Embarking on this journey from McLendon-Chisholm, TX, to El Paso, TX, covers 664.4 miles and requires approximately 11 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. Given the distance and duration, this is best tackled as a two-day trip, allowing for a comfortable pace and necessary rest. The primary roads you'll be using are I-20 and I-10, with a brief segment on Tom Landry Freeway. Expect a fuel cost around $100 for this extensive drive through the Great Plains region of Texas. With three planned stops, you can break up the long stretches effectively.
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
332.2 miles from McLendon-Chisholm, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
421 mi
7h
I 10
166.7 mi
2h 43m
Tom Landry Freeway
30.9 mi
36m
Congressman Ralph Hall Highway
22.8 mi
27m
West Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
North State Highway 205
4.3 mi
6m
South Goliad Street
1.3 mi
2m
Cattle Barron Drive
0.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 421 mi, about 7h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLendon-Chisholm, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on this road
134 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Cattle Barron Drive
0.5 mi·2 min·Cattle Barron Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto FM 550
0.1 mi·23 sec·West FM 550
4
Turn left onto TX 205
4.3 mi·6 min·North State Highway 205
5
Continue on TX 205
1.3 mi·2 min·South Goliad Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto East Interstate 30
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Interstate 30
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 30 West
8
Merge onto I 30; US 67
23 mi·27 min·Congressman Ralph Hall Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 30
31 mi·36 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30; US 377
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 20
421 mi·7 hr·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 10
167 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
15
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
For this 664.4-mile drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to leave early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight. Plan your three stops strategically, perhaps one for lunch and two for shorter breaks to stretch and refuel. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 421 miles on I-20, as services can sometimes be spread out. Consider breaking the trip roughly in half, perhaps near Abilene or San Angelo, to ensure a manageable second day into El Paso.
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 332.2 miles from McLendon-Chisholm, TX, or about 5h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421 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 146 miles or 2h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 332.2 miles or 5h 49m 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 332.2 miles or 5h 49m
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 18m
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 McLendon-Chisholm, 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 McLendon-Chisholm, TX
Aim for roughly 332 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 332 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 146 miles from McLendon-Chisholm, 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 20 for about 421 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 0.5 and 663.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|FM 550 / West FM 550
At end of road, turn right onto FM 550 / West FM 550
Navigation decision point
6
6.4 mi into trip|~11m in|East Interstate 30
Turn left onto East Interstate 30
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
6.8 mi into trip|~12m in|I 30; US 67 / Congressman Ralph Hall Highway
Merge onto I 30; US 67 / Congressman Ralph Hall Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
76 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
663.6 mi into trip|~11h 17m 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
$100.39 one way
$200.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg233 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$109.89
$219.78
premium
$4.54
$118.62
$237.25
diesel
$5.61
$146.69
$293.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$100
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 232.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
199.3
2
$69.76
$31.89
Efficient EV
166.1
1
$58.13
$26.58
EV Truck/SUV
265.8
3
$93.02
$42.52
Gas CO2
232 kg
EV CO2
78 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
McLendon-Chisholm, TX
Morning
in McLendon-Chisholm on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Late night
in El Paso on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 4:01AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:47AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
30 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
11h 18m 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 664.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly an interstate experience, with 96% of the drive on highways, suggesting long, uninterrupted stretches. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 421 miles, primarily on I-20. While the profile is labeled 'long-distance drive,' the high highway share indicates a focus on covering ground efficiently rather than winding scenic byways. You'll likely experience a consistent driving environment for much of the trip, characterized by wide-open spaces typical of the Great Plains.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 421 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near FM 550 / West FM 550.
Driving Effort6/10
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 664.4 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.5 miles (FM 550 / West FM 550): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (East Interstate 30): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (I 30; US 67 / Congressman Ralph Hall Highway): 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
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 421 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 332 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 0.5 miles (FM 550 / West FM 550): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (East Interstate 30): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (I 30; US 67 / Congressman Ralph Hall Highway): 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 11.3 hours each way, a round trip means 22.6 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.
