How far is El Paso, TX from South Padre Island, TX?
The driving distance from El Paso, TX to South Padre Island, TX is about 848.1 miles (1364.9 km), with a travel time of about 14h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 685.4 miles (1103.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 28h 35m 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 14h 17m.
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.
City in Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between El Paso and South Padre Island.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso and South Padre Island.
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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
17.4 mi · 20 min
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7
Keep slight right to continue on McDermott Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · McDermott Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
2505 ft · 1 min
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9
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
804 ft · 16 sec · North Pecos-La Trinidad
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10
Keep slight right to continue on North Pecos-La Trinidad
2963 ft · 1 min · North Pecos-La Trinidad
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11
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
2725 ft · 1 min · Dolorosa Street
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12
Continue on West Market Street
1893 ft · 42 sec · West Market Street
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13
Continue on East Market Street
2143 ft · 41 sec · East Market Street
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14
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
957 ft · 21 sec · Tower of the Americas Way
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15
Take the ramp slight left toward I 37 South, US 281 South
1374 ft · 34 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · William J Bordelon Freeway
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17
Continue on Lucian Adams Freeway
125.1 mi · 2 hr 7 min · Lucian Adams Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
31.3 mi · 34 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
61.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
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20
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
43.7 mi · 47 min · U.S. Highway 77
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21
Continue on North Expressway
2.1 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Interstate 169
3.7 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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23
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.3 km · 52 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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24
Continue straight
2 mi · 2 min
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25
Continue on State Highway 550
3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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26
Turn left
1123 ft · 27 sec
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27
Merge slight left onto Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
14.1 mi · 16 min · Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
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28
Turn right onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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29
Turn slight right onto West Queen Isabella Boulevard
2460 ft · 1 min · West Queen Isabella Boulevard
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30
Continue on Queen Isabella Causeway
2.7 mi · 5 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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31
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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32
Turn right onto East Haas Street
155 m · 20 sec · East Haas Street
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33
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
3129 ft · 2 min · Gulf Boulevard
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34
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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35
Turn left
24 m · 6 sec
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between El Paso and South Padre Island.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving El Paso and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from El Paso to South Padre Island?
The road trip is about 848.1 miles (1364.9 km) and usually takes 14h 17m 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?
Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 424.1 miles from El Paso and 424 miles from South Padre Island.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 685.4 miles (1103.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 162.7 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 $113.11 one way or $226.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 266 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 South Padre Island, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around El Paso and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between El Paso and South Padre Island. Straight-line distance: 685.41 mi (1103.06 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 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Padre Island (-97.16469, 26.10369)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1365 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 28h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 21h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 16h 57m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 14h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 12h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 10h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $113.11 | $226.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $127.26 | $254.52 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $137.41 | $274.82 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $119.51 | $239.02 |
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 · May 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.