Origin
Jacksboro, TX
Late night in Jacksboro on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksboro, 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
10h 1m
Distance
599.5 mi
965 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$91
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 53m
★
6 AM
10h 2m
8 AM
10h 20m
10 AM
10h 8m
12 PM
10h 6m
3 PM
10h 9m
5 PM
10h 19m
8 PM
9h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksboro, TX
Wikimedia Commons
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 599.5-mile journey from Jacksboro, TX to El Paso, TX is a substantial undertaking, clocking in at just over 10 hours of pure driving time. Given its length and the recommendation for 2 days, it's best approached as an overnight trip rather than a single-day dash. You'll primarily be navigating on I-20 and I-10, with a short section of US 281. The estimated fuel cost comes in around $91, so factor that into your budget. This long-distance drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape for much of the way. Planning for at least two stops is advised to break up the extensive mileage.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
299.8 miles from Jacksboro, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-20 | 386.6 mi | 6h 23m |
| I 10 | 166.7 mi | 2h 43m |
| US 281 | 42.5 mi | 47m |
| North Main Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Missouri Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-20 Service Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Mesa Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I-20
— 386.6 mi, about 6h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksboro, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on this road
50 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto US 281; TX 114
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
3
Continue on US 281; TX 199
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 281; TX 199
4
Continue on US 281
38 mi
·
42 min
·
US 281
5
Turn right onto I-20 Service Road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I-20 Service Road
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
7
Merge onto I 20
387 mi
·
6 hr 23 min
·
I-20
8
Merge onto I 10
167 mi
·
2 hr 43 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 19B
Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Missouri Avenue
11
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Mesa Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
To best manage this 10-hour drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for a comfortable first day's travel. With two planned stops, you can effectively break up the nearly 600 miles into manageable segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on I-20, where services might be more spread out. A good pacing strategy involves stopping every 2-3 hours to stretch your legs and refuel. Consider making your overnight stop roughly halfway through the journey to ensure you arrive in El Paso feeling refreshed.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 299.8 miles from Jacksboro, TX, or about 5h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 386.6 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 132 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 299.8 miles or 5h 5m 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 299.8 miles or 5h 5m
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 9h 1m
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 Jacksboro, 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 Jacksboro, TX
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from Jacksboro, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I-20 for about 386.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
198 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
396 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 Pecos, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
300 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Big Spring, TX after about 300 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 132 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 299.8 miles from Jacksboro, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I-20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 386.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 300 miles or 5 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 599.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 281; TX 114 / North Main Street
Turn sharp left onto US 281; TX 114 / North Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
45.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 West: Abilene
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
5
432.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 16m in
|
I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
598.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 59m 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
4
599.3 mi into trip
|
~10h 1m in
|
TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Turn left onto TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$90.59 one way
$181.17 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
210 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $99.15 | $198.31 |
| premium | $4.54 | $107.04 | $214.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $132.36 | $264.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$91
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 209.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 179.9 | 2 | $62.95 | $28.78 |
| Efficient EV | 149.9 | 1 | $52.46 | $23.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 239.8 | 2 | $83.93 | $38.37 |
Gas CO2
210 kg
EV CO2
70 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
El Paso, TX
Late night in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:16PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:16PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock 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.
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
9 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
10h 1m 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 599.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 99% of this route utilizing major interstates. The character of the drive is largely defined by long stretches of uninterrupted travel, including a significant 386.6-mile segment on I-20. This means you'll be covering a lot of ground efficiently, with minimal slowdowns or complex navigation. The route is best described as a long-distance drive, emphasizing steady progress across the Texas landscape. While not overly technical, the sheer distance requires sustained focus.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 386.6 mi on I-20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-20 and I 10. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 281; TX 114 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 599.5 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 281; TX 114 / North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 45.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 432.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 386.6 miles on I-20. 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 300 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 281; TX 114 / North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 45.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 432.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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