How far is El Paso, TX from Buchanan Dam, TX?

The driving distance from El Paso, TX to Buchanan Dam, TX is about 530 miles (853 km), with a travel time of about 08h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 480.9 miles (773.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
530.03 mi
08h 59m
Flight
480.91 mi
773.95 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from El Paso.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
480.91 mi
Kilometers
773.95 km
Flight Time
00h 58m

Driving Distance

Road route
530.03 mi
Kilometers
853 km
Drive Time
08h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buchanan Dam
Sun, Apr 19, 5:22 AM CDT
Return by in El Paso
Sun, Apr 19, 1:22 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave El Paso
2026-04-18T19:23
Arrive Buchanan Dam
Sun, Apr 19, 4:22 AM MDT
Route Timing
08h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:00 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in El Paso
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
McCamey
TX

City in Upton County, Texas, United States

From El Paso
264.7 mi
04h 30m
To Buchanan Dam
265.3 mi
04h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph NE
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between El Paso and Buchanan Dam.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between El Paso and Buchanan Dam.

  1. 1

    Start on North Mesa Street

    1071 ft · 24 sec · North Mesa Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue

    995 ft · 26 sec · East Franklin Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East

    2078 ft · 51 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    166.8 mi · 2 hr 43 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right

    269 mi · 4 hr 12 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

    1350 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    24.8 mi · 36 min

  9. 9

    Continue on United States Highway 377

    1524 ft · 26 sec · United States Highway 377

  10. 10

    Continue on US Highway 377

    11.2 mi · 17 min · US Highway 377

  11. 11

    Turn slight right

    4.2 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North US Highway 87

    3093 ft · 45 sec · North US Highway 87

  13. 13

    Continue on Fort McKavitt Street

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Fort McKavitt Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Austin Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Austin Street

  15. 15

    Continue on East State Highway 29

    49.7 mi · 58 min · East State Highway 29

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Island Lodges Drive

    43 m · 6 sec · Island Lodges Drive

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Island Lodges Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between El Paso and Buchanan Dam.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 10 East
436 mi · 82%
East State Highway 29
49.7 mi · 9%
North Main Street
25.7 mi · 5%
US Highway 377
11.2 mi · 2%
Fort McKavitt Street
0.83 mi
Austin Street
0.68 mi
Longest Stretch

I 10 East

Keep slight right

269 mi · 04h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 59m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.1 mi
480.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McCamey
04h 30m from El Paso
Leave By
6:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving El Paso and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Buchanan Dam.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from El Paso to Buchanan Dam?

The road trip is about 530 miles (853 km) and usually takes 08h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

McCamey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 264.7 miles from El Paso and 265.3 miles from Buchanan Dam.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 480.9 miles (773.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.67 one way or $141.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 166.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between El Paso and Buchanan Dam, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around El Paso and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Buchanan Dam.

Stop Ideas Near McCamey

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around McCamey, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McCamey.

RAIL

Sanderson

112 mi away
201 West Downey Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between El Paso and Buchanan Dam. Straight-line distance: 480.91 mi (773.95 km).

El Paso

#1 El Paso

The twenty-third most populous city in the United States and the center of the El Paso metropolitan area.

Population681,534
Coordinates31.7587200, -106.4869300
Altitude1133
CountryUnited States
Buchanan Dam

#2 Buchanan Dam

Place in Texas

Population1,519
Coordinates30.7399000, -98.4311400
Altitude318
CountryUnited States
Start: El Paso (-106.48693, 31.75872)
End: Buchanan Dam (-98.43114, 30.7399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 853 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.7 gal
70.8 L · about $70.67
Round trip
$141.33
37.4 gal · 141.6 L
Estimated CO2
166.2 kg one way
Round trip: 332.4 kg / 733 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $70.67 $141.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $79.51 $159.02
Premium $4.59 $85.85 $171.70
Diesel $3.99 $74.67 $149.34

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between El Paso, TX and Buchanan Dam, TX. The current time in El Paso is 19:23:00, although it is 20:23:00 in Buchanan Dam.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.