El Paso to Phoenix road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best road trip stops on the El Paso to Phoenix drive are Tombstone, Tucson and Picacho Peak State Park. The distance from El Paso to Phoenix by car is 430 miles, with a 6h12m driving time.
Planning a El Paso to Phoenix road trip itinerary
The El Paso to Phoenix drive takes you from west Texas to the capital of Arizona.
El Paso has plenty of stories behind it, some of which are covered on the Ghosts, Haunted Cowboys and Outlaws tour. You can also explore the surrounding landscape on a UTV adventure tour, or going biking, hiking and rock-climbing in Franklin Mountains State Park.
As for other El Paso attractions, the National Border Patrol Museum looks at the work of those who monitor the US’ borders, with a little bit too much emphasis on weaponry. The El Paso Museum of Archaeology, meanwhile, looks at the prehistory of the South West.
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A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.
For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.
Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.
For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.
El Paso to Phoenix distance and driving time
By car, the distance from El Paso to Phoenix is 430 miles. That makes for a driving time of around six hours and 12 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10.
The best stops to add to a El Paso to Phoenix road trip itinerary are Tombstone, Tucson and Picacho Peak State Park.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the El Paso to Tucson drive and Tucson to Phoenix drive.
El Paso to Phoenix drive: Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone, Arizona, is a fabulously silly place that buys whole-heartedly into Wild West mythology. The Boot Hill graveyard has comic epitaphs, and the streets look as they would back in the days of the Earp Brothers. Costumed actors stage a gunfight at the OK Corral, blacksmiths work the forge and there’s a bizarre collection of mini-museums and attractions
It’s also possible to do a series of themed walking tours that bring Tombstone even further to life. Choose from ghosts and gunslingers or bullets and bordellos.
El Paso to Phoenix road trip attractions: Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is often used as a base for exploring the Sonoran Desert. But it’s a proper city with an arty streak, a Spanish-tinged history and excellent Mexican food.
Top Tucson experiences include exploring the city’s many murals, taking a self-guided audio tour through Saguaro National Park and canyoneering at Mt Lemmon.
There are also several good bike tours you can do in and around Tucson. Choose from a history-focused ride through the city, e-biking in Saguaro National Park and taco-tasting on two wheels.
For resort-style accommodation in Tucson, take a look at the impressive Casino Del Sol Resort. To stay downtown, within walking distance of several restaurants, try the Leo Kent Hotel.
Best stops between El Paso and Phoenix: Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak is a part of a volcanic flow that has been eroded away over the centuries. Jutting 1,500ft out from the Sonoran Desert, Picacho Peak has long been an iconic landmark.
There are a series of short, easy walking trails with interpretive signs in Picacho Peak State Park. The difficult and very steep two mile Hunter Trail will take you to the top, though. Come after winter rains, and you’re likely to see an explosion of wildflowers.
More El Paso road trips
Abilene to El Paso | El Paso to Albuquerque | Amarillo to El Paso | Austin to El Paso | El Paso to Colorado Springs | Dallas to El Paso | Denver to El Paso | Fort Worth to El Paso | El Paso to Galveston | Houston to El Paso | San Antonio to El Paso | El Paso to Santa Fe | El Paso to Tucson.
More Phoenix road trips
Albuquerque to Phoenix | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Phoenix | Denver to Phoenix | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Phoenix | Phoenix to Kingman | Las Cruces to Phoenix | Phoenix to Prescott | Omaha to Phoenix | Phoenix to San Antonio | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Sedona | Phoenix to Tombstone | Phoenix to Tucson | Phoenix to Williams AZ | Winslow to Phoenix | Phoenix to Yuma.