Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas

Places to visit about 2 hours from El Paso



2 hours:   Elephant Butte, NM

1 hr 59 min:   Pine Springs, TX

1 hr 59 min:   Spalding, NM

1 hr 59 min:   Lobo, TX

1 hr 58 min:   Elephant Butte Estates, NM

1 hr 55 min:   Tunis, NM

1 hr 54 min:   Hillsboro, NM

1 hr 53 min:   Cloudcroft, NM

1 hr 53 min:   Grama, NM

1 hr 52 min:   Las Palomas, NM

1 hr 52 min:   Nickel Creek Station, TX

1 hr 51 min:   Dell City, TX

1 hr 51 min:   Brownfeld Corner, TX

1 hr 50 min:   Lanark, NM

1 hr 49 min:   Frijole, TX


These are approximate driving times in a radius from El Paso, Texas. Search for vacation spots within driving distance for a day trip or weekend getaway. There are many towns within the total area, so if you're looking for closer places, try a smaller radius like 1½ hours. If you're willing to drive farther, try 2½ hours.

Hungry for something new and willing to drive to get it? Search for the best restaurants within 2 hours of El Paso. Not sure where to go? Take a day trip from El Paso, or if you have more time you can explore weekend trips from El Paso, but make sure you also check road conditions around El Paso. Looking for small towns or communities around El Paso, Texas? Get a full list of up to 500 cities nearby El Paso.

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RV campgrounds 2 hours from El Paso



State parks 2 hours from El Paso



More cities around 2 hours away by plane

Here are more cities based on a flight circle radius of 2 hours. These cities are much further than the ones above since now we're looking at a 2 hour flight.

2 hours:   Shreveport, LA

2 hours:   Teocaltiche, Mexico

2 hours:   Nochistlan, Mexico

2 hr 1 min:   Groves, TX

1 hr 59 min:   Moorpark, CA

2 hr 1 min:   Port Arthur, TX

1 hr 59 min:   Brigham City, UT

2 hours:   Port Neches, TX

1 hr 58 min:   Thousand Oaks, CA

2 hours:   Nederland, TX

1 hr 59 min:   La Penita de Jaltemba, Mexico

1 hr 58 min:   Simi Valley, CA

2 hours:   Vidor, TX

1 hr 57 min:   Tehachapi, CA

1 hr 58 min:   Texarkana, AR





Places to visit about 2½ hours from El Paso



2 hr 30 min:   Valedon, NM

2 hr 29 min:   Ruidoso Downs, NM

2 hr 29 min:   Turnerville, NM

2 hr 29 min:   Pezuna del Caballo, TX

2 hr 29 min:   Lisbon, NM

2 hr 28 min:   Jornada, NM

2 hr 28 min:   Hollywood, NM

2 hr 28 min:   Kimmons, NM

2 hr 28 min:   Shakespeare, NM

2 hr 27 min:   Ulmoris, NM

2 hr 27 min:   Wimsattville, NM

2 hr 27 min:   Minero, NM

2 hr 27 min:   Hanover, NM

2 hr 27 min:   Brockman, NM

2 hr 26 min:   Cora Crew, NM


These are approximate driving times in a radius from El Paso, Texas. Search for vacation spots within driving distance for a day trip or weekend getaway. There are many towns within the total area, so if you're looking for closer places, try a smaller radius like 2 hours. If you're willing to drive farther, try 3 hours.

Hungry for something new and willing to drive to get it? Search for the best restaurants within 2.5 hours of El Paso. Not sure where to go? Take a day trip from El Paso, or if you have more time you can explore weekend trips from El Paso, but make sure you also check road conditions around El Paso. Looking for small towns or communities around El Paso, Texas? Get a full list of up to 500 cities nearby El Paso.

Change your settings:


RV campgrounds 2½ hours from El Paso



State parks 2½ hours from El Paso



More cities around 2½ hours away by plane

Here are more cities based on a flight circle radius of 2.5 hours. These cities are much further than the ones above since now we're looking at a 2½ hour flight.

2 hr 26 min:   Sacramento, CA

2 hr 26 min:   Lincoln, CA

2 hr 31 min:   Sanctorum, Mexico

2 hr 26 min:   Grass Valley, CA

2 hr 26 min:   Mexico, MO

2 hr 27 min:   San Ramon, CA

2 hr 27 min:   Union City, CA

2 hr 31 min:   Cuautla, Mexico

2 hr 27 min:   Kuna, ID

2 hr 31 min:   Tenancingo, Mexico

2 hr 31 min:   Xoxocotla, Mexico

2 hr 27 min:   Boise, ID

2 hr 31 min:   Taxco, Mexico

2 hr 29 min:   Bozeman, MT

2 hr 26 min:   Antioch, CA





At the western tip of Texas, El Paso stands as a gateway to adventures across multiple states.

Over by the city of El Paso, the borders of Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico unite, and for those headed west on I-10, it’s that final point where you’ll have to say goodbye to the Lone Star State. Just to give you a better idea of what it really means to be that far west within the state: El Paso is actually closer to San Diego (three states over) than it is to Houston.

All of this is to say, if you’re looking for a domestic road trip from El Paso, you don’t have to limit yourself to solely what’s in Texas with the additional options in New Mexico and even Arizona within easy driving distance too.

Whether you’re dreaming of spending the weekend at a picturesque national park, a bustling metropolis, or a quirky small town, at least one of these top weekend road trips from El Paso is sure to catch your attention.

Related Read: 5 Must-Do Scenic Train Rides in Texas

1. Las Cruces, New Mexico

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Shutterstock

In less than an hour, you can make your way from El Paso over to Las Cruces, the second-largest city in New Mexico. Las Cruces is known for its rich history having served as the homeland for many Indian Nations and their descendants, and having been a stop along the Camino Real. You can learn about the local history at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, the Zuhl Museum, and Old Mesilla village.

Las Cruces is also a place where nature lovers can roam and experience for themselves why New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. Go for a hike to an abandoned mountain camp or a cave in the Dripping Springs Natural Area. See Paleozoic-Era fossilized footprints at Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Explore acres of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. You’ll find more than enough to do for a weekend.

  • Distance from El Paso: 47 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 60 minutes

Related Read: 9 Beautiful Hikes Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

2. White Sands National Park

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Chris Curtis

Who said you need to go to the beach to enjoy some gorgeous white sand? Rather than offering its visitors forests or mountains, White Sands National Park in New Mexico features 275 square miles of sand dunes, making it the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Don’t even think about bottling up any of that beautiful sand as a souvenir since that’s a federal crime. What you can do, however, is sled down the sand with one of the plastic snow-saucers you can get at the gift shop, hike one of the established trails, and ride along the scenic Dunes Drive by bike or car.

The park does offer primitive backcountry camping—unfortunately just not right now. Don’t fret though since you can find a few other campgrounds in the area to post up for the weekend.

  • Distance from El Paso: 95 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Related Read: 9 Best Hot Springs in New Mexico for Soaking Your Worries Away

3. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Michael J. Thompson

Everyone talks about Big Bend National Park, but many forget that Texas has another national park within its borders: Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

One of this park’s claims to fame is that it has the highest natural point in the state, Guadalupe Peak, which stands at 8,751 feet above sea level. It normally takes between six and eight (mostly strenuous) hours to hike to the top and back, but boy, are the views from up there worth it. If you’re looking for something less challenging there are over 80 miles of trails to choose from.

The park has three developed campgrounds for tents and RVs as well as wilderness campgrounds for backpackers. Anyone staying at the park should get excited for some pretty spectacular starry skies.

  • Distance from El Paso: 113 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 2 hours

4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Doug Meek

Keep going past Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and you’ll be at another national park in no time—this one being Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Close to half a million people visit this spot each year to see the incredible rock formations underground. A nice aspect of the experience is that you don’t need to be on a guided tour to explore the cavern. Instead, you can set your own page along one of the two 1.25-mile trails: the Big Room Trail and the steeper Natural Entrance trail.

To make sure your visit goes off without a hitch, make a reservation ahead of time online or by phone. There’s no entering without that reservation and you can’t make one at the park! Also, if you want to camp know that there’s only primitive backcountry camping available on the premises. Otherwise, it’s off to accommodations in White’s City or Carlsbad for you.

  • Distance from El Paso: 156 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Related Read: 8 Secluded New Mexico Cabins for a Relaxing Getaway

5. Ruidoso, New Mexico

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Daniel Ray

Situated next to the Sierra Blanca mountain range, Ruidoso is popular among ski bums who come in droves to visit the Ski Apache resort for some warm-weather powder skiing. But Ski Apache isn’t just fun during the wintertime. During the summer season, the resort opens up mountain biking trails, ziplining, and a gondola. Another local place for some family-friendly activities is Ruidoso Winter Park, which offers tubing year-round.

For more to do in Ruidoso, learn about the area’s early residents at The Hubbard Museum of the American West, swim at Grindstone Lake, go on a trail ride from Grindstone Stables, and hike around the Lincoln National Forest or Two Rivers Park. With all these options at your fingertips, you won’t have any time to get bored.

  • Distance from El Paso: 139 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Related Read: 10 Relaxing Cabin Rentals Near Taos, New Mexico

6. Marfa

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Shutterstock

​​If there’s one town that seems to embody the magic of West Texas then it’s Marfa. Despite its small size and relative remoteness, Marfa has continued to attract more and more tourists with its eclectic charm and unique attractions.

For starters, there’s all the incredible art including at the Chinati Foundation, Ballroom Marfa, Judd Foundation, and Ayn Foundation. Then there’s the whole mystery of the Marfa Lights that lures people in. Come out to the Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area at night and see if you too can spot the mysterious, far-off glowing orbs that have puzzled people for over a century. As you make your way back to El Paso, you have to stop by Prada Marfa, the famous installation built to resemble a Prada store in the middle of the desert.

  • Distance from El Paso: 194 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 3 hours

Related Read: 10 Best Hikes in Texas for Top-Notch Lone Star State Scenery

7. Monahans Sandhills State Park

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Travis LaCoss

No, Monahans Sandhills State Park isn’t as big as White Sands, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. As you stand among dunes of soft sand that stretch to the horizon, you may find yourself in disbelief that you’re still in Texas. To fully enjoy the unique environment, rent a sand disk from the headquarters and slide on down. Otherwise, you’re free to roam wherever you want since there are no designated trails.

Monahans Sandhills State Park does have campsites with electricity, and you can make a reservation for one of them online. Otherwise, you’ll find some affordable hotels in the city of Monahans. While in the city proper, you might want to check out the Million Barrel Museum, where you can see a giant oil tank that matches the size of three football fields.

  • Distance from El Paso: 253 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Related read: 10 Places to See Native American Pictographs & Petroglyphs in the West

8. Big Bend National Park

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Shutterstock

Big Bend National Park may not be one of the most well-visited parks in the country, but that says more about its remoteness than it does about the wonders it has to offer. And there’s really a lot considering the park is larger than the whole state of Rhode Island.

Here, you can hike up mountains, along the river, and across the desert. You can kayak, canoe, or raft through river canyons. You can see an astonishing amount of stars in the night sky. You can go for a drive along one the scenic roads, some paved and some not. Basically, you’ll realize early on in your visit that one weekend just isn’t enough to experience Big Bend. But two days is certainly better nothing, and there’s camping within the park so you can spend more time adventuring and less time traveling back and forth from your accommodations.

  • Distance from El Paso: 318 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 4 hours, 45 minutes

Related Read: 12 Awe-Inspiring Airbnbs Near Big Bend National Park

9. Tucson, Arizona

Cities 2 hours away from el paso, texas
Photo: Sean Pavone

About the same amount of time it would take you to drive from El Paso to Big Bend National Park, you can head in the other direction and get to Tucson. This large city is chock full of attractions for all ages. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Pima Air & Space Museum, and Tucson Botanical Gardens are just some of the popular destinations for visitors and locals alike.

If you’re craving some more rugged nature amid all that big city action, take the short trip up to Saguaro National Park where you can say hello to the nation’s largest cacti: the giant saguaro. Another option would be to visit Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, which has great opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing (try to spot a Gila monster!).

  • Distance from El Paso: 318 miles
  • Drive time without stops: 4 hours, 45 minutes

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What city is 2 hours away from El Paso?

These are straight line distances in a radius around El Paso within roughly 4 to 4½ hours. You can also explore cities near Albuquerque or cities near Las Cruces. ... Cities near El Paso within 4 hours..

How far apart are Houston and El Paso?

There are 673.93 miles from El Paso to Houston in east direction and 745 miles (1,198.96 kilometers) by car, following the I-10 route. El Paso and Houston are 11 hours 4 mins far apart, if you drive non-stop .

What big city is closest to El Paso TX?

Major cities near El Paso, TX.
6 miles to Juarez, Mexico..
217 miles to Chihuahua, Mexico..
230 miles to Albuquerque, NM..
266 miles to Tucson, AZ..
300 miles to Lubbock, TX..
322 miles to Hermosillo, Mexico..
332 miles to Chandler, AZ..
334 miles to Mesa, AZ..

Is San Antonio close to El Paso?

There are 501.83 miles from El Paso to San Antonio in southeast direction and 551 miles (886.75 kilometers) by car, following the I-10 route. El Paso and San Antonio are 8 hours 17 mins far apart, if you drive non-stop .