Trip from Terrell Hills, 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 Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 58m

Distance

552.8 mi

890 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$84

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 51m ★

6 AM

8h 59m

8 AM

9h 15m

10 AM

9h 4m

12 PM

9h 3m

3 PM

9h 5m

5 PM

9h 14m

8 PM

8h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Terrell Hills, TX

Jeff Stapleton

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 552.8-mile journey from Terrell Hills, TX, to El Paso, TX, is a substantial undertaking, realistically requiring two days to complete comfortably. While the drive is primarily on I-10, covering 99% of the route, the total duration is estimated at 8 hours and 58 minutes, making a single-day push challenging. Your fuel cost is projected to be around $84, and you'll encounter two recommended stops along the way. As you traverse from the Great Plains region of Texas to its western counterpart, expect a long-distance drive that emphasizes steady progress across the state.

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

276.4 miles from Terrell Hills, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	535.3 mi	8h 33m
McDermott Freeway	11.7 mi	13m
East Hildebrand Avenue	3.1 mi	5m
Broadway	0.6 mi	1m
Garraty Road	0.5 mi	1m
East Missouri Avenue	0.3 mi	<1m
Interstate 10 West	0.3 mi	<1m
North Mesa Street	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 535.3 mi, about 8h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Terrell Hills, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on Garraty Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Garraty Road

Continue on Grove Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Grove Place

Turn left onto Loop 368

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broadway

Turn right onto East Hildebrand Avenue

3.1 mi · 5 min · East Hildebrand Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 87

12 mi · 13 min · McDermott Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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 8-hour and 58-minute duration, splitting this 552.8-mile trip over two days is highly advisable. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for at least one overnight stop. Plan your stops in advance to break up the longest stretch of 535.3 miles on I-10. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially in the more remote western Texas sections, and be prepared for the estimated $84 fuel cost. A good strategy is to aim for a mid-point break around the 4-5 hour mark.

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 276.4 miles from Terrell Hills, TX, or about 4h 32m 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 122 miles or 2h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 276.4 miles or 4h 32m 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 276.4 miles or 4h 32m

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

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 Terrell Hills, 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 Terrell Hills, TX

Aim for roughly 276 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 276 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 122 miles from Terrell Hills, 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 535.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Kimble County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Junction, 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.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fort Davis, TX

365 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 Fort Davis, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Big Lake, TX

276 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Big Lake, TX after about 276 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Kerrville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 122 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Lake, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 276.4 miles from Terrell Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 535.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 276 miles or 4.5 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.

Round1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+12104482030

Visit website

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 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

US Army Medical Department Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Fort Sam Houston, Texas

+12102216358

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

San Antonio Botanical Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+12105361400

Visit website

The DoSeum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12102124453

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

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 552 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | East Hildebrand Avenue

Turn right onto East Hildebrand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

4.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

5 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

16.7 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

552 mi into trip | ~8h 57m 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

$83.53 one way

$167.06 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 193 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$91.43	$182.86
premium	$4.54	$98.70	$197.40
diesel	$5.61	$122.05	$244.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$84

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$214–$324

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 193.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	165.8	2	$58.04	$26.53
Efficient EV	138.2	1	$48.37	$22.11
EV Truck/SUV	221.1	2	$77.39	$35.38

Gas CO2

193 kg

EV CO2

65 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 17, 2026

Origin

Terrell Hills, TX

Morning in Terrell Hills on Tuesday

Local time

7:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Morning in El Paso on Tuesday

Local time

6:18 AM

MDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust

W 10 to 18 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

8 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 58m 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 555.1

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free

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...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour Free near mile 57.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is overwhelmingly that of a long-distance interstate cruise, with 99% of the 552.8 miles on major highways like I-10 and McDermott Freeway. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 535.3 miles on I-10, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and road conditions. While the initial approach might involve local roads like East Hildebrand Avenue, the vast majority of your time will be spent on this high-speed corridor. Expect a straightforward, efficient transit rather than a winding, scenic exploration.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

12 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?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and McDermott Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near East Hildebrand Avenue.

Driving Effort 4/10

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 58m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (East Hildebrand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Terrell Hills, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1919

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

8h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

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 276 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.0 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.

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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Explore more options from Terrell Hills, TX or browse trips ending in El Paso, TX.

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Trip from Terrell Hills, TX to El Paso, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Round1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall

El Paso Museum of History

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

US Army Medical Department Museum

Tom Lea Upper Park

International Museum of Art

San Antonio Botanical Garden

The DoSeum

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Terrell Hills, TX

El Paso, TX

1 hour earlier

8 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 58m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Chamizal National Memorial

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Terrell Hills, TX

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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