How long does it take to drive across Texas?

Being the second largest state in the United States, Texas has a lot to offer travelers. It shares a border with four other states as well as Mexico. Journeying from one side to the other is only a few days' traveling time whatever your route, meaning there are no long commitments when it comes to this road trip.

You can expect to be driving for up to 12 hours from the border of Louisiana to the edge of New Mexico, but to avoid feeling any pressure and to make sure you can see the many delights Texas has to offer, we recommend you allow yourself a minimum of a few days.

Read on to discover the different routes for traveling across the state. You'll find everything you need to book your next adventure in the Lone Star State.

How long does it take to drive across Texas?

Unlike squarer states, Texas is a complicated shape meaning that there's no easy answer to this question. There are five different options to consider, each varying in the number of miles and time required to complete the journey.

The benefit of this is that there are different options that can cater to your specific needs and requirements. The most popular routes are I-10 in the south or I-40 in the north - but which route you choose from the table below is up to you.

There are several ways to drive across Texas

As outlined in the above table, there are five different routes across Texas. The most common route, but also the busiest, is the route from Shreveport in Louisiana to El Paso at the edge of the Mexican border. This route clocks in at around 11 hours, and that's not factoring in stop times for gas, food, and water.

Don't let the 11-hour timeframe worry you. You can simply swap drivers throughout the day or stop somewhere overnight to rest up before hitting the road again the next day.

You may instead opt to take one of the less popular northern routes. The Erick to San Jon journey is the shortest of them all at 2 hours 30 minutes, while Texarkana to San Jon will take over 8 hours to complete.

You can drive across Texas from the Mexican border

There are 29 border crossings into Texas from Mexico. Which you use depends on where in the United States you're trying to get to. Most people will enter the state via the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge or Laredo.

Once in Texas, you'll need to establish where to leave the state. The most popular exit points are into Arkansas or Louisiana. Entry into Arkansas is achieved on I-30, while entry into Louisiana would be easiest via I-10.

From Laredo to the border of Louisiana takes 6 hours 30 minutes, shaving two hours off the travel time when compared to those entering the state of Arkansas.

Don't forget to factor in the time it'll take to cross borders. This can vary from day-to-day, but being prepared for any eventuality will reduce stress on the day.

You can drive through the Texas Panhandle across Northern Texas

If you are looking to drive across Northern Texas, there are a few straightforward ways to do so. The three common entrance points are located through Texarkana from Arkansas, along I-20 from Shreveport in Louisiana and on I-40 from Oklahoma.

You will find the common exit points from Texas into the state of New Mexico on I-40 from Amarillo or on I-10 from El Paso.

How to drive across Texas as fast as possible

If you're worried about the journey, here are our top tips for how to travel across Texas as quickly as possible.

Ease the stress of the trip by having two drivers who can swap at intervals. This will reduce the amount of time you need to pull over and delay your journey.

You should also avoid driving at night, when Texas law enforces lower speed limits. Sundays are best due to there being significantly less traffic on the road.

Use a fuel-efficient car if you can to avoid needing to pull over too often for gas. Regularly stopping at the gas station will slow you down and take time away from enjoying the majestic Texas scenery.

Things to keep in mind while driving across Texas

When planning your journey, try to factor in how often you'll need to stop along the way. Fuel-efficient cars, for example, will need to stop less often for gas. With most routes being at least 8 hours, you're going to want to take a few rest stops too.

The traffic in Texas can be especially busy if you're taking one of the more popular routes, like the southern route across the state. This is because it is used by lorries to transport goods across the United States. The best practice is to avoid rush hours and take quieter detours where necessary.

It's a good idea to prepare yourself for I-10 road we mentioned earlier. With 26 lanes, it can get incredibly busy. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, travel outside of peak times. You should also pay special attention to speed limits as these change across different parts of the state.

Conclusion

The route from the Louisiana border to the New Mexico border takes up to 12 hours in total, assuming you don't face any delays or take more than a few quick rest stops.

Coming up against issues en route may cause anxiety unless you factor in this potential disruption beforehand and complete the trip over a 2-3 days.

By adding an overnight stop, you'll have the opportunity to explore local eateries and bars, and properly rest ahead of the following day's drive.