Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Taft, TX to El Paso, TX

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

Drive Time

11h 22m

Distance

689.3 mi

1,109 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$104

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
11h 12m ★
6 AM
11h 22m
8 AM
11h 43m
10 AM
11h 29m
12 PM
11h 27m
3 PM
11h 30m
5 PM
11h 41m
8 PM
11h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in San Patricio County, Texas, United States

Taft, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown El Paso, TX, TX

El Paso, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This is a significant cross-state journey from Taft, Texas, to El Paso, Texas, spanning 689.3 miles and taking approximately 11 hours and 22 minutes of pure driving time. Given the length, it's best tackled over two recommended days, rather than attempting it as a single, arduous day trip. You'll be primarily on I-37 and I-10, with a small portion on McDermott Freeway, making for a highway-dominated experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $104, budgeting for gas is straightforward. This route offers a long-distance drive across the vast Great Plains region of Texas.

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

344.7 miles from Taft, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 535.3 mi 8h 33m
I 37 109.6 mi 1h 51m
McDermott Freeway 15.5 mi 18m
TX 188 15 mi 19m
US Highway 181 6 mi 6m
State Highway 89 2.7 mi 3m
East César E. Chávez Boulevard 1.4 mi 3m
US 77 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 535.3 mi, about 8h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Industrial Street

11 ft · 4 sec · Industrial Street
2

Turn right onto US 181

0.3 mi · 20 sec · Railroad Avenue
3

Continue on US 181

6.0 mi · 6 min · US Highway 181
4

Continue on TX 89

2.7 mi · 3 min · State Highway 89
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
6

Merge onto US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 77
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward Texas 188: Sinton
8

Turn right onto TX 188

15 mi · 19 min · TX 188
9

Turn right onto I-37 Access Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I-37 Access Road
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
11

Merge onto I 37

110 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
15

Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87

93 ft · 1 sec · South Pan Am Expressway
16

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · McDermott Freeway
Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87

15 mi · 17 min · McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

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.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 19B Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue
21

Turn left onto TX 20

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Mesa Street
22

Arrive at destination

North Mesa Street

Trip Plan

For this 689.3-mile drive, plan for an overnight stop to make the most of your trip and avoid fatigue. Starting early in the morning is advisable, especially if you aim to reach your first stopping point before nightfall. With three planned stops, ensure they are strategically placed for both rest and refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the longest stretch on I-10, as services can be spread out. Consider that the estimated fuel cost is $104, so factor this into your overall travel budget.

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 344.7 miles from Taft, TX, or about 5h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 535.3 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 152 miles or 2h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 344.7 miles or 5h 50m 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 344.7 miles or 5h 50m

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 23m

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 Taft, 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 Taft, TX

Aim for roughly 345 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into El Paso, TX

Aim for roughly 345 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 152 miles from Taft, 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 535.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Kerrville, TX

227 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.

city in Upton County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

McCamey, TX

455 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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Junction, TX

345 mi · about 5.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 345 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 152 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Junction, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 344.7 miles from Taft, 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 535.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 345 miles or 5.7 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.

Round1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 147.7

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+12104482030

Visit website

El Paso Museum of History

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 689.3

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+19152123150

Visit website

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 689.3

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19155335147

Visit website

Tom Lea Upper Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 689.3

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19152120092

Visit website

International Museum of Art

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 689.3

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+19155436747

Visit website

Denman Estate Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 147.7

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12102077275

Visit website

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 689.3

El Paso, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19152120966

Visit website

Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 147.7

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+12103026807

Visit website

O. P. Schnabel Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 147.7

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+12102077275

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 135.9 and 688.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
135.9 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
137.8 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
138.6 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
153.3 mi into trip | ~2h 46m 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.
8
688.6 mi into trip | ~11h 20m 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

$104.15 one way

$208.31 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 241 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $114.01 $228.01
premium $4.54 $123.07 $246.14
diesel $5.61 $152.19 $304.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$104

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$234–$344

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 241.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $72 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 206.8 2 $72.38 $33.09
Efficient EV 172.3 1 $60.31 $27.57
EV Truck/SUV 275.7 3 $96.50 $44.12

Gas CO2

241 kg

EV CO2

81 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 18, 2026

Origin

Taft, TX

Afternoon in Taft on Saturday

Local time

3:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

El Paso, TX

Afternoon in El Paso on Saturday

Local time

2:47 PM

MDT

Current temp

85°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 earlier

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

Temperature spread

3 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 22m 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

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 689.3
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

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...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 118.9
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 190.2
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly interstate experience, with a 99% highway share, designed for efficient travel. The bulk of your journey will be on I-10, including a substantial stretch of 535.3 miles without significant deviation. This means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for most of the trip. While not designed for scenic detours, the sheer scale of the landscape passing by offers its own unique character, a testament to the expansive nature of the Great Plains.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 535.3 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 37. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 135.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 689.3 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 135.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.8 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 138.6 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Taft, TX to El Paso, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Alamodome along the way.

Alamodome

135.9 mi in | ~2h 24m

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 longest stretch is about 535.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 345 miles on day one.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at El Paso, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 135.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.8 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 138.6 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Chamizal National Memorial, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 11.4 hours each way, a round trip means 22.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Paso, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From El Paso, TX

Atlanta, TX 816 mi · 13h 51m Diboll, TX 812.9 mi · 14h 2m Heidelberg, TX 808.3 mi · 13h 33m Redland, TX 800.8 mi · 13h 49m

More from Taft, TX

Arlington, TX 374.2 mi · 6h 48m Houston, TX 197.1 mi · 3h 52m Austin, TX 175.7 mi · 3h 27m Montopolis, TX 173.1 mi · 3h 22m Corpus Christi, TX 20.1 mi · 24m

More trips to El Paso, TX

Buna, TX 860.8 mi Milam, TX 855.2 mi West Orange, TX 849.1 mi South Padre Island, TX 845.4 mi Groves, TX 834.2 mi Central Gardens, TX 833.4 mi
Escape planner: Taft, TX Scenic drives in TX

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.