The warmth and hospitality of El Paso residents is as much a hallmark of the border city as its famous desert winds. The community of nearly 700,000 is steeped in history and tradition. Spanish explorers established missions in the region in the 17th century, including nearby Mission Ysleta, the oldest in Texas. The area didn’t become part of Texas until after it was given to the U.S. following the Mexican-American War in the late 1840s. El Paso boomed in the late 1880s with the arrival of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads, and it remains a major hub for transportation, commerce, and culture across two states and countries. Many of El Paso’s longstanding businesses are family-owned, and they’ll treat you as such from the moment you walk in. Locals are quick to give recommendations, and their pride in the city is palpable.
DISTANCE FROM
San Antonio
7.5 hours
Austin
8.5 hours
Dallas
9 hours
Houston
10.5 hours
Stay
Gardner Hotel and Hostel
This no frills property, established in 1922, has hosted notable travelers like author Cormac McCarthy and bank robber John Dillinger. If you’re lucky, you may get to stay in Dillinger’s second-story room overlooking the city’s downtown. Rooms start at $65/night.
Eat & Shop
Bodega Loya
Just outside El Paso in Socorro is Bodega Loya, where owners Ralph and Marty Loya grow and sell fresh produce on land that has been in the family for more than 100 years. Come early Friday through Sunday to enjoy coffee and beet juice, sample organic vegetables or fresh sourdough, and browse works from 25 local artists.
Learn & See
Franklin Mountains State Park
At the north end of El Paso, the Franklin Mountains’ highest peak towers 7,192 feet over the city. Stop by the Tom Mays Unit visitor center to learn about the geologic formation of the mountains or take the 0.7-mile nature walk trail to view the varieties of flora that call the desert home.
Eat
Accá
A short drive from downtown, Accá is an open-kitchen restaurant with a handful of tables in a charming historical building. Chef Andres Pablos brings experience from restaurants in Spain and Denmark to dishes like cured eggplant with cashew-parsley chutney and rib-eye steak with kale chimichurri.
Shop
Chuco Relic
Show your 915 pride with T-shirts, stickers, hats, and prints from a rotating selection of El Paso artists. The shop has three locations — visit the west store in the Montecillo Shopping District to enjoy the neighboring 2Ten café or Tin Man beer bar.
Eat
Barbacoa Breakfast
Indulge in the Mexican tradition of slow-cooked beef with breakfast at El Segundo Bakery, which serves homemade flour tortillas and an array of colorful pan dulce. Nearby favorite Laurita’s Kitchen offers barbacoa, plus breakfast plates with potatoes, eggs, and beans.
