Trip from Lakeside, 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 Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

11h 24m

Distance

690.8 mi

1,112 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$104

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

11h 14m ★

6 AM

11h 25m

8 AM

11h 45m

10 AM

11h 32m

12 PM

11h 30m

3 PM

11h 33m

5 PM

11h 44m

8 PM

11h 18m

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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Lakeside, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 690.8-mile journey from Lakeside, TX, to El Paso, TX, is a substantial long-distance drive that will take approximately 11 hours and 24 minutes. Given its length, it's best split over two days to avoid excessive fatigue. Your fuel cost is estimated at $104, and you'll be making about three stops along the way. The primary artery for this trip is I-10, which accounts for 95% of your highway driving. This route is a straightforward cross-state expedition, mainly traversing the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent driving experience.

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

345.4 miles from Lakeside, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	640.5 mi	10h 18m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
State Highway 71	9.8 mi	10m
US Highway 90A	7.4 mi	8m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m
Gordon A Blake Highway	2 mi	3m
Lakeside Drive	1.3 mi	3m
South McCarty Avenue	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 640.5 mi, about 10h 18m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 112 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,410 veh/hr typical · worst 1,904

Quietest

2 AM

~189 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Lakeside, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on FM 102

1.3 mi · 3 min · Lakeside Drive

At end of road, turn left onto US 90 Alt; FM 102

0.4 mi · 55 sec · East Main Street

Turn slight left onto US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Boothe Drive

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 90 Alt

0.8 mi · 1 min · South McCarty Avenue

Continue on US 90 Alt

7.4 mi · 8 min · US Highway 90A

Turn right onto TX 71

9.8 mi · 10 min · State Highway 71

Turn left onto TX 71

446 ft · 8 sec · I-10 Service Road

Take the ramp onto TX 71

0.3 mi · 32 sec · TX 71

Merge onto I 10; TX 71

93 mi · 1 hr 32 min · I 10; TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

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

For this 11-hour, 24-minute drive, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and break up the 690.8 miles. With an estimated fuel cost of $104, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before significant stretches, especially considering the longest stretch of 640.5 miles on I-10. Plan your stops strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to allow for breaks and meals. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spaced out on I-10 through West Texas.

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 345.4 miles from Lakeside, TX, or about 5h 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 640.5 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 152 miles or 2h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 345.4 miles or 5h 52m 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 345.4 miles or 5h 52m

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 26m

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 Lakeside, 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 Lakeside, TX

Aim for roughly 345 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 345 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 152 miles from Lakeside, 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 640.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Kerrville, TX

228 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 Upton County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

McCamey, TX

456 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 McCamey, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Junction, TX

345 mi · about 5.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 345 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 152 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Junction, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 345.4 miles from Lakeside, 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 640.5 miles.

Overnight split

0.7 mi from route

El Paso Museum of History

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+19152123150

Visit website

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19155335147

Visit website

Tom Lea Upper Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19152120092

Visit website

International Museum of Art

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+19155436747

Visit website

Maui Maui Kids Play Island

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+12102578118

Visit website

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19152120966

Visit website

Get Out of My Escape Room

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hill Country Village, Texas

Hours: Closed

+12104753174

Visit website

Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+12103026807

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 690.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 90 Alt; FM 102 / East Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 90 Alt; FM 102 / East Main Street

Navigation decision point

124.5 mi into trip | ~2h 10m 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

152.8 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Frontage Road

154.8 mi into trip | ~2h 49m 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 left lanes.

690.1 mi into trip | ~11h 22m 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

$103.70 one way

$207.40 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 242 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$114.74	$229.49
premium	$4.57	$124.15	$248.31
diesel	$6.28	$170.69	$341.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$104

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$234–$344

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 241.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $73 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	207.2	2	$72.53	$33.16
Efficient EV	172.7	1	$60.45	$27.63
EV Truck/SUV	276.3	3	$96.71	$44.21

Gas CO2

242 kg

EV CO2

81 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 Oct 22, 2026

Origin

Lakeside, TX

Morning in Lakeside on Friday

Local time

8:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

NE 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Morning in El Paso on Friday

Local time

7:56 AM

MDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 9 to 15 mph 40% chance Live 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

1 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 24m 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 692.4

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...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 143.3

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 ~67 min detour Free near mile 191

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 interstate experience on this route, with I-10 forming the backbone for nearly the entire 690.8 miles. You'll encounter Anderson Loop and State Highway 71 briefly, but they represent a small fraction of your travel. The highway share is a commanding 95%, meaning you'll be on high-speed, multi-lane roads for the vast majority of your drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a considerable 640.5 miles on I-10, highlighting the continuous nature of this interstate cruise. This drive offers a consistent, fast-paced transit across Texas.

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

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

Longest single stretch: 640.5 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Anderson Loop. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 90 Alt; FM 102 / East Main Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 690.8 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 1.3 miles (US 90 Alt; FM 102 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 124.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,446 ft 168 ft

Total Climb

4,327 ft

Total Descent

781 ft

Highest Point

4,446 ft

~542.8 mi in

Elevation Range

4,279 ft

Notable High Points

4,446 ft at ~542.8 miles +58 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Lakeside, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

Loop 1604 North

132.4 mi in | ~2h 24m

About the Cities

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 640.5 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 345 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 70 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 70 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 11.4 hours each way, a round trip means 22.8 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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