Trip from Olney, 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 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 53m

Distance

550.9 mi

887 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 44m ★

6 AM

9h 53m

8 AM

10h 11m

10 AM

9h 59m

12 PM

9h 58m

3 PM

10h 0m

5 PM

10h 10m

8 PM

9h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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city in Young County, Texas, United States

Olney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Olney, TX to El Paso, TX is 550.9 miles and takes about 9h 53m via I 20 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $83 and requires an overnight stay. This long-distance drive traverses the vast Great Plains region of Texas. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major interstates, making it a practical choice for covering significant ground across the state. Given the 9h 53m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is strongly recommended to avoid fatigue and allow for more comfortable travel.

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

275.4 miles from Olney, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	286.8 mi	4h 43m
I 10	166.7 mi	2h 43m
North Minter Avenue	33.8 mi	50m
State Highway 79 South	29.2 mi	43m
State Highway 351	23.5 mi	35m
West US Highway 180	7.2 mi	10m
East Overland Trail	1.4 mi	2m
US 180	1.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 286.8 mi, about 4h 43m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,316 veh/hr typical · worst 1,588

Quietest

2 AM

~219 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6×

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 Olney, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on TX 114

0.1 mi · 18 sec · East Main Street

Turn right onto TX 79

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Highway 79 South

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 79

28 mi · 42 min · State Highway 79 South

Turn left onto US 183; US 283

34 mi · 50 min · North Minter Avenue

Turn right onto US 180; US 283

1.4 mi · 2 min · US 180; US 283

Continue on US 180; TX 6

7.2 mi · 10 min · West US Highway 180

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 351

23 mi · 35 min · State Highway 351

Turn right onto East Overland Trail

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Overland Trail

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 20 West: El Paso

Merge onto I 20

287 mi · 4 hr 43 min · I 20

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 nearly 10-hour drive time, planning for two days is the way to go. Aim to depart Olney in the morning, covering roughly half the distance on day one. This allows you to break up the 550.9 miles and make the most of the recommended two-day trip. Keep an eye on fuel stops, as you'll want to refuel before hitting longer stretches, especially the 286.8-mile segment on I 20. There are two planned stops, so use those to your advantage for rest and refueling.

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 275.4 miles from Olney, TX, or about 5h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 286.8 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 121 miles or 2h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 275.4 miles or 5h 21m 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 275.4 miles or 5h 21m

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 8h 53m

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 Olney, 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 Olney, TX

Aim for roughly 275 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 275 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Olney, 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 286.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Nolan County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Roscoe, TX

182 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 and county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Pecos, TX

364 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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Odessa, TX

275 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Odessa, TX after about 275 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Mount Pleasant, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Midland, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 275.4 miles from Olney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 286.8 miles.

Overnight split

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

Odessa Meteor Crater

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14323810946

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

Clark Hotel Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Van Horn, Texas

Hours: 2–6 pm

+14322838028

Visit website

Events Midland

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14325565867

Visit website

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 1 and 550.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1 mi into trip | ~1m in | TX 79 / State Highway 79 South

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 79 / State Highway 79 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

71.7 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | TX 351 / State Highway 351

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 351 / State Highway 351

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

383.5 mi into trip | ~7h 8m in | I 10

Merge onto I 10

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

550.1 mi into trip | ~9h 51m 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

550.6 mi into trip | ~9h 52m in | TX 20 / North Mesa Street

Turn left onto TX 20 / North Mesa Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.46 one way

$150.91 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 193 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$84.28	$168.57
premium	$4.23	$91.64	$183.27
diesel	$4.80	$104.02	$208.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$75

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$205–$315

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 192.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	165.3	2	$57.84	$26.44
Efficient EV	137.7	1	$48.20	$22.04
EV Truck/SUV	220.4	2	$77.13	$35.26

Gas CO2

193 kg

EV CO2

64 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

Olney, TX

Night in Olney on Monday

Local time

11:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 15 mph 25% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

El Paso, TX

Night in El Paso on Monday

Local time

10:46 PM

MDT

Current temp

93°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

E 7 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

102°F

Roscoe, TX

182 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

7 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

9h 53m 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 550.9

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 an interstate experience, with 93% of the drive on major highways like I 20 and I 10. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 286.8 miles on I 20, so be prepared for extended periods of high-speed driving. While the landscape is largely consistent with the Great Plains, the character of the drive is defined by its efficiency and directness. It’s a route built for covering distance rather than exploring winding backroads.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 286.8 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

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 1 miles in near TX 79 / State Highway 79 South.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 550.9 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 1 miles (TX 79 / State Highway 79 South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.7 miles (TX 351 / State Highway 351): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 383.5 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,595 ft 1,183 ft

Total Climb

3,937 ft

Total Descent

1,407 ft

Highest Point

4,595 ft

~472.2 mi in

Elevation Range

3,412 ft

Notable High Points

4,239 ft at ~393.5 miles +23 ft prominence

4,595 ft at ~472.2 miles +379 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Olney, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1909

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?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 286.8 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 275 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 53 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 53 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 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.8 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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