Origin
Anna, TX
Afternoon in Anna on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Drive Time
11h 22m
Distance
673.8 mi
1,084 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$103
one way
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 673.8 miles across Texas, this journey from Anna to El Paso is a significant undertaking that requires roughly 11 hours and 22 minutes of pure drive time. Because of the distance, I strongly recommend splitting this trip into two days to keep your focus sharp and your stress levels low. You will primarily navigate the Sam Rayburn Tollway before merging onto the major arteries of I-20 and I-10. Budgeting approximately $103 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs ahead. While the trip remains within the Great Plains region, the landscape shifts considerably as you move from North Texas toward the far western border. It is a straightforward, high-mileage trek that is best approached with a solid overnight plan.
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
336.9 miles from Anna, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 48m into the drive .
Expect a classic long-distance interstate experience where 95% of your travel takes place on high-speed highways. The route is dominated by a substantial 421-mile stretch along I-20, which demands endurance and steady focus behind the wheel. You won't encounter many technical local roads; instead, the character of this drive is defined by the open, expansive nature of Texas interstates. As you transition from the Sam Rayburn Tollway to the combined efficiency of I-20 and I-10, the roads remain consistent and well-maintained. This is a quintessential highway grind that rewards drivers who appreciate the rhythm of steady, uninterrupted cruising.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 673.8 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 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.1 miles (TX 121): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SRT Toll South: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121 toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto TX 121 Express toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Between Anna, TX and El Paso, TX, road signs point toward Arlington and Grand Praire.
Arlington
Grand Praire
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 421 mi | 7h |
| I 10 | 166.7 mi | 2h 43m |
| Sam Rayburn Tollway | 23.2 mi | 24m |
| TX 121 | 15.2 mi | 16m |
| Jim Wright Freeway | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| Central Expressway | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 6.9 mi | 6m |
| West Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Anna, TX and El Paso, TX.
Start on South Sherley Road
Turn left onto FM 2862
Turn left onto TX 5
Continue on TX 5
Turn right onto TX 121
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
Take the exit
Merge onto SRT
Continue on TX 121
Continue on SRT
Continue on TX 121
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121
Take the exit onto TX 121 Express
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
Merge onto I 820
Continue on I 820
Take the exit
Merge onto I 30
Merge onto I 20
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
Turn left onto TX 20
Arrive at destination
To manage this drive effectively, plan for at least three dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially given the lengthy 11-plus hour duration. Since you are covering such a vast distance, look for a midpoint hotel reservation to break up the 673.8-mile journey and ensure you aren't pushing through the final hours while tired. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 421-mile segment on I-20, as service stations can become spaced out. By pacing yourself and respecting the scale of the route, you can make the trek from Anna to El Paso a manageable and predictable experience.
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.
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 148 miles or 2h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 336.9 miles or 5h 48m 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 336.9 miles or 5h 48m
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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Anna, 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 Anna, TX
Aim for roughly 337 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 337 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 336.9 mi from Anna, TX · 5h 48m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
222 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
445 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 Odessa, TXNight 1
337 mi · about 5.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 337 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 148 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 336.9 miles from Anna, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 421 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 337 miles or 5.7 hours on the road.
The final approach into El Paso, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around El Paso, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach El Paso, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$102.93 one way
$205.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $112.80 | $225.59 |
| premium | $4.59 | $121.79 | $243.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $149.70 | $299.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$103
Tolls
$2
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$235–$345
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 235.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $71 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 202.1 | 2 | $70.75 | $32.34 |
| Efficient EV | 168.5 | 1 | $58.96 | $26.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 269.5 | 3 | $94.33 | $43.12 |
Gas CO2
236 kg
EV CO2
79 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Anna on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
12:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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