Origin
El Paso, TX
Afternoon in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
12:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Drive Time
13h 32m
Distance
807.4 mi
1,299 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$123
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
Spanning 807.4 miles across Texas, this journey from El Paso to Stowell is a significant commitment that requires roughly 13 hours and 32 minutes of pure drive time. Because of the sheer distance, you should plan to split this trip over two days rather than attempting it in a single push. You will rely heavily on I-10 for the majority of the journey, supplemented by the East Freeway and Anderson Loop. Budgeting approximately $123 for fuel is a smart starting point for your logistics. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains region, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the majority of your time on the road.
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
403.7 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 29m into the drive .
Expect a serious long-distance haul, as 94% of this route consists of highway driving. You will settle into a rhythmic, high-speed pace for the vast majority of the trip, with a staggering 686.7-mile stretch occurring entirely on I-10. This is primarily a functional interstate grind designed for efficiency rather than technical maneuvering. As you transition from the western reaches of the state toward the southeast, the road demands sustained focus and patience. Prepare for a steady, consistent experience behind the wheel where maintaining momentum is the name of the game.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and East Freeway. 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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 807.4 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Between El Paso, TX and Stowell, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Loop 1604 East
Austin
Waco
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 686.7 mi | 11h 8m |
| East Freeway | 59.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Katy Tollway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Gulfway Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Interstate 10 East | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Stowell, TX.
Start on North Mesa Street
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 180
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Take the ramp
Merge onto Loop 1604
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Continue on I 10; TX 130
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10 Toll
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Continue on I 10; US 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Take the exit onto TX 73
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto State Highway 73
Turn right onto TX 124
Continue on TX 124
Arrive at destination
To manage the 807.4-mile distance effectively, schedule your departure early to maximize your daylight hours. With three recommended stops along the way, use these intervals to stretch and refuel before fatigue sets in. Given the length of the longest 686.7-mile stretch, you must monitor your fuel levels closely between major interchanges to avoid unnecessary stress. Splitting the drive into two days is the most realistic way to stay alert and enjoy the transit. Since the route is dominated by I-10, keep a close eye on traffic reports for the East Freeway and Anderson Loop sections, as these urban corridors can impact your arrival time in Stowell.
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 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 403.7 miles or 6h 29m 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 403.7 miles or 6h 29m
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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stowell, 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 Stowell, 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 403.7 mi from El Paso, TX · 6h 29m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
266 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 403.7 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 686.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 404 miles or 6.8 hours on the road.
The final approach into Stowell, 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 Stowell, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Stowell, 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.
Regular Gas
$123.34 one way
$246.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $135.16 | $270.32 |
| premium | $4.59 | $145.94 | $291.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $179.38 | $358.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$123
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$254–$364
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 282.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $85 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 242.2 | 2 | $84.78 | $38.76 |
| Efficient EV | 201.9 | 2 | $70.65 | $32.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 323 | 4 | $113.04 | $51.67 |
Gas CO2
282 kg
EV CO2
94 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
12:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Stowell on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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