Origin
Wheeler, TX
Morning in Wheeler on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheeler, 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
9h 58m
Distance
514.6 mi
828 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 49m
★
6 AM
9h 58m
8 AM
10h 16m
10 AM
10h 5m
12 PM
10h 3m
3 PM
10h 6m
5 PM
10h 15m
8 PM
9h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheeler, TX
Jeff Stapleton
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wheeler, TX to El Paso, TX is 514.6 miles and takes about 9h 58m via US 70 and US 60, with a fuel budget near $78 and an overnight recommendation. This long-distance drive spans across the Great Plains in Texas, offering a consistent landscape for much of the journey. Given the nearly 10-hour travel time, it's best planned as a two-day trip to avoid fatigue. Consider this route if you prefer a straightforward drive with minimal navigational complexity, focusing on reaching your destination efficiently.
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
257.3 miles from Wheeler, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 2nd Street | 100.6 mi | 2h 7m |
| US 70 | 91.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| US 60 | 78.5 mi | 1h 25m |
| US Highway 60 | 40.8 mi | 41m |
| US Highway 54 South | 34.8 mi | 37m |
| US Highway 54 | 28.9 mi | 30m |
| US 54 | 25.2 mi | 32m |
| State Highway 152 | 18 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
West 2nd Street
— 100.6 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheeler, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on South Sweetwater Street
62 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Sweetwater Street
2
Turn right onto TX 152
17 mi
·
18 min
·
East Oklahoma Avenue
3
Continue on SH 152
18 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 152
4
Turn left onto US 60; TX 152
0.2 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 60; TX 152
5
Continue on US 60; SH 152
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
United States Highway 60
6
Continue on US 60; TX 152
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Frederick Street
7
Continue on US 60; TX 152
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Brown Street
8
Continue on US 60; TX 152
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Wilks Street
9
Continue on US 60
12 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 60
10
Continue on US 60
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Avenue
11
Continue on US 60
29 mi
·
29 min
·
US Highway 60
12
Continue on I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
13
Turn left
194 ft
·
5 sec
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
15
Merge onto Loop 335
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Lakeside Drive
16
Take the exit
246 ft
·
6 sec
17
Turn slight right onto US 287 Hist
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Interstate Drive
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
19
Merge onto I 40; US 287
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 40; US 287
20
Take the exit onto US 287
470 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 287
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North: Canyon, Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa, Downtown
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, Lubbock
Use the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Canyon Expressway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60; US 87
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Canyon Expressway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
52 mi
·
55 min
·
US 60
Toward US 60 West: Hereford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 60
27 mi
·
29 min
·
US 60
26
Continue on US 60; US 70; US 84
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Wheeler Avenue
27
Continue on US 60; US 70; US 84
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Mabry Drive
28
Continue on US 60; US 70; US 84
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
29
Turn left onto US 70
17 mi
·
21 min
·
South Prince Street
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on US 70
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Chicago Avenue
31
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
32
Continue on US 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
33
Continue on US 70
91 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
US 70
34
Turn right onto US 70; US 380
100 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
35
Turn left onto North Bookout Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Bookout Road
36
Turn left onto US 54; US 70
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
US 54; US 70
37
Take the exit onto US 54; US 70
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 54; US 70
38
Take the exit onto US 70
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 70
39
Turn left onto US Highway 54 South
35 mi
·
37 min
·
US Highway 54 South
40
Continue on US 54
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
41
Continue on US 54
29 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 54
42
Continue on US 54
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Gateway South Boulevard
43
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 54
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 20A
Toward US 62: Paisano Drive
Use the slight right lane.
45
Turn right onto US 62
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Paisano Drive
46
Turn right onto South Mesa Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Mesa Street
47
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
For this 514.6-mile trip, splitting it over two days is highly recommended, making your 9h 58m estimated drive time more manageable. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight and cover a good portion of the route. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during longer stretches; planning your stops around towns with available gas stations is crucial. With a recommended two-day pace, you can afford to take breaks as needed without feeling rushed. A practical tip is to check the weather forecast for the entire route before you leave, as conditions across Texas can vary significantly.
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 257.3 miles from Wheeler, TX, or about 4h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.6 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 113 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257.3 miles or 4h 47m 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 257.3 miles or 4h 47m
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 48m
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 Wheeler, 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 Wheeler, TX
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Wheeler, 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 West 2nd Street for about 100.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
170 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
340 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 Ruidoso, NMOvernight Options
Night 1
257 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roswell, NM after about 257 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 257.3 miles from Wheeler, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West 2nd Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 257 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 98.4 and 511.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
98.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North: Canyon, Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North:...
9
98.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, Lubbock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Can...
7
114.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
US 60
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 West: Hereford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 60 West: Hereford
6
500 mi into trip
|
~9h 38m in
|
US 54
Keep slight left at fork onto US 54
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
511.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 62: Paisano Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward US 62: Paisano Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$77.76 one way
$155.51 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
180 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $85.11 | $170.22 |
| premium | $4.54 | $91.88 | $183.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $113.62 | $227.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 180 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 154.4 | 1 | $54.03 | $24.70 |
| Efficient EV | 128.7 | 1 | $45.03 | $20.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 205.8 | 2 | $72.04 | $32.93 |
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
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
1 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 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 514.6
View on nps.gov
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 71
View on nps.gov
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 71
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a long-distance journey with a significant 67% highway share, meaning you'll encounter stretches of faster-paced travel. You'll experience a notable 100.6-mile stretch on West 2nd Street, which is part of your initial journey before transitioning to US 70 and US 60. Expect a consistent driving experience with open roads typical of the Great Plains, allowing for steady progress across the state. The route is designed for covering distance rather than frequent scenic detours.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.6 mi on West 2nd Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 9h 58m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 98.4 miles in near US 287.
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 23 significant decision points across 514.6 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 98.4 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.6 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between Wheeler, TX and El Paso, TX, road signs point toward Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa and Downtown.
Lubbock
98.4 mi in
|
~1h 45m
|
via US 287
Dumas
98.4 mi in
|
~1h 45m
|
via US 287
Pampa
98.4 mi in
|
~1h 45m
|
via US 287
Downtown
98.4 mi in
|
~1h 45m
|
via US 287
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 100.6 miles on West 2nd Street. 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 257 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 98.4 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.6 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. 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 19.9 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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