How far is South Padre Island, TX from El Paso, TX?
The driving distance from South Padre Island, TX to El Paso, TX is about 844.6 miles (1359.3 km), with a travel time of about 12h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 685.4 miles (1103.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 25h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 12h 43m.
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.
Partly Sunny
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Padre Island and El Paso.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Padre Island and El Paso.
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1
Start on the route
24 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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3
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
2881 ft · 1 min · Gulf Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto East Harbor Street
554 ft · 25 sec · East Harbor Street
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5
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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6
Turn slight right
632 ft · 22 sec
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7
Turn straight onto Queen Isabella Causeway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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8
Continue on East Queen Isabella Boulevard
2423 ft · 1 min · East Queen Isabella Boulevard
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9
Turn straight onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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10
Turn left
14.1 mi · 15 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward TX 550
936 ft · 23 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on TX 550
14 m · 1 sec
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13
Turn right onto State Highway 550
3.6 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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14
Continue straight
1.9 mi · 2 min
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15
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.5 km · 59 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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16
Continue on Interstate 169
3.6 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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17
Merge slight left onto North Expressway
2.2 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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18
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77
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19
Keep slight right
623 ft · 8 sec
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20
Keep slight right
1.2 km · 2 min
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21
Turn left onto FM 772
1009 ft · 17 sec · FM 772
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22
Turn straight onto South 6th Street
4.4 mi · 7 min · South 6th Street
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23
Turn left onto West King Avenue
14.5 mi · 18 min · West King Avenue
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24
Take the ramp right
1 km · 2 min
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25
Merge slight left
54.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min
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26
Keep slight left to continue on Nueces Street
14.7 mi · 19 min · Nueces Street
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27
Continue straight
1199 ft · 16 sec
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28
Take the exit straight
68.3 mi · 1 hr 11 min
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
1054 ft · 28 sec
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30
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
1.4 mi · 3 min · East César E. Chávez Boulevard
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31
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West, I 35 North
1303 ft · 32 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto South Pan Am Expressway
28 m · 1 sec · South Pan Am Expressway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
1.4 km · 1 min · McDermott Freeway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on McDermott Freeway
14.6 mi · 17 min · McDermott Freeway
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35
Keep slight right
535.3 mi · 8 hr 34 min
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
851 ft · 21 sec
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37
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
1799 ft · 49 sec · East Missouri Avenue
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38
Turn left onto North Mesa Street
1398 ft · 27 sec · North Mesa Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Mesa Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Padre Island and El Paso.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
McDermott Freeway
Keep slight right
535 mi · 08h 34m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving South Padre Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near El Paso.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South Padre Island to El Paso?
The road trip is about 844.6 miles (1359.3 km) and usually takes 12h 43m 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 422.8 miles from South Padre Island and 421.8 miles from El Paso.
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 159.2 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 CDT. 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 $112.61 one way or $225.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 264.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between South Padre Island and El Paso, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around South Padre Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near El Paso.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Padre Island and El Paso. Straight-line distance: 685.41 mi (1103.06 km).
#1 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: North Mesa Street (-106.487016, 31.758664)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1359 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 28h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 21h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 16h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 14h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 12h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 10h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $112.61 | $225.23 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $126.71 | $253.42 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $136.81 | $273.62 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $118.99 | $237.98 |
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.