Scenic Overlook & Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Pflugerville, TX to El Paso, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 1m
Distance
593.4 mi
955 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 53m
★
6 AM
10h 2m
8 AM
10h 20m
10 AM
10h 8m
12 PM
10h 6m
3 PM
10h 9m
5 PM
10h 19m
8 PM
9h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pflugerville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 593.4-mile journey from Pflugerville, TX to El Paso, TX is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take 10 hours and 1 minute of pure driving time. Given its length and the recommended 2-day split, it's best approached as an overnight trip rather than a single-day push. You'll primarily be on I 10, with a brief start on West US Highway 290 and a touch of Express 1 Toll. Expect a fuel cost around $90 for this long-distance drive. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so the scenery will be consistent with that expansive landscape.
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
296.7 miles from Pflugerville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 457.8 mi | 7h 16m |
| West US Highway 290 | 96.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| Express 1 Toll | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| North Mopac Expressway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| South US Highway 281 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| East Main Street | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| US 290 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| East Pecan Street | 3.3 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 457.8 mi, about 7h 16m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,531 veh/hr typical · worst 1,915
Quietest
2 AM
~171 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
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 Pflugerville, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on South Railroad Avenue
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto FM 1825
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
East Pecan Street
3
Turn right onto FM 1825
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Wells Branch Parkway
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto FM 1325
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Mopac Service Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward TX 1 Toll South
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto Loop 1 Toll
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto Loop 1
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
11
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft
·
6 sec
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
13
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Rd
14
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
West US 290 Bypass Lanes
15
Continue on US 290
378 ft
·
4 sec
·
West US Highway 290
16
Continue on US 290
30 mi
·
37 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto US 281; US 290
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South US Highway 281
18
Turn left onto US 290
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
19
Continue on US 290
27 mi
·
30 min
·
West US Highway 290
20
Continue on US 290
3.5 mi
·
7 min
·
East Main Street
21
Continue on US 290
39 mi
·
42 min
·
West US Highway 290
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
23
Merge onto I 10
458 mi
·
7 hr 16 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 19B
Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Missouri Avenue
26
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Mesa Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
For this 10-hour drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow for a comfortable pace with your two planned stops. The longest stretch without a major change in road is 457.8 miles on I 10, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge will be important, especially on the longer interstate portions where services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $90.
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 296.7 miles from Pflugerville, TX, or about 5h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 457.8 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 131 miles or 2h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 296.7 miles or 5h 18m 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 296.7 miles or 5h 18m
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 9h 3m
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 Pflugerville, 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 Pflugerville, TX
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Pflugerville, 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 457.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
196 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
392 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
297 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 297 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 296.7 miles from Pflugerville, 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 457.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 297 miles or 5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
El Paso County Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Teepee Rest Stop
0 mi from route
Gillespie County US 290 Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
East Pecos County Sheffield Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
East Pecos County Sheffield Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sutton County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sutton County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Culberson County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Culberson County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
El Paso County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Gillespie County Ranch Road 1 Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pecos County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pecos County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Parking Area
0.2 mi from route
Parking Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.3 mi from route
Culberson County Safety Rest Area Eastbound
0.3 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.4 mi from route
Culberson County Safety Rest Area Westbound
0.4 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 websiteMagoffin 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 websiteTom 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 websiteSonora Ice House Ranch Museum
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Early stretch
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
Sonora, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+13253873754
Visit websiteInternational 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 websiteEl 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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 592.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
FM 1325 / North Mopac Service Road
Turn left onto FM 1325 / North Mopac Service Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Express 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
7
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
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.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, L...
6
23 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
8
592.6 mi into trip
|
~10h 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
$81.28 one way
$162.55 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
208 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $90.79 | $181.57 |
| premium | $4.23 | $98.71 | $197.41 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $112.05 | $224.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$211–$321
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 207.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $62 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 178 | 2 | $62.31 | $28.48 |
| Efficient EV | 148.4 | 1 | $51.92 | $23.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 237.4 | 2 | $83.08 | $37.98 |
Gas CO2
208 kg
EV CO2
69 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.
Origin
Pflugerville, TX
Evening in Pflugerville on Monday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph
46% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:06PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:03PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
El Paso, TX
Evening in El Paso on Monday
Local time
6:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 7 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:06PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:03PM 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
6 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
10h 1m 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 593.4
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 81.8
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 96% of the drive utilizing major highways. The bulk of your travel, a continuous stretch of 457.8 miles, will be on I 10. This means you're looking at a long-distance drive characterized by consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. While it offers efficiency, be prepared for stretches where the landscape might become repetitive. The initial section on West US Highway 290 will offer a slight change before merging onto the expansive I 10.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 457.8 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and West US Highway 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near FM 1325 / North Mopac Service Road.
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 16 significant decision points across 593.4 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 5.6 miles (FM 1325 / North Mopac Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Express 1 Toll): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,622 ft
719 ft
Total Climb
4,114 ft
Total Descent
1,119 ft
Highest Point
4,622 ft
~508.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,903 ft
Notable High Points
4,622 ft at ~508.6 miles
+708 ft prominence
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 Pflugerville, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
63.5 mi in
|
~1h 19m
|
via US 290
About the Cities
Starting in Pflugerville, TX
Full guide →Pflugerville is a suburb of Austin, Texas.
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 457.8 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 297 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 41 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (FM 1325 / North Mopac Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Express 1 Toll): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 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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