The drive from El Paso, TX to Pelican Bay, TX covers 600.5 miles and takes about 10h 17m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 20, I 10, Azle Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 411 miles on I 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $90.74 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
300.3 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 57m into the drive
.
El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas, with 679,000 residents (2020). It is on the United States-Mexico border. The city on the other side of the border is Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. El Paso is often called the Sun City. Collectively, the city of El Paso and other nearby cities, such as Juarez and Las Cruces, New Mexico are referred to as The Borderland.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
At 600.5 miles and 10h 17m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 20 and I 10.
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 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 411 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Franklin Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 600.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Franklin Avenue
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 10; US 180
Merge onto I 10; US 180
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
167.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
578.5 mi into trip|~9h 34m in
Take the exit toward Center Point Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 411
Toward Center Point Road
4
582.3 mi into trip|~9h 40m in|FM 730 / Azle Highway
Turn right onto FM 730 / Azle Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
411 mi
6h 48m
I 10
166.8 mi
2h 43m
Azle Highway
11.5 mi
20m
Farm to Market Road 730
2.5 mi
4m
Northeast Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Boyd Road
1.6 mi
3m
Sandy Beach Road
1.4 mi
5m
Commerce Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 411 mi, about 6h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Pelican Bay, 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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
411 mi·6 hr 48 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 411Toward Center Point RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.7 mi·1 min·East Interstate 20
8
Turn left onto Center Point Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Center Point Road
9
Continue on Northeast Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Northeast Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
10
Continue on Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
0.3 mi·34 sec·Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
11
Turn right onto FM 730
11 mi·19 min·Azle Highway
12
Continue on FM 730
2.5 mi·4 min·Farm to Market Road 730
13
Continue on FM 730
0.1 mi·14 sec·Azle Highway
14
Continue on Commerce Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Commerce Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto FM 730
1.6 mi·3 min·Boyd Road
16
Turn right onto Sandy Beach Road
1.4 mi·5 min·Sandy Beach Road
17
Turn right onto Long Boulevard
380 ft·21 sec·Long Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Long Circle
0.1 mi·35 sec·Long Circle
19
Turn left onto Sheila Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Sheila Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Sheila Drive
Trip Plan
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 300.3 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 4h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 411 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 132 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 300.3 miles or 4h 57m 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 300.3 miles or 4h 57m
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 8h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pelican Bay, 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 300 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Pelican Bay, TX
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from El Paso, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 411 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 300.3 mi from El Paso, TX
· 4h 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chamizal National Memorial
National Memorial
Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
180.2
2
$63.05
$28.82
Efficient EV
150.1
1
$52.54
$24.02
EV Truck/SUV
240.2
3
$84.07
$38.43
Gas CO2
210 kg
EV CO2
70 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 18, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Late night
in El Paso on Saturday
Local time
3:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 6 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 11:26PM CDT until April 18 at 12:15AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Pelican Bay, TX
Late night
in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
27 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
10h 17m 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 Pelican Bay, TX covers 600.5 miles and takes about 10h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 10, Azle 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 300 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 300.3 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 $90.74 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 2 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 600.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from El Paso, TX to Pelican Bay, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
