Trip from El Paso, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

12h 28m

Distance

711 mi

1,144 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$107

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

12h 18m ★

6 AM

12h 29m

8 AM

12h 51m

10 AM

12h 37m

12 PM

12h 34m

3 PM

12h 38m

5 PM

12h 50m

8 PM

12h 22m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Hilltop Lakes, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

This 711-mile journey from El Paso, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX is a substantial undertaking, clocking in at nearly 12.5 hours of driving time. Given its length and the substantial fuel cost estimated at $107, this is definitely not a day trip. You'll spend 95% of your time on highways, primarily I-10 and then transitioning to US 79 and East US Highway 290. This route is best tackled over two recommended days, allowing for at least three stops to break up the long stretches. Expect a long-distance drive with a consistent feel as you traverse the Great Plains region of Texas.

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

355.5 miles from El Paso, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a predominantly highway experience on this 711-mile route, with 95% of your travel taking place on major roads. The initial segment will likely involve extended periods on I-10, featuring a significant uninterrupted stretch of 457 miles. As you move eastward and transition to US 79 and East US Highway 290, the character might shift slightly, though you'll largely remain on well-trafficked routes. Expect a drive that prioritizes covering distance efficiently, with fewer opportunities for slow, scenic detours.

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

There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 457 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 79. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 570.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 711 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 570.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 575.5 miles (Express 1 Toll): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 589.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 31 key points

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

570.2 mi into trip | ~9h 31m in

Take the exit toward Loop 1 North

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Loop 1 North

575.5 mi into trip | ~9h 38m in | Express 1 Toll

Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

589.9 mi into trip | ~9h 53m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 45 Toll East

596.7 mi into trip | ~10h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 130 Toll North: Waco

600.9 mi into trip | ~10h 6m in

Take the exit toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard

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 423 Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley B...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between El Paso, TX and Hilltop Lakes, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North, Toll 45 East, Georgetown, Hutto and Round Rock.

Loop 1 North

570.2 mi in | ~9h 31m

Toll 45 East

590.5 mi in | ~9h 55m

Georgetown

596.8 mi in | ~10h 1m

Hutto

596.8 mi in | ~10h 1m

Round Rock

596.8 mi in | ~10h 1m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	457 mi	7h 15m
US 79	82.9 mi	1h 39m
East US Highway 290	58.1 mi	1h 8m
US Highway 290	39 mi	42m
FM 3	10.6 mi	18m
Express 1 Toll	10.2 mi	10m
State Highway 45 North	6.1 mi	6m
South US Highway 281	5.4 mi	6m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 457 mi, about 7h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Mesa Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Mesa Street

Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · East Franklin Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Toward I 10 East

Merge onto I 10; US 180

167 mi · 2 hr 43 min · I 10; US 180

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

290 mi · 4 hr 32 min · I 10

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min

Exit 477 Toward US 290 East: Fredericksburg

Continue on US 290

39 mi · 42 min · US Highway 290

Continue on US 290; US 87

3.5 mi · 7 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 290

27 mi · 30 min · East US Highway 290

Continue on US 290

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Take the exit onto US 290

0.1 mi · 18 sec · US 290

Merge onto US 281; US 290

5.4 mi · 6 min · South US Highway 281

Turn slight left onto US 290

31 mi · 37 min · East US Highway 290

Toward US 290: Austin Use the left lane.

Continue on US 290

0.3 mi · 18 sec · West US Highway 290

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Continue on West US Highway 290

2.0 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 290

Continue on US 290; TX 71

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 290; TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward Loop 1 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.6 mi · 5 min · South Mopac Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll

10 mi · 10 min · Express 1 Toll

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.3 mi · 4 min · North Mopac Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 45 Toll East Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East

Merge onto TX 45 Toll

6.1 mi · 6 min · State Highway 45 North

Keep slight left at fork

429 ft · 10 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Waco Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 55 sec · this road

Exit 428 Toward TX 130 North: Waco, Georgetown, Hutto, Round Rock

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 21 sec · this road

Exit 428A Toward TX 130 Toll North

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

3.4 mi · 3 min · Pickle Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 423 Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · this road

Exit 423 Toward US 79: Palm Valley Boulevard

Continue on TX 130 Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · TX 130 Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 33 sec

Merge onto US 79

5.0 mi · 6 min · Palm Valley Boulevard

Continue on US 79

3.1 mi · 3 min · West 2nd Street

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward US 79 North: Rockdale

Continue on US 79

4.3 mi · 4 min · Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest

Keep slight right at fork onto US 79

53 mi · 1 hr 5 min · US 79

Take the exit onto US 79; US 190

0.1 mi · 26 sec · US 79; US 190

At end of road, turn left onto US 79; US 190; TX 6

1.6 mi · 1 min · South Market Street

Continue on US 79; TX 6

0.3 mi · 22 sec · North State Highway 6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 79

30 mi · 33 min · US 79

Turn right onto FM 3

5.2 mi · 9 min · FM 3

Turn slight right onto FM 3

5.5 mi · 9 min · FM 3

Turn left onto Hilltop Boulevard

1.0 mi · 3 min · Hilltop Boulevard

Turn left onto Deerfield Drive

226 ft · 10 sec · Deerfield Drive

Arrive at destination

Deerfield Drive

Trip Plan

For this 12-hour drive, it's highly recommended to split the trip over two days, utilizing the suggested three stops to manage fatigue. Starting early each day will maximize your daylight driving and allow for a more relaxed pace. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 457-mile stretch on I-10, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $107 is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price fluctuations. Planning your overnight stop roughly halfway will make the journey much more manageable.

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 355.5 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 5h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 457 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 156 miles or 2h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 355.5 miles or 5h 41m 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 355.5 miles or 5h 41m

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 11h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilltop Lakes, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 356 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Hilltop Lakes, TX

Aim for roughly 356 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 156 miles from El Paso, 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 10 for about 457 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 355.5 mi from El Paso, TX · 5h 41m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Big Lake, TX

235 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

Austin, TX

469 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 Austin, TX

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX

135.4 mi · 2h 52m

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

356 mi · about 6.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 356 miles or 6.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Davis, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 156 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 355.5 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 457 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 356 miles or 6.2 hours on the road.

Arriving in Hilltop Lakes, TX

The final approach into Hilltop Lakes, 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 Hilltop Lakes, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Hilltop Lakes, 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

$107.43 one way

$214.87 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 249 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$117.59	$235.19
premium	$4.54	$126.94	$253.89
diesel	$5.61	$156.98	$313.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$107

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$237–$347

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 248.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $75 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	213.3	2	$74.65	$34.13
Efficient EV	177.8	2	$62.21	$28.44
EV Truck/SUV	284.4	3	$99.54	$45.50

Gas CO2

249 kg

EV CO2

83 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

El Paso, TX

Night in El Paso on Wednesday

Local time

10:26 PM

MDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilltop Lakes, TX

Night in Hilltop Lakes on Wednesday

Local time

11:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Big Lake, TX

235 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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

13 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

12h 28m 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 El Paso, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX covers 711 miles and takes about 12h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 10, US 79, East US Highway 290. 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 356 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 355.5 miles from El Paso, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $107.43 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.

Between El Paso, TX and Hilltop Lakes, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North, Toll 45 East, Georgetown, Hutto and Round Rock.

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