Origin
Commerce, TX
Late night in Commerce on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 53m
Distance
701.4 mi
1,129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$106
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commerce, TX
Wikimedia Commons
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Embarking on this 701.4-mile journey from Commerce to El Paso, Texas, is a significant undertaking, estimated to take nearly 12 hours of driving time. Given its length and the 100% highway share, it's best suited for a two-day trip to avoid excessive fatigue. You'll primarily navigate I-20 and I-10, traversing the vast expanse of the Great Plains within Texas. Factor in an estimated fuel cost of around $107 for this extensive drive. With three planned stops, you can break up the long stretches and ensure a more manageable experience 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
350.7 miles from Commerce, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 5m into the drive .
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
This route is characterized as a long-distance drive, predominantly on interstates, offering a consistent 100% highway experience. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 421 miles on I-20, which means extended periods of high-speed driving. While interstates can offer efficiency, be prepared for a consistent, albeit direct, journey across Texas. The road's personality is defined by its vastness and the steady pace required to cover the considerable distance between your starting and ending points.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
4,199 ft
Total Descent
1,038 ft
Highest Point
4,422 ft
~601.2 mi in
Elevation Range
3,956 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 701.4 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.9 miles (I 30; US 67): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 30 West: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 30; US 67
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 421 mi | 7h |
| I 10 | 166.7 mi | 2h 43m |
| I 30 | 86.6 mi | 1h 37m |
| West Freeway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 24 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Live Oak Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Missouri Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Mesa Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Commerce, TX and El Paso, TX.
Start on Live Oak Street
Turn left onto TX 11; TX 24
Take the exit
Merge onto I 30; US 67
Continue on I 30; US 377
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
For this 11-hour, 53-minute drive, consider departing very early in the morning to maximize daylight hours or splitting the journey over two days. Aim to make your three stops strategically, perhaps every 3-4 hours, to stretch and refuel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 421 miles on I-20, so be sure to have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. With a total distance of 701.4 miles, planning an overnight stay around the halfway point will significantly enhance your comfort and safety on this Texas traverse.
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 154 miles or 2h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 350.7 miles or 6h 5m 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 350.7 miles or 6h 5m
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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Commerce, 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 Commerce, TX
Aim for roughly 351 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 351 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 350.7 mi from Commerce, TX · 6h 5m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
231 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
463 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
351 mi · about 5.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 351 miles or 5.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 154 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 350.7 miles from Commerce, 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 351 miles or 5.9 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
$105.98 one way
$211.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $116.01 | $232.01 |
| premium | $4.54 | $125.23 | $250.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $154.86 | $309.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$106
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$236–$346
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 245.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $74 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 210.4 | 2 | $73.65 | $33.67 |
| Efficient EV | 175.4 | 2 | $61.37 | $28.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 280.6 | 3 | $98.20 | $44.89 |
Gas CO2
245 kg
EV CO2
82 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
Late night in Commerce on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in El Paso on Friday
Local time
2:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
85°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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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