Drive Time
13h 30m
Distance
807.9 mi
1,300 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$123
one way
Photo: Nacho Monge
The drive from El Paso, TX to Rio Hondo, TX covers 807.9 miles and takes about 13h 30m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on East Franklin Avenue, I 10 East, McDermott Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $123.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
403.9 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 45m into the drive .
At 807.9 miles and 13h 30m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are East Franklin Avenue and I 10 East.
At 13h 30m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. A moderate number of decision points keep you engaged without being stressful.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 807.9 miles you will encounter 0 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?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from El Paso, TX to Rio Hondo, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Franklin Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McDermott Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Rosa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Pecos-La Trinidad | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dolorosa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Rio Hondo, TX.
Start on North Mesa Street
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East
Merge slight left
Keep slight right
Keep slight right
Keep slight right to continue on McDermott Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right to continue on North Pecos-La Trinidad
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Continue on West Market Street
Continue on East Market Street
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Take the ramp slight left toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway
Continue on Lucian Adams Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
Take the exit slight right toward TX 107, FM 508: Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo
Turn straight onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road
Turn left onto Templeton Avenue
Continue on Templeton Street
Continue on Combes Rio Hondo Road
Keep slight left to continue on West Colorado Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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 178 miles or 2h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 403.9 miles or 6h 45m 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 403.9 miles or 6h 45m
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 12h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Hondo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 404 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Rio Hondo, TX
Aim for roughly 404 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 403.9 mi from El Paso, TX · 6h 45m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
267 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
533 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 San Antonio, TXNight 1
404 mi · about 6.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 404 miles or 6.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 178 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 403.9 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 404 miles or 6.8 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
The final approach into Rio Hondo, 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 Rio Hondo, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Rio Hondo, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$123.41 one way
$246.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $135.24 | $270.49 |
| premium | $4.59 | $146.03 | $292.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $179.49 | $358.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$123
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$253–$363
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 282.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $85 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 242.4 | 2 | $84.83 | $38.78 |
| Efficient EV | 202 | 2 | $70.69 | $32.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 323.2 | 4 | $113.11 | $51.71 |
Gas CO2
283 kg
EV CO2
95 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
8:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Rio Hondo on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
56°F
McCamey, TX
267 mi in
81°F
San Antonio, TX
533 mi in
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.
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