Origin
El Paso, TX
Afternoon in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
1:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Paso, TX to Katy, TX
Drive Time
11h 45m
Distance
717.1 mi
1,154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$110
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 34m
★
6 AM
11h 45m
8 AM
12h 6m
10 AM
11h 52m
12 PM
11h 50m
3 PM
11h 53m
5 PM
12h 5m
8 PM
11h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Katy, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
Spanning 717.1 miles across Texas, this journey from El Paso to Katy is a significant undertaking that requires roughly 11 hours and 45 minutes of pure driving time. Because of the distance, you should plan for at least two days on the road rather than attempting the trek in a single push. You will primarily navigate via I-10, supplemented by stretches on the Anderson Loop and the 90th Infantry Division Highway. Expect to set aside approximately $110 for fuel to cover the trip comfortably. Both your starting point and destination reside within the Great Plains, keeping the regional landscape consistent as you transit the state from west to east.
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
358.6 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward, high-speed experience, as 94% of this route consists of highway travel. The vast majority of your time—a staggering 672.1 miles—will be spent on the I-10 corridor, making this a classic long-distance interstate drive. While the road is efficient, the sheer length of the uninterrupted highway stretches can feel monotonous, so prepare for hours of steady cruising. Navigating these major arteries allows for consistent progress, but keep in mind that the lack of technical road variety means you will rely heavily on cruise control. It is a functional, no-nonsense route designed to connect these two points as directly as possible.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 672.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Anderson Loop. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 167.6 miles in near I 10.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 717.1 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 167.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 531 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 536.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
167.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
531 mi into trip
|
~8h 29m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
536.4 mi into trip
|
~8h 35m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
6
537.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 37m in
|
North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
715.8 mi into trip
|
~11h 42m in
Take the exit toward FM 1463
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 740
Toward FM 1463
Towns Along This Route
Between El Paso, TX and Katy, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Loop 1604 East
537.9 mi in
|
~8h 38m
Austin
579.3 mi in
|
~9h 25m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
579.3 mi in
|
~9h 25m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 672.1 mi | 10h 51m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Interstate 10 East | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| FM 1463 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 10 West | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Loop 1604 West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 672.1 mi, about 10h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Katy, TX.
1
Start on North Mesa Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Mesa Street
2
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Franklin Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 10 East
4
Merge onto I 10; US 180
167 mi
·
2 hr 43 min
·
I 10; US 180
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
363 mi
·
5 hr 44 min
·
I 10
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
9
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
11
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the none lane.
12
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
14
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10; TX 130
136 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 740
Toward FM 1463
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Katy Freeway Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Katy Freeway Frontage Road
18
Turn left onto FM 1463
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 1463
Use the none lane.
19
Turn right onto US 90
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highway Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
US 90
Trip Plan
To manage the 717.1-mile distance, breaking the journey into two days is your best strategy for maintaining focus and comfort. Aim to space out your three recommended stops evenly to break up the long hours behind the wheel. Since you are spending significant time on major interstates, prioritize checking your fuel levels before leaving remote sections, even with your $110 budget in mind. Leaving early in the morning is essential to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach your overnight destination before dark. A pro tip for this specific corridor: stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you transition onto the Anderson Loop, as the volume of vehicles can shift significantly compared to the quieter, open stretches of I-10.
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 358.6 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 5h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 672.1 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 158 miles or 2h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 358.6 miles or 5h 46m 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 358.6 miles or 5h 46m
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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Katy, 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 359 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Katy, TX
Aim for roughly 359 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 158 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 672.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 358.6 mi from El Paso, TX · 5h 46m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
237 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
473 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
359 mi · about 5.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Live Oak, TX after about 359 miles or 5.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 158 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 358.6 miles from El Paso, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 672.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 359 miles or 5.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in Katy, TX
The final approach into Katy, 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 Katy, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Katy, 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
$109.54 one way
$219.08 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
251 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $120.04 | $240.09 |
| premium | $4.59 | $129.61 | $259.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $159.31 | $318.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$110
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$240–$350
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 250.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $75 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 215.1 | 2 | $75.30 | $34.42 |
| Efficient EV | 179.3 | 2 | $62.75 | $28.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 286.8 | 3 | $100.39 | $45.89 |
Gas CO2
251 kg
EV CO2
84 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.
Destination
Katy, TX
Afternoon in Katy on Sunday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
14 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 45m 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 Katy, TX covers 717.1 miles and takes about 11h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Anderson Loop, 90th Infantry Division Highway. 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 359 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 358.6 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 $109.54 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 15 significant decision points across 717.1 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 167.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 531 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 536.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between El Paso, TX and Katy, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
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