How far is El Paso, TX from Santa Fe, TX?
The driving distance from El Paso, TX to Santa Fe, TX is about 780.7 miles (1256.4 km), with a travel time of about 13h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 696.4 miles (1120.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 26h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 13h 04m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between El Paso and Santa Fe.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso and Santa Fe.
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1
Start on North Mesa Street
1071 ft · 24 sec · North Mesa Street
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2
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
995 ft · 26 sec · East Franklin Avenue
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3
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East
2078 ft · 51 sec
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4
Merge slight left
166.8 mi · 2 hr 43 min
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5
Keep slight right
363.5 mi · 5 hr 45 min
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6
Keep slight right
5.4 mi · 6 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road
3038 ft · 1 min
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8
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
2629 ft · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West
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9
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
2164 ft · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West
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10
Take the ramp straight toward Loop 1604 East
554 ft · 14 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop
25.4 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop
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12
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
1.5 km · 2 min · Interstate 10 East
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13
Take the ramp slight left
852 ft · 21 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto 90th Infantry Division Highway
14.9 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway
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15
Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
151.1 mi · 2 hr 34 min
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16
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
1548 ft · 22 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway
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18
Take the exit slight right
1092 ft · 15 sec
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19
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
10.3 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight left toward I 45 South: Galveston
819 ft · 20 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Gulf Freeway
28.4 mi · 33 min · Gulf Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward FM 517: Dickinson
1204 ft · 29 sec
-
23
Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
1.4 km · 1 min · South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
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24
Turn right
1 mi · 2 min
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25
Turn left onto FM 646
3.5 mi · 6 min · FM 646
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26
Turn right onto FM 1764
1.5 mi · 2 min · FM 1764
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27
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 1764
152 m · 16 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 1764
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28
At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 6
2250 ft · 40 sec · Highway 6
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Highway 6
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between El Paso and Santa Fe.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 10 East
Keep slight right
363 mi · 05h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving El Paso and Showers And Thunderstorms near Santa Fe.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from El Paso to Santa Fe?
The road trip is about 780.7 miles (1256.4 km) and usually takes 13h 04m 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?
Sonora is a useful midpoint, sitting about 389.9 miles from El Paso and 390.7 miles from Santa Fe.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 696.4 miles (1120.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 84.3 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 $104.11 one way or $208.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 244.8 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 Santa Fe, 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 Showers And Thunderstorms near Santa Fe.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between El Paso and Santa Fe. Straight-line distance: 696.4 mi (1120.74 km).
#1 El Paso
The twenty-third most populous city in the United States and the center of the El Paso metropolitan area.
| Population | 681,534 |
| Coordinates | 31.7587200, -106.4869300 |
| Altitude | 1133 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Santa Fe
City in Galveston County, Texas, United States
| Population | 13,461 |
| Coordinates | 29.3780100, -95.1057600 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Fe (-95.10576, 29.37801)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1256 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 26h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 19h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 15h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 13h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 11h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 09h 44m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $104.11 | $208.22 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $117.14 | $234.29 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $126.48 | $252.96 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $110.01 | $220.01 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.