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Trip from Commerce, TX to El Paso, TX

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
11h 43m ★
6 AM
11h 54m
8 AM
12h 15m
10 AM
12h 1m
12 PM
11h 59m
3 PM
12h 2m
5 PM
12h 14m
8 PM
11h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Hunt County, Texas, United States

Commerce, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown El Paso, TX, TX

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

11h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,422 ft 467 ft

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

4,422 ft at ~601.2 miles +14 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 6/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

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

4
10.5 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Dallas

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 30 West: Dallas
5
10.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 30; US 67

Merge onto I 30; US 67

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
113 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
533.9 mi into trip | ~9h 8m in | I 10

Merge onto I 10

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
700.6 mi into trip | ~11h 52m 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

Main Roads

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Live Oak Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Live Oak Street
2

Turn left onto TX 11; TX 24

9.8 mi · 11 min · State Highway 24
3

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 30 West: Dallas
4

Merge onto I 30; US 67

87 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 30; US 377

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 20

421 mi · 7 hr · I 20
Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 10

167 mi · 2 hr 43 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue
10

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street
11

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

Trip Plan

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.

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 350.7 miles from Commerce, TX, or about 6h 5m 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 154 miles from Commerce, 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 350.7 mi from Commerce, TX · 6h 5m into the drive

city and county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Fort Worth, TX

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.

Popular next leg

Fort Worth, TX to Odessa, TX

322 mi · 5h 34m

city in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Odessa, TX

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, TX

Popular next leg

Odessa, TX to El Paso, TX

283.9 mi · 4h 38m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

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 hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Worth, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 154 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Spring, TX

Meal break

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 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 351 miles or 5.9 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

$105.98 one way

$211.97 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 245 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Commerce, TX

Late night in Commerce on Friday

Local time

3:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Late night in El Paso on Friday

Local time

2:55 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

26 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 53m 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 Commerce, TX to El Paso, TX covers 701.4 miles and takes about 11h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 20, I 10, I 30. 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 351 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 350.7 miles from Commerce, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $105.98 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 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.

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.

The route from Commerce, TX to El Paso, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 467 ft to 4,422 ft elevation with about 4,199 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.

How this page is built

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

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