Everything is bigger in Texas and it’s clear why the Lone Star State is so popular with tourists when you consider all that it has to offer. The state of Texas is a veritable treasure trove of stunning landscapes, historic sites, museums, parks, retail malls, and BBQ joints.
This second-largest state in the United States shares a southern border with Mexico and borders Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. And as much as you would like a nice drive through Texas, there are moments when you’ll wonder how long it would take to travel from one end of the state to the other.
Following the shortest route, it takes about 830 miles to get from Perryton to Port Isabel by South Padre Island. If you drive non-stop, thats about 13 hours!
Along the way you will go through Abilene, Fredericksburg, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Kingsville. You will be in the Central Time Zone (CDT) the entire trip.
Things to Consider That May Affect your Travel Time
The time it takes to drive across Texas is mostly determined by traffic. The majority of the state has few traffic issues. But you might run into some city traffic in San Antonio or construction along the way.
How many times you’ll have to stop will also have a significant impact on how long it takes you to finish the route. Because certain cars are more thirsty for gas than others, and if you have a baby that would require frequent breaks, you will need to anticipate a long drive. You won’t be able to just keep going without a rest stop with the distances in Texas being in the hundreds of miles.
Even on major highways, the speed limit varies widely. A range of 55-80 miles per hour is enforced on the interstates. Despite this, many cities are reducing speed restrictions as you approach or drive around them, making it more difficult to travel long distances at high speeds.
Driving Across Texas as Quickly As Possible
At the very least, it’s a good idea to travel in a vehicle with at least two drivers, one of whom can take over if the other needs a break or rest. You are also going through some pretty rural areas so plan ahead for gas and food.
The Many Routes through Texas
The irregular shape of Texas makes it possible to cross the state in various routes, and each takes a varied amount of time. I-10, which runs through the southern portion of the state, and I-40, which crosses through the Texas Panhandle and runs through the northern part of the state, are the two most well known Interstate highways in Texas.
The Panhandle, Texas’ northernmost region, is known for its pancake-flat plains that spread for about 200 miles (320 kilometers). There are no trees or other features in the western part that stretches into New Mexico, also known as the Llano Estacado or the “Staked Plains.” One hundred years ago, Kiowa and Comanche tribes roamed the Texas Panhandle, a buffalo-rich grassland in the southern Great Plains. Oil and gas, trucking, and Route 66 tourists have now joined ranching as the region’s primary source of economic activity.
I-40 has replaced old Route 66 in Texas, but in ghost towns like Shamrock and McLean, as well as Amarillo’s sole city, the old US-66 still serves as the primary business route and is surrounded by the vacant remnants of roadside businesses. Only a few people are still willing to sit down for a cup of coffee and a taste of the past.
The original 178-mile (290-kilometer) stretch of Texas’ Route 66 is now drivable for just around 150 miles (24 kilometers). The majority of Route 66 is buried beneath the I-40 Frontage Road. Between Jericho and Alanreed, and from Adrian to Glenrio, the final 18 miles of a Route 66 automobile trip across Texas will be on I-40.
