Trip from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

13h 10m

Distance

783.4 mi

1,261 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$118

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

12h 59m ★

6 AM

13h 11m

8 AM

13h 35m

10 AM

13h 19m

12 PM

13h 17m

3 PM

13h 20m

5 PM

13h 33m

8 PM

13h 4m

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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San Leon, TX

Mark Direen

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX covers 783.4 miles and takes about 13h 10m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 10, Katy Freeway, South Gulf Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 538.4 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $118.37 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

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

391.7 miles from San Leon, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	538.4 mi	8h 36m
Katy Freeway	174.7 mi	3h 1m
South Gulf Freeway	28.3 mi	32m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
FM 517	8.7 mi	14m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m
Gordon A Blake Highway	2 mi	3m
Pine Drive	1.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 538.4 mi, about 8h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Leon, TX and El Paso, TX.

Start on Avenue I

165 ft · 9 sec · Avenue I

Continue on FM 517

8.7 mi · 14 min · FM 517

Turn left onto FM 517

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Parke Street

Turn straight onto FM 517

446 ft · 9 sec · Main Street

Continue on FM 517

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Pine Street

Continue on FM 517

1.4 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive

Turn right onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 45 North Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 45

28 mi · 32 min · South Gulf Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Exit 48B Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

175 mi · 3 hr 1 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

1.9 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto FM 1518

5.4 mi · 9 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1518

At end of road, turn left onto FM 78

2.0 mi · 3 min · Gordon A Blake Highway

Turn left

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Take the ramp

265 ft · 6 sec

Toward Loop 1604 North

Merge onto Loop 1604

20 mi · 22 min · Anderson Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward Frontage Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

535 mi · 8 hr 33 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 391.7 miles from San Leon, TX, or about 6h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 538.4 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 172 miles or 3h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 391.7 miles or 6h 54m 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 391.7 miles or 6h 54m

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 12m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving San Leon, 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 San Leon, TX

Aim for roughly 392 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 392 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 miles from San Leon, 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 538.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

259 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.

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to El Paso, TX

552.1 mi · 8h 56m

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Big Lake, TX

517 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 Big Lake, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

392 mi · about 6.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 392 miles or 6.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 172 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 391.7 miles from San Leon, 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 538.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 392 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 783.4

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The House Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 783.4

Hours: 6 am–1 pm

+19152617542

Coffee Box

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

District Coffee Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

El Paso, Texas

0.1 mi

Martha's Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 783.4

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+19156269224

Visit website

Park Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 783.4

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19152289050

Visit website

Cafe Central

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $10 mile 783.4

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19155452233

Visit website

Weso Steakhouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 783.4

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19154449085

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 783.4

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+19152476143

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 783.4

Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+526563058131

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 40.3 and 782.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

40.3 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West: San Antonio

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 48B Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

217 mi into trip | ~3h 56m in

Take the exit toward TX 1518: Schertz

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz

245.3 mi into trip | ~4h 33m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Frontage Road

247.3 mi into trip | ~4h 35m 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 straight / slight left lanes.

782.6 mi into trip | ~13h 9m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$118.37 one way

$236.75 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 274 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$129.57	$259.14
premium	$4.54	$139.87	$279.74
diesel	$5.61	$172.96	$345.93

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: 274.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	235	2	$82.26	$37.60
Efficient EV	195.9	2	$68.55	$31.34
EV Truck/SUV	313.4	3	$109.68	$50.14

Gas CO2

274 kg

EV CO2

92 kg (66% 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 14, 2026

Origin

San Leon, TX

Afternoon in San Leon on Saturday

Local time

2:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Afternoon in El Paso on Saturday

Local time

1:18 PM

MDT

Current temp

63°F

Mostly Cloudy

WSW 8 to 16 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 13 at 7:48PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

High Wind Watch

High Wind Watch issued April 13 at 2:24PM MDT until April 14 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

60°F

Big Lake, TX

517 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 earlier

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

Temperature spread

5 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

13h 10m 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 783.4

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 216.1

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

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...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour Free near mile 270.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

At 783.4 miles and 13h 10m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 10 and Katy Freeway.

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

There are about 29 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 538.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 18 significant decision points across 783.4 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 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 217 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

Loop 1604 North

224.9 mi in | ~4h 10m

About the Cities

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX covers 783.4 miles and takes about 13h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 10, Katy Freeway, South Gulf Freeway. 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 392 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 391.7 miles from San Leon, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $118.37 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.

On the drive from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Chamizal National Memorial, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from San Leon, TX or browse trips ending in El Paso, TX.

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Trip from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Martha's Café

The House Coffee Shop

Martha's Café

Park Tavern

Cafe Central

Weso Steakhouse

Lamezze Restaurant

Anson 11

Café Rosé the Pink Cafe El Paso

Barrio Eats & Drinks

The House Coffee Shop

Coffee Box

District Coffee Co.

Glia's Coffee Co.

Glia's Coffee Co.

Reyna’s Mercadito

After Coffee

Sunset Heights Co (Coffee Co and Venue)

El Paso Museum of History

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Tom Lea Upper Park

International Museum of Art

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Maddy's Juice Bar

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Leon, TX

El Paso, TX

1 hour earlier

5 degrees cooler at arrival

13h 10m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Chamizal National Memorial

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in El Paso, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX?

Are there national parks near the route from San Leon, TX to El Paso, TX?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From El Paso, TX

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