No matter how you come at it, Texas is one big-ass state.
With their motto “Everything is bigger in Texas,” they seem to take immense pride in the fact.
And they have every right.
No state, save Alaska, matches the Lone Star State in terms of sheer girth.
At over 800 miles at its widest, Texas is a pit stop, double fill-up, overnight kind of place.
(Or a heck of a long drive if you want to get through its widest part in a single day.)
But at its narrowest, Texas is one of the skinniest states to drive across, only beaten by the diminutive New England states, Upper Idaho, and beach-body-ready Florida.
If you’re wondering how long it takes to drive across Texas, we assume you mean the traditional meaning of “across,” from east to west or west to east.
And how long it takes to drive across the state greatly depends on whether you’re in the north, the south, or somewhere in between.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Across Texas on I-10?
I-10 is one of the two interstates that goes all the way across Texas.
It’s also the southernmost east-west interstate.
It enters Texas in Orange (near Beaumont) in the east and in Anthony (near El Paso) in the west.
Along the way, it passes through Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso.
The distance across Texas on I-10 is roughly 870 miles (to get to its westernmost point) and takes 12 ½ hours to drive.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Across Texas on I-20/I-10?
I-20 is an interstate that goes through most of Texas, before meeting up with I-10 in the far west of the state.
It enters Texas in Waskom (just west of Shreveport, Louisiana) in the east and merges with I-10 in Scroggins Draw in the west.
Along the way, it passes through Dallas, Fort Worth, and Midland.
This combined path of interstates cuts most directly across the middle of the state and is the closest you’ll get to driving straight across Texas.
The distance across Texas on I-20, meeting up with I-10, is roughly 815 miles and takes just over 11 ½ hours to drive.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Across Texas on I-30/I-20/I-10?
I-30 is a short interstate that connects only two states – Texas and Arkansas.
It enters Texas in Texarkana in the east and merges with I-20 west of Fort Worth.
Along the way, it passes through Dallas and Fort Worth.
The I-30/I-20/I-10 path cuts similarly to the I-20/I-10 path across the center of the state and is the second closest you’ll get to driving straight across Texas.
The distance across Texas on I-30 to I-20 to I-10 is roughly 825 miles and takes around 12 hours to drive.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Across Texas on I-40?
Now that we’ve talked about how long a drive across Texas can be, it’s time to talk about just how short a drive across Texas can be.
If you drive across Texas on I-40 (the other interstate that goes all the way across the state), you drive through the panhandle, a trip that feels like a relative blip compared to the other major routes.
I-40 enters Texas in Shamrock in the east and near Glenrio in the west.
Along the way, it passes through Amarillo.
The distance across Texas on I-40 (the northernmost interstate in the state) is just over 175 miles and takes about 2 ½ hours to drive.
Of course, it’s debatable whether driving through the panhandle counts as “driving across Texas.”
Texas Interstate Drive Times
And there it is, the 4-1-1 on driving across Texas.
To sum up, here’s a handy chart on how long it takes to drive across Texas on every east-west interstate.
Plus, you know, the extra time you’ll need for all those barbecue stops.