip from Franklin, TX to El Paso, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Martha's Café

The House Coffee Shop

Martha's Café

Park Tavern

Cafe Central

Weso Steakhouse

Lamezze Restaurant

Anson 11

Café Rosé the Pink Cafe El Paso

Barrio Eats & Drinks

The House Coffee Shop

Coffee Box

District Coffee Co.

Glia's Coffee Co.

Glia's Coffee Co.

Reyna’s Mercadito

After Coffee

Sunset Heights Co (Coffee Co and Venue)

El Paso Museum of History

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Tom Lea Upper Park

International Museum of Art

Geronimo Adventure Park

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Maddy's Juice Bar

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Franklin, TX

El Paso, TX

1 hour earlier

1 degrees cooler at arrival

13h 35m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Chamizal National Memorial

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From El Paso, TX

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