Waller, TX to El Paso, TX is 695.8 miles and takes about 11h 56m via I 10 and US 290, with a fuel budget near $111 and likely best split over two days. This long-haul drive crosses the vast Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path across the state. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a route built for covering distance efficiently. Consider this trip if you need to get from East Texas to West Texas with minimal fuss and a predictable travel time.
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
347.9 miles from Waller, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
457.8 mi
7h 16m
West US Highway 290
96.7 mi
1h 50m
US 290
82.3 mi
1h 33m
TX 21
17.1 mi
19m
State Highway 21
12.6 mi
15m
East Ben White Boulevard
7.4 mi
8m
South US Highway 281
5.4 mi
6m
East Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
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
~1,534 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,924
Quietest
2 AM
~171 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Waller, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on US 290 Bus
0.4 mi·41 sec·Hempstead Highway
2
Turn right onto FM 362
0.9 mi·1 min·FM 362
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 6 NorthUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 290; TX 6
31 mi·34 min·US 290; TX 6
5
Take the exit onto US 290
45 mi·51 min·US 290
Toward US 290 West: AustinUse the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
7
Turn left onto TX 21
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 21
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto TX 95
0.3 mi·29 sec·State Highway 95
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto TX 21
409 ft·10 sec·State Highway 71 East
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward TX 21 West, TX 71 West
11
Merge onto TX 21; TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·State Highway 71 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 71; TX 21
0.7 mi·49 sec·TX 71; TX 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on TX 21; TX 71
17 mi·19 min·TX 21; TX 71
14
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi·2 min·Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on TX 71
7.4 mi·8 min·East Ben White Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
6.1 mi·7 min·US 290; TX 71
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft·6 sec·West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
19
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi·23 sec·West US 290 Frontage Rd
20
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi·33 sec·West US 290 Bypass Lanes
21
Continue on US 290
378 ft·4 sec·West US Highway 290
22
Continue on US 290
30 mi·37 min·West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
23
Merge onto US 281; US 290
5.4 mi·6 min·South US Highway 281
24
Turn left onto US 290
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
25
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·West US Highway 290
26
Continue on US 290
3.5 mi·7 min·East Main Street
27
Continue on US 290
39 mi·42 min·West US Highway 290
28
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
29
Merge onto I 10
458 mi·7 hr 16 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
32
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
Given the 11h 56m estimated drive time, planning for two days is recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. With 3 recommended stops, you can break up the drive into manageable segments, perhaps covering about half the distance on the first day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 457.8-mile stretch on I 10, as services can be spaced out in some West Texas areas. The estimated fuel cost of $111 is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 347.9 miles from Waller, TX, or about 6h 23m 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 153 miles or 2h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 347.9 miles or 6h 23m 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 347.9 miles or 6h 23m
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 58m
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 Waller, 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 Waller, TX
Aim for roughly 348 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 348 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 153 miles from Waller, 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 457.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 695 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 290 West, TX 6 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 290 West, TX 6 North
6
32.8 mi into trip|~38m in|US 290
Take the exit onto US 290 toward US 290 West: Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 290 West: Austin
6
90.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|TX 95 / State Highway 95
Turn left onto TX 95 / State Highway 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 290; TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
695 mi into trip|~11h 54m 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
$106.53 one way
$213.07 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg243 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$117.57
$235.15
premium
$4.64
$127.05
$254.10
diesel
$6.18
$169.27
$338.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$107
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$237–$347
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 243.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Bastrop, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Bastrop, TX
Tesla
32 DCFC
Waller, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Waller, TX
Tesla
28 DCFC
Austin, TX - Spirit of Texas Drive - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $73 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
208.7
2
$73.06
$33.40
Efficient EV
174
1
$60.88
$27.83
EV Truck/SUV
278.3
3
$97.41
$44.53
Gas CO2
243 kg
EV CO2
81 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Waller, TX
Morning
in Waller on Monday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Morning
in El Paso on Monday
Local time
8:17 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ENE 2 mph19% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Big Lake, TX
459 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
4 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
11h 56m 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 695.8
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 168
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 98% of the trip on major roads like I 10 and US 290. You'll experience a long stretch of 457.8 miles on I 10, which means plenty of consistent cruising. The drive transitions to surface roads for a brief period, but the majority of your time will be spent on the interstate, which can mean frequent exits and services along the way. Expect to see open country for much of the drive.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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?
8/10
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 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 695.8 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 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.8 miles (TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,433 ft250 ft
Total Climb
4,273 ft
Total Descent
810 ft
Highest Point
4,433 ft
~597.6 mi in
Elevation Range
4,182 ft
Notable High Points
4,433 ft at ~597.6 miles+29 ft prominence
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 Waller, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
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
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 348 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 49 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.8 miles (TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here.
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 11.9 hours each way, a round trip means 23.9 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.
