Spanning 741.9 miles across the expansive landscape of Texas, this journey from Hawkins to El Paso is a significant undertaking that requires roughly 11 hours and 8 minutes of pure driving time. Because of the sheer distance, attempting this in a single day is grueling, so I highly recommend planning for at least two days on the road. You will primarily navigate via I-20 West after departing Hawkins via Front Street and FM 148. Budgeting approximately $113 for fuel is a smart move to keep your finances in check before you head out. While both locations are situated within the Great Plains region, the scale of this trek makes it a serious commitment that demands careful preparation.
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
366.8 miles from Hawkins, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
457.7 mi
7h 39m
I 10
166.7 mi
2h 43m
US 80
50.1 mi
59m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
22 mi
23m
I 20
18 mi
19m
Front Street
15.9 mi
17m
FM 148
2.1 mi
3m
East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 457.7 mi, about 7h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawkins, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on Green Street
437 ft·21 sec·Green Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 80
16 mi·17 min·Front Street
3
Continue on US 80
50 mi·59 min·US 80
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto FM 148
2.1 mi·3 min·FM 148
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
6
Merge onto I 20
18 mi·19 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
22 mi·23 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
25 mi·26 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 WestUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
429 mi·7 hr 8 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: AbileneUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10
167 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
14
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
To manage the 11-hour drive effectively, aim to break your trip into two manageable legs with at least three planned stops to stay refreshed. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach your overnight destination before dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you traverse the vast stretches of Texas, and use your $113 budget to top off at major junctions along I-20. Given the length of this trek, try to alternate drivers if possible to maintain your focus behind the wheel. A practical tip for this specific route is to track your mileage between stops to ensure you are pacing yourself appropriately across the two-day schedule.
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 366.8 miles from Hawkins, TX, or about 6h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 457.7 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 161 miles or 2h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 366.8 miles or 6h 24m 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 366.8 miles or 6h 24m
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 28m
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 Hawkins, 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 Hawkins, TX
Aim for roughly 367 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 367 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 161 miles from Hawkins, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 457.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 732.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80 / Front Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 80 / Front Street
Navigation decision point
5
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
8
732.8 mi into trip|~12h 26m 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
$110.83 one way
$221.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg257 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$121.32
$242.63
premium
$4.54
$130.96
$261.92
diesel
$5.61
$161.95
$323.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$111
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$241–$351
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 256.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $77 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
220
2
$77.02
$35.21
Efficient EV
183.4
2
$64.18
$29.34
EV Truck/SUV
293.4
3
$102.69
$46.94
Gas CO2
257 kg
EV CO2
86 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 13, 2026
Origin
Hawkins, TX
Morning
in Hawkins on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Morning
in El Paso on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Patchy Blowing Dust
WSW 21 mph7% 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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 28m 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 733.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a long-distance haul that moves from the localized roads of Hawkins onto the high-speed arteries of the interstate system. This route functions as a classic cross-state transit, prioritizing efficiency over scenic variety. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, as the drive lacks technical or winding sections that might otherwise break up the monotony. Since the route relies heavily on the I-20 corridor, the experience is defined by steady, high-speed travel rather than slow-moving rural highways. Staying alert is essential, as the environment remains relatively uniform for much of your 741.9-mile journey.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 457.7 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 12h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 80 / Front Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 733.5 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 0.1 miles (US 80 / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.4 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.3 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 457.7 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. 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 367 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 80 / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.4 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.3 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.5 hours each way, a round trip means 25.0 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.
