Spanning 479.9 miles across the expansive Texas landscape, this route from Mason to El Paso is a significant undertaking that requires about 8 hours of pure driving time. While you could technically push through in a single long day, splitting the journey over 2 days is highly recommended to keep you fresh behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $73 for fuel to cover the distance, which remains entirely within the Great Plains region. Navigating this path involves transitioning from local routes like North US Highway 377 onto the major arteries of the state. It is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, making it a functional choice for those focused on reaching the far west side of Texas.
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
240 miles from Mason, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
436 mi
6h 55m
North US Highway 377
18.4 mi
26m
US Highway 377
15.4 mi
22m
United States Highway 377
6.7 mi
9m
US 83
0.9 mi
1m
Fort McKavitt Street
0.9 mi
<1m
North US Highway 87
0.6 mi
<1m
East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 436 mi, about 6h 55m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,745 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,111
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Mason, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on TX 29
138 ft·29 sec·Austin Street
2
Continue on TX 29
198 ft·5 sec·Austin Street
3
Continue on US 87; TX 29
0.9 mi·58 sec·Fort McKavitt Street
4
Continue on US 87; TX 29
0.6 mi·43 sec·North US Highway 87
5
Turn left onto US 377; TX 29
4.2 mi·6 min·US Highway 377
6
Continue on US 377
9.7 mi·14 min·US Highway 377
7
Continue on US 377
1.5 mi·2 min·US Highway 377
8
Continue on US 377
6.7 mi·9 min·United States Highway 377
9
Continue on US 377
18 mi·26 min·North US Highway 377
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 83; US 377
0.9 mi·1 min·US 83; US 377
11
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
374 ft·7 sec·Interstate 10 West
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
13
Merge onto I 10
436 mi·6 hr 55 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
16
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this 479.9-mile haul is best approached by spreading the drive over 2 days to avoid exhaustion. Since you have 2 planned stops, use them strategically to break up that substantial 436-mile stretch on I-10, as this section will consume the vast majority of your time. Start your morning early to beat the heat and traffic, especially when you are tackling the longest segments of the interstate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $73 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on where you choose to fill up along the highway. A pro tip for this specific route is to treat your two stops not just as fuel breaks, but as necessary opportunities to stretch and reset before tackling the long, isolated miles ahead.
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 240 miles from Mason, TX, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 436 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 106 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 240 miles or 4h 11m 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 240 miles or 4h 11m
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 7h 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 Mason, 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 Mason, TX
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Mason, 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 10 for about 436 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.9 and 479.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
41.9 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 83; US 377
At end of road, turn left onto US 83; US 377
Navigation decision point
4
42.9 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
Navigation decision point
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
5
43.1 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
479.2 mi into trip|~7h 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
479.7 mi into trip|~8h in|TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Turn left onto TX 20 / North Mesa Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.73 one way
$131.46 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg168 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$73.42
$146.84
premium
$4.23
$79.83
$159.65
diesel
$4.80
$90.61
$181.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 167.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
144
1
$50.39
$23.04
Efficient EV
120
1
$41.99
$19.20
EV Truck/SUV
192
2
$67.19
$30.71
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Mason, TX
Evening
in Mason on Monday
Local time
6:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 5:40AM CDT until July 19 at 8:45AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 4:14AM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
El Paso, TX
Evening
in El Paso on Monday
Local time
5:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 3 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 5:40AM CDT until July 19 at 8:45AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 4:14AM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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
19 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
8h 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 479.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its highway-focused nature, with 100% of the mileage taking place on major thoroughfares. You will begin by transitioning from US Highway 377 to the primary transit corridor for this region, I-10. This interstate serves as the backbone of your journey, hosting a lengthy, uninterrupted stretch of 436 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can anticipate a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a technical drive. Be prepared for the reality of long-distance interstate travel, where the landscape remains steady and the primary focus is maintaining a steady speed toward your destination.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 436 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and North US Highway 377. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 41.9 miles in near US 83; US 377.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 41.9 miles (US 83; US 377): Navigation decision point; at 42.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 43.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
The longest stretch is about 436 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 240 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 36 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 41.9 miles (US 83; US 377): Navigation decision point; at 42.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 43.1 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 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.
