Origin
Palmhurst, TX
Evening in Palmhurst on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmhurst, 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
13h 26m
Distance
792.3 mi
1,275 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$120
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
13h 14m
★
6 AM
13h 26m
8 AM
13h 51m
10 AM
13h 35m
12 PM
13h 32m
3 PM
13h 36m
5 PM
13h 49m
8 PM
13h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmhurst, TX
Jeff Stapleton
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Palmhurst, TX to El Paso, TX covers 792.3 miles, a significant distance that translates to approximately 13 hours and 26 minutes of driving time. This is a long-distance drive best suited for an overnight split, with a recommended two days to complete comfortably. The primary arteries for this trip are I-69C, US 281, and I-10, forming the backbone of your cross-state adventure. With an estimated fuel cost of $120, it's wise to factor this into your budget. You'll be traversing across the vast landscapes of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region towards its western extension, making for a consistent, albeit lengthy, travel 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
396.2 miles from Palmhurst, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 535.3 mi | 8h 33m |
| I 69C | 138.2 mi | 2h 31m |
| US 281 | 68.5 mi | 1h 11m |
| McDermott Freeway | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| Nueces Street | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| TX 107 | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| North Conway Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| North Closner Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 535.3 mi, about 8h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmhurst, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on this road
223 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto TX 107
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
North Conway Avenue
3
Continue on TX 107
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
TX 107
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
North 10th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft
·
13 sec
·
West McIntyre Street
6
Turn left onto US 281 Business
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Closner Boulevard
7
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Expressway 281
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
9
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
68 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 69C; US 281
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Nueces Street
12
Continue on US 281
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 281
13
Take the exit onto US 281
68 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 140B
Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
17
Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87
93 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Pan Am Expressway
18
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
McDermott Freeway
Exit 156
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87
15 mi
·
17 min
·
McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 19B
Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Missouri Avenue
23
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Mesa Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
Given the 13.5-hour duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended for safety and enjoyment. Aim to depart early on your first day to maximize daylight driving and get a significant portion of the miles behind you. Plan for at least three stops to stretch your legs, refuel, and grab necessities. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 500 miles on I-10, so be sure to fill up your tank before entering this section. Consider an overnight stop around the halfway point to break up the journey effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer I-10 segment, as services can be spaced out.
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 396.2 miles from Palmhurst, TX, or about 7h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 535.3 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 174 miles or 3h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 396.2 miles or 7h 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 396.2 miles or 7h 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 12h 27m
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 Palmhurst, 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 Palmhurst, TX
Aim for roughly 396 miles and 6.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 396 miles and 6.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 174 miles from Palmhurst, 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 535.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
261 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
523 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 Big Lake, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
396 mi · about 6.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 396 miles or 6.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 174 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 396.2 miles from Palmhurst, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 535.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 396 miles or 6.7 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 13.1 and 791.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
238.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 140B
Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
240.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
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 156
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
241.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m in
|
I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
791.6 mi into trip
|
~13h 24m 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
$119.72 one way
$239.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
277 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $131.04 | $262.08 |
| premium | $4.54 | $141.46 | $282.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $174.93 | $349.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$120
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$250–$360
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 277.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $83 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 237.7 | 2 | $83.19 | $38.03 |
| Efficient EV | 198.1 | 2 | $69.33 | $31.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 316.9 | 3 | $110.92 | $50.71 |
Gas CO2
277 kg
EV CO2
93 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.
Destination
El Paso, TX
Evening in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Big Lake, TX
523 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13h 26m 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 792.3
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 218.6
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 300.5
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 overwhelmingly an interstate experience, with a 97% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed, limited-access roads. Expect long, straight stretches conducive to consistent travel, particularly the significant 535.3-mile segment on I-10. While the highway dominance suggests a less varied drive, the sheer scale of the journey offers a unique character of its own. The focus here is on efficient transit across the expansive Texas landscape, rather than winding scenic byways. You'll find the road largely consistent for much of the trip, allowing for steady progress.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 535.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 69C. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.1 miles in near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 792.3 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 13.1 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 238.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 240.8 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Palmhurst, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Alamodome along the way.
Alamodome
238.9 mi in
|
~4h 28m
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 535.3 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 396 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 13.1 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 238.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 240.8 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 13.4 hours each way, a round trip means 26.9 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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