As if Texas needed another scenic drive that showcases our state’s mountains as you’ve never seen them before, we have one to add to your bucket list. Traversing Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, the Trans-Mountain El Paso Highway is a lesser-known thoroughfare with some of the best windshield views in Texas. This scenic drive in Texas will take your breath away!

Also known as Loop 375, the Transmountain El Paso Highway partially encircles the city of El Paso.
AllTrails.com
It's about 50 miles in length, but the particular section this article refers to is an 11-mile scenic route that passes through Franklin Mountains State Park.
Skirting the bases of towering mountains, the drive is gorgeous in every season.
Dicklyon via Wikimedia Commons
Hairpin turns will have you white-knuckling the steering wheel at times, but the views - like the mile-high crest of Smuggler's Pass, shown here - are totally worth it.
Panoramic views of the wide-open desert landscape extend far as the eye can see into the distance.
David Baake/AllTrails
The mountains stand in stark contrast to the mostly flat terrain that surrounds them, commanding the attention of all who behold them.

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The drive has an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 feet, so you'll enjoy a variety of perspectives along the way.
Jean-Claude Linossi/AllTrails
When you're up high, you can almost see the horizon line as it stretches across the sky.
Darrell Cynthia Pacansky/AllTrails
On the flip side, the lower points really take you up close and personal with the unique flora and fauna of the region.
As we mentioned previously, the drive meanders through Franklin Mountains State Park, featuring several lookout spots that offer breathtaking vistas.
Durice LeLeux/AllTrails
Feel free to pull over - if the mood strikes, you may even decide to get out and explore on foot!
So, what are you waiting for?
Julius Caesar Nullar/AllTrails
Hop in the car, turn up the music, roll down the windows, and get ready for the scenic drive of a lifetime.

Let's head out on a drive on the Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive in El Paso, TX in this video showing a drive from the west side of I-10 to the east side of US 54:

To learn more about this scenic drive in Texas, visit its page on AllTrails. Of, course, if you do a lot of hiking why not give AllTrails+ a try for all the latest info about your favorite trails?

Have you ever driven the Trans-Mountain El Paso Highway? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments section!

Interested in learning more about Franklin Mountains State Park? Check out our previous article for a hike in the park that leads straight to an abandoned mine.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

More scenic roads in Texas

Chris Muras | July 19, 2023

What are some scenic drives in Texas?

Texas has a lot of open roads to cover, and some of it is pretty incredible. Here are a few scenic drives in Texas that will make you appreciate the beautiful state we live in:

  • Highway 90/385: This section between Highway 90 and Highway 385 is particularly enchanting at sunrise and sunset when the Chisos Mountains are lit from above. You'll be heading right toward Big Bend with this beautiful mountain range set right across your windshield.
  • River Road: Also near Big Bend, TX this road runs alongside the Rio Grande for epic views on all sides. If you want to drive from end-to-end it will take you a good day of driving, but the scenery is worth it.
  • Highway 207: Slice right through the Palo Duro Canyon with your silver bullet as you enjoy a scenic landscape of red rock and low desert fauna. With gorgeous bluffs rising up out of the desert it is a peaceful serene drive through the heart of Northern Texas
  • Texas Swiss Alps Scenic Drive: The beautiful thing about this drive is the lush landscape. Instead of brown and red deserts, you'll be treated to lots of green in the spring and summer and a golden glow in the fall. On this scenic road in Texas, you'll pass through Leakey where you can see the iconic 2,400-foot rock faces that rise up out of the earth.
  • Lonesome Highway: Texas is a big state with lots of wide-open areas so there may be a lot of highways that feel pretty desolate, but the Lonesome Highway is pretty awe-inspiring. The Guadalupe Mountains rise up like a massive tsunami in front of you making you realize just how small we are against the earth we call home. With long stretches of road between towns, this highway really does feel like you are the only one on earth at times.

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Featured Addresses
Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive, Woodrow Bean Transmountain Dr, Canutillo, TX, USA