El Paso Museum of History
Near the end, right off the route
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+19152123150
Visit websiteLast recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
13h 16m
Distance
779.1 mi
1,254 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$118
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raymondville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
El Paso, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 779.1-mile journey from Raymondville, TX, to El Paso, TX, is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take 13 hours and 16 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best suited for a two-day trip, allowing for a comfortable pace and necessary rest. The primary roads you'll be using are I-10, US-281, and U.S. Highway 77, with 95% of the route being highway driving. Budget approximately $118 for fuel, and plan for around 3 stops along the way. This long-distance drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent driving experience across the state.
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
389.5 miles from Raymondville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 1m into the drive .
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 95% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-10. The drive is characterized by a long, uninterrupted stretch of 535.3 miles on I-10, which means extended periods of consistent speed and minimal interaction with local traffic. While the route is primarily an interstate endeavor, the initial and final segments might involve some use of U.S. Highways. This road type generally offers a straightforward and efficient passage across the landscape, making it a predictable drive for those covering significant distances.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 281. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 225.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 779.1 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 225.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.5 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228.4 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
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 Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Raymondville, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Alamodome along the way.
Alamodome
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 535.3 mi | 8h 33m |
| US 281 | 122.7 mi | 2h 12m |
| U.S. Highway 77 | 66.3 mi | 1h 15m |
| McDermott Freeway | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| Nueces Street | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| West King Avenue | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| South 6th Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| East César E. Chávez Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Raymondville, TX and El Paso, TX.
Start on this road
Turn left onto US 77 Business
Turn right onto TX 186
Turn left onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto FM 772
Turn straight onto US 77 Business
Turn left onto TX 141
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
Continue on US 281
Take the exit onto US 281
Take the exit
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
Turn left onto TX 20
Arrive at destination
For this 13-hour, 779.1-mile drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight hours and cover a good portion of the distance. Plan your stops strategically, perhaps around the 3 suggested points, to refuel and stretch your legs. Given the longest stretch is over 500 miles on I-10, ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach that longer stretch, as services might be more spread out.
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 171 miles or 3h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 389.5 miles or 7h 1m 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 389.5 miles or 7h 1m
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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Raymondville, 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 Raymondville, TX
Aim for roughly 390 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 390 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 389.5 mi from Raymondville, TX · 7h 1m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
257 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
514 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 McCamey, TXNight 1
390 mi · about 6.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 390 miles or 6.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 171 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 389.5 miles from Raymondville, 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 535.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 390 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.
The final approach into El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach El Paso, 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the end, right off the route
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+19152123150
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+19155335147
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+19152120092
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+19155436747
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–9 pm
+12102077275
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 12–10 pm
+12109212359
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
El Paso, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19152120966
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 5 am–11 pm
+12102077275
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
National Seashore
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$117.72 one way
$235.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $128.86 | $257.72 |
| premium | $4.54 | $139.10 | $278.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $172.02 | $344.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$118
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$248–$358
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 272.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 233.7 | 2 | $81.81 | $37.40 |
| Efficient EV | 194.8 | 2 | $68.17 | $31.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 311.6 | 3 | $109.07 | $49.86 |
Gas CO2
273 kg
EV CO2
91 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
Night in Raymondville on Thursday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in El Paso on Thursday
Local time
10:14 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Raymondville, TX or browse trips ending in El Paso, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.