Trip from Italy, TX to El Paso, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

11h 2m

Distance

657.5 mi

1,058 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$90

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

10h 53m ★

6 AM

11h 3m

8 AM

11h 22m

10 AM

11h 10m

12 PM

11h 8m

3 PM

11h 11m

5 PM

11h 21m

8 PM

10h 57m

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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town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Italy, TX

Wikimedia Commons

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Italy, TX to El Paso, TX is 657.5 miles and takes about 11 hours 2 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I 10, with a fuel budget near $96 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that primarily stays within the Great Plains region, crossing from one side of Texas to the other. While it's possible to complete in one day, most travelers will find it more comfortable to split the trip over two days. You'll be covering a significant portion of the state, so be prepared for a day largely spent on the road.

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

328.8 miles from Italy, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 36m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	432.8 mi	7h 12m
I 10	166.7 mi	2h 43m
US 287	37.9 mi	42m
I 35E	14.7 mi	14m
West US Highway 287 Business	1.1 mi	1m
Dale Evans Drive	1 mi	1m
West US 287 Business	1 mi	1m
Main Street	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway — 432.8 mi, about 7h 12m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Italy, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on TX 34

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Main Street

Continue on TX 34

1.0 mi · 1 min · Dale Evans Drive

Turn right

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto I 35E

15 mi · 14 min · I 35E

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Exit 401B Toward US 287 BUS, FM 664: Waxahachie Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35E

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Interstate 35E

Turn right onto US 287 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · West US 287 Business

Continue on US 287 Bus

1.1 mi · 1 min · West US Highway 287 Business

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward US 287 Business North

Merge onto US 287

38 mi · 42 min · US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

4.0 mi · 4 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Toward I 20 West Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

429 mi · 7 hr 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Toward I 20 West: Abilene Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10

167 mi · 2 hr 43 min · I 10

Use the straight / slight right 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

Given the 11-hour duration, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow for ample stops. With 3 recommended stops, you can break up the drive every few hours to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway is over 400 miles, and services can be spaced out.

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 328.8 miles from Italy, TX, or about 5h 36m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 432.8 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 145 miles or 2h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 328.8 miles or 5h 36m 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 328.8 miles or 5h 36m

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 10h 2m

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 Italy, 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 Italy, TX

Aim for roughly 329 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 329 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 145 miles from Italy, 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 432.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Brownwood, TX

217 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 in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Odessa, TX

434 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 Odessa, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Big Spring, TX

329 mi · about 5.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Big Spring, TX after about 329 miles or 5.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Stephenville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 145 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Spring, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 328.8 miles from Italy, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 432.8 miles.

Overnight split

1.6 mi from 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 2 and 656.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 35E

Merge onto I 35E

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

16.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 287 BUS, FM 664: Waxahachie

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 401B Toward US 287 BUS, FM 664: Waxahachie

57.3 mi into trip | ~1h 4m 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

61.3 mi into trip | ~1h 9m 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

656.7 mi into trip | ~11h 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

$90.06 one way

$180.11 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 230 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$100.59	$201.18
premium	$4.23	$109.37	$218.74
diesel	$4.80	$124.15	$248.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$90

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$220–$330

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 230 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $69 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	197.3	2	$69.04	$31.56
Efficient EV	164.4	1	$57.53	$26.30
EV Truck/SUV	263	3	$92.05	$42.08

Gas CO2

230 kg

EV CO2

77 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Italy, TX

Morning in Italy on Sunday

Local time

10:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:35PM CDT until July 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:32PM CDT until July 21 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

El Paso, TX

Morning in El Paso on Sunday

Local time

9:25 AM

MDT

Current temp

93°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 7 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:35PM CDT until July 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:32PM CDT until July 21 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

94°F

Brownwood, TX

217 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

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

11h 2m 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 657.5

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly highway driving, with 34% of the total mileage on main roads like Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I 10. You'll encounter a long stretch of 432.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a consistent cruising experience with fewer urban merges and more rural stretches for much of the drive.

34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 432.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

At 11h 2m, 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 2 miles in near I 35E.

Driving Effort 7/10

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 657.5 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 2 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.3 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,384 ft 550 ft

Total Climb

4,158 ft

Total Descent

1,012 ft

Highest Point

4,384 ft

~563.6 mi in

Elevation Range

3,833 ft

Notable High Points

4,384 ft at ~563.6 miles +283 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Italy, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1879

Arriving 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

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

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

11h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 432.8 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 329 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 73 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 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. There are 73 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 11.0 hours each way, a round trip means 22.1 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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