El Paso
A border city for Tex-Mex dinners, mountain hikes and a drive to the white dunes of White Sands.
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El Paso is a city at the far western tip of Texas, on the Rio Grande, directly across the river from Ciudad Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. People come for Tex-Mex food, hikes in the Franklin Mountains that rise inside the city limits, and the Mission Trail, a chain of old Spanish missions southeast of downtown. El Paso keeps Mountain Time, the same as New Mexico, so the drive to White Sands National Park does not change your clock.
Plan around the Ciudad Juárez decision first. Crossing into Juárez means checking current U.S. and Mexican entry rules for your passport before you go, since they can change. Summer is very hot, so fall through spring is the easier season for walking and hiking in the Franklin Mountains. Downtown suits border day trips, and the Westside trailheads are easier with a car. Two to three days covers the city and a side trip to White Sands.
El Paso in five
- Check entry rules before crossing to JuárezThe border is walkable from downtown, but your passport, ESTA or visa status matters in both directions. Read the entry guide and your government's travel advice for Chihuahua before you cross.ESTA, explained
- Mind the Mountain time zoneEl Paso is on Mountain time, one hour behind most of Texas. If you drive east to Dallas or Austin, you gain an hour on the clock and lose it on the way back.Dallas travel guide
- Use El Paso as a base for White SandsWhite Sands National Park in New Mexico is about 1.5–2 hours north by car. Go early, because dunes are best in morning light and afternoons can be hot.
- Eat Tex-Mex and border foodLocal specialties mix Texan and Mexican cooking, including tacos, chile and enchiladas. Ask for what is in season rather than chasing one famous restaurant.
- Rent a car for the desert loopsTransit covers little beyond the city, and the Franklin Mountains, Mission Trail and White Sands are easier by car. Book early for spring break and holiday weekends.
Things to do in El Paso
See all attractions in El Paso
Need to know
- Airport
- El Paso International (ELP), about 15–20 minutes from downtown
- Getting around
- Car for most sights; downtown is walkable
- Best base
- Downtown or the west side near the Franklin Mountains
- Time needed
- 1–2 days; add a day for White Sands
- Time zone
- Mountain, UTC−7; UTC−6 in summer
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh14°Low2°Cool, dryJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh18°Low4°Mild, windyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low8°Warm, dryMarchClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low12°Warm, dryAprilClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- MayClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low17°HotMayClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh36°Low22°Very hotJuneClear
Poor
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JulyClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh36°Low24°Hot, stormsJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- AugustClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low23°Hot, stormsAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°WarmSeptemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low14°Mild, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh20°Low7°Cool, clearNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh15°Low3°Cool, dryDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in El Paso, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in El Paso
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 46%
- Wind
- 42 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 12%
El Paso
02:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°11°12%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Tue20°8°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed22°15°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu20°14°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri19°14°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat21°15°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 10:55 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- White Sands National Parkabout 1.5–2 hours by carGypsum dunes in New Mexico; best in morning light.
- Ciudad Juárezabout 15–30 minutes by foot or car, plus border waitsA big Mexican city across the river; check entry rules and advice first.
- Albuquerqueabout 4.5 hours by carBetter as a stop on the way north.Read the guide
Before you go to El Paso
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Rules for El Paso, checked
- Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries need an ESTA before flying to the US. Check the US CBP ESTA site before you book.Source
- Carry your passport for any trip into Ciudad Juárez. Check current document rules on the US State Department travel site.Source
- Declare fresh fruit, meat and plants when you cross back into the US from Mexico. Ask the CBP officer if you are unsure.
- El Paso keeps Mountain Time, one hour behind Central Time in Dallas and Houston. Set your phone and bus schedule to local time.
Plan around El Paso
The next big city north in New Mexico
Read the guideGreater Phoenix travel guideWest along I-10 into Arizona
Read the guideDallas travel guideEast Texas by plane or a long drive
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it and how to apply
Read the guideGetting around the USATrains, flights and car rental
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and road trips
Read the guideEl Paso FAQ
Is El Paso worth visiting?
As a stop, yes: strong food, Mountain views and a distinctive border culture. It is a one or two day city rather than a headline destination, and it works best combined with White Sands.
How many days do you need in El Paso?
One to two days covers the downtown, the Mission Trail and a drive along the Franklin Mountains. Add a day if you want White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
Can tourists visit Ciudad Juárez from El Paso?
Many do, on foot or by car, but entry rules differ for each passport. Read your government's travel advice for Chihuahua, check your ESTA or visa status for the return, and allow time for border queues.
How far is El Paso from White Sands?
About 1.5–2 hours by car, depending on traffic. Carry your passport, because Border Patrol checkpoints operate on some roads in the region. Start early for the cooler morning light and quieter dunes.
What is the best time to visit El Paso?
March to April and October to November are warm and dry. Summer highs often reach 95°F (35°C), and afternoon storms can follow in July and August.