Trip from Anna, TX to El Paso, TX

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

Downtown El Paso, TX, TX

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 421 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 9/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
6.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
7
15 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward SRT Toll South: Sam Rayburn Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 38C Toward SRT Toll South: Sam Rayburn Tollway
8
47.1 mi into trip | ~55m in | TX 121

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

Use the left / right lanes. Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Gr...
7
54 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | TX 121 Express

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

Use the left lane. Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Expres...
8
673 mi into trip | ~11h 21m 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

Towns Along This Route

Between Anna, TX and El Paso, TX, road signs point toward Arlington and Grand Praire.

Arlington

47.1 mi in | ~55m | via TX 121

Grand Praire

47.1 mi in | ~55m | via TX 121

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 20 — 421 mi, about 7h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Sherley Road

35 ft · 8 sec · South Sherley Road
2

Turn left onto FM 2862

0.2 mi · 23 sec · West 4th Street
3

Turn left onto TX 5

2.4 mi · 3 min · South Powell Parkway
4

Continue on TX 5

3.3 mi · 5 min · McKinney Street
5

Turn right onto TX 121

1.0 mi · 1 min · Sam Rayburn Highway
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto US 75; TX 121

7.4 mi · 7 min · Central Expressway
Use the none lane.
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 38C Toward SRT Toll South: Sam Rayburn Tollway Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto SRT

20 mi · 21 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the none lane.
10

Continue on TX 121

1.4 mi · 1 min · TX 121
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on SRT

3.4 mi · 3 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the none lane.
12

Continue on TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121
Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire Use the left / right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto TX 121 Express

0.7 mi · 42 sec · TX 121 Express
Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll Use the left lane.
15

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

3.4 mi · 3 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress
18

Continue on I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West Toll Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop
20

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min
Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.
22

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway
Use the none lane.
23

Merge onto I 20

421 mi · 7 hr · I 20
Use the none / slight right lanes.
24

Merge onto I 10

167 mi · 2 hr 43 min · I 10
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue
27

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street
28

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

Trip Plan

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.

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 336.9 miles from Anna, TX, or about 5h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 148 miles from Anna, 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 20 for about 421 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Burleson, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Burleson, TX

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.

Downtown Odessa, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Odessa, TX

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, TX

Popular next leg

Odessa, TX to El Paso, TX

283.9 mi · 4h 38m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

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 hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Burleson, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 148 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Spring, TX

Meal break

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 check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 421 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 337 miles or 5.7 hours on the road.

Arriving in El Paso, TX

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$102.93 one way

$205.85 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 236 kg CO2
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

Sam Rayburn Tollway (23.2 mi) $1.86
Central Expressway (7.4 mi) $0.59

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Anna, TX

Afternoon in Anna on Sunday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Afternoon in El Paso on Sunday

Local time

12:35 PM

MDT

Current temp

55°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

3 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

11h 22m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Anna, TX to El Paso, TX covers 673.8 miles and takes about 11h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 10, Sam Rayburn Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 337 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 336.9 miles from Anna, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $102.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
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.
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.
Between Anna, TX and El Paso, TX, road signs point toward Arlington and Grand Praire.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

El Paso, TX to Anna, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

674.1 mi 11h 23m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Explore maps for Anna, TX or El Paso, TX on MapSof.net.