Roadways In Odessa, TX
As the largest city in Ector County, Odessa is served by an extensive network of roads and highways. Located in the Permian Basin region of West Texas, the city has long been an important hub for the oil and gas industry. This has fueled significant growth over the years, both in population and infrastructure.
Odessa’s location along Interstate 20 makes it a strategic crossroads, connecting it to other major cities like Midland, Dallas, El Paso and beyond. Daily commuters, commercial transport and visitors traveling through West Texas rely on Odessa’s roads to get where they need to go.
This guide provides an overview of the major roadways and intersections in Odessa, with details on some of the most prominent and heavily-trafficked routes. Whether you’re new to town or simply exploring Odessa by car, use this as your roadmap to getting around.
Major Highways Running Through Odessa
Interstate 20
I-20 is arguably the most vital highway serving Odessa, linking the city with Fort Worth and Dallas to the east as well as the Midland-Odessa metropolitan area. Heading west takes you through the Permian Basin oil fields on the way to El Paso and the New Mexico border.
Within Odessa, I-20 intersects with Highway 191, Loop 338 and Highway 385 – which provide access to downtown and many top attractions. The speed limit is 75 mph outside of central Odessa.
Highway 191
Also known as Grant Avenue in Odessa, Hwy 191 runs directly through the city’s downtown as it connects I-20 with Big Spring and the Midland International Air & Space port to the north. It continues south all the way to the Texas-Mexico border.
With long sections consisting of just one lane in each direction, Hwy 191 can get congested during peak times. Key cross-streets include 2nd Street, 8th Street and 42nd Street. The speed limit varies between 35-60 mph.
Arterial Surface Streets in Odessa
In addition to the major highways and interstates, several prominent surface streets serve as main thoroughfares across Odessa.
42nd Street
Stretching over 7 miles across Odessa from East to West, 42nd street is a main east-west arterial road. It provides access from I-20 to downtown and many residential neighborhoods. This four-lane road starts near the Music City Mall on the east side before running past Odessa High School and the Ector County Coliseum.
42nd street eventually transitions into Andrews Highway on its west end after crossing Dixie Boulevard. Traffic can pile up significantly during rush hour near Crossroads Mall at the JBS Parkway intersection. The speed limit is 40 mph for most of its length.
2nd Street
2nd Street is an important connector street linking Downtown Odessa with I-20 and residential communities further south. It begins one block south of City Hall as a two-lane road before widening to four lanes with a center turn lane.
Significant cross streets along 2nd Street include Dixie Boulevard, Hancock Avenue, Highway 385 and FM 1936. Key landmarks include McKinney Park and Blackshear Elementary School. Like 42nd Street, this arterial street often backs up during peak periods around Dixie Boulevard due to retail traffic. The speed limit is 30-35 mph.
University Boulevard
Serving as Odessa’s academic spine, University Boulevard starts near the Music City Mall before running south through the University of Texas Permian Basin campus. After crossing I-20, it provides access all the way to Odessa College about 2 miles south.
With four lanes plus a center turn lane/median, University Boulevard is designed to handle higher traffic volumes generated by the two colleges. Lower speed limits are strictly enforced along this route compared to other Odessa arterials. Key intersections include Dawn Avenue and Westcliff Road around UTPB.
Odessa’s Ring Road: Loop 338
Loop 338 forms an outer semi-circular ring around Odessa, allowing drivers to bypass downtown when traveling between I-20, Highway 191 and points farther west. It stretches nearly 30 miles while linking all of Odessa’s major corridors.
Here’s an overview of Loop 338 starting from I-20 on the north side of town:
North Loop 338
- Links I-20 with Hwy 191/Grant Avenue while providing access to industrial parks.
- Begins at Exit 115A off I-20 near Odessa Country Club.
- Major intersections include Kermit Hwy, Yukon Rd, 52nd Street.
- Mostly 2 lanes, with about 3 miles of 4-lane divided highway near Hwy 191.
East Loop 338
- Connects northeast Odessa with southeast neighborhoods and industrial areas.
- Key intersections include E 52nd Street, E 42nd Street, and Hwy 191 Business Route.
- 2 lanes for entire 11 mile length until merging into Hwy 191 south of town.
South Loop 338
- Provides southern bypass route from Hwy 191 all the way to West County Rd (Hwy 158).
- 4 lane divided highway for its 15 mile path.
- Major junctions with FM 1936 and County Rd West.
- Merges with Hwy 385 on west end.
Other Notable Odessa Roadways
Grant Avenue
Grant Avenue serves as Highway 191’s routing directly through downtown Odessa. This four-lane street is lined with small businesses and restaurants for its entire 1.5 mile length between I-20 and Loop 338. Key crossings include 2nd Street, 8th Street, and Faudree Rd.
Andrews Highway (Hwy 385)
Starting at I-20 west of downtown, Hwy 385 carries traffic towards Odessa’s western suburbs. It also leads to Andrews, Texas nearly 50 miles away. Major intersections include Kermit Hwy, West County Road, Dawn Avenue and Faudree Rd along its six-lane alignment.
Yukon Road
Yukon Road is an important east-west route across northern Odessa, starting near Odessa Country Club before ending at Grandview Avenue. Notable crossings include Golder Avenue and N Dixie Boulevard. This four lane road serves numerous neighborhoods and schools.
Faudree Road
Faudree Road starts near Odessa High School before traversing commercial sections of central and western Odessa. Its major junctions include Andrews Hwy and West County Road in west Odessa. Further east, it crosses Grant Avenue and becomes an important route into industrial parks.
Navigating Congested Areas
Certain parts of Odessa can get quite congested during morning and evening rush hour commutes. Here are some key trouble spots to watch out for:
42nd Street & JBS Parkway
The intersection by Crossroads Mall is extremely busy, often backing up traffic in four directions during peak times. High retail activity combines with travelers heading out to rural areas on JBS Parkway. Allow 10-15 extra minutes to get through.
Grant Avenue & 2nd Street
Downtown Odessa experiences significant congestion as drivers access Hwy 191 while other traffic attempts to continue along 2nd Street. The close intersection spacing contributes to bottlenecks.
Andrews Highway & Kermit Hwy
West Odessa drivers merging onto Andrews Highway from Kermit Hwy often cause traffic to slow to a crawl during peak times. The nearby I-20 interchange also adds to congestion here.
Yukon Road & Faudree Road
Heavy traffic on retail-intensive Yukon Road trying to turn onto Faudree Road tends to cause major slowdowns for all directions. Lack of turn lanes and poor signal timing are contributing factors.
Odessa Highway Construction Projects
Like most growing cities, Odessa often has road construction projects underway to expand capacity and improve traffic flow. Here are two major highway projects affecting drivers currently or in the near future:
Interstate 20 Widening
TxDOT has a major initiative underway to widen I-20 to three lanes in each direction from East Loop 338 to west of FM 1788. This 10 mile project will ease a major bottleneck for travelers accessing Midland and points west. Completion is slated for late 2024.
Highway 191 Expansion
Segments of Hwy 191 are being expanded to add extra lanes running through downtown Odessa towards the northern side of the city. This will significantly improve traffic flow for commuters accessing schools and neighborhoods along this heavily traveled route. The $17 million project is expected to finish up in mid-2025.
Accessing Odessa’s Main Attractions
Looking to visit top Odessa attractions? Here are directions from the nearest major roadways:
Ellen Noël Art Museum
- From University Blvd, head west on 4th Street. Museum will be on your left after Adams Avenue.
Ector County Coliseum
- Located on East 42nd Street between N Dixie Boulevard and Walnut Avenue. Access via 42nd Street from Grant Avenue.
Check Our Blogs
No posts
Service Area
Beverly Heights, TX (79762)
Bradford Estates, TX (79761)
Central Odessa, TX (79761)
Cherry Hill Manor, TX (79761)
Clifton Manor, TX (79761)
Commons at Briarwood, TX (79762)
Coronado Hills, TX (79761)
Country Club Estates, TX (79765)
Crestview Addition, TX (79761)
Crestview Manor, TX (79761)
Dublin Manor, TX (79761)
Dumas, TX (79760)
Emerald Springs, TX (79761)
Fairway Oaks, TX (79762)
Faudree Oaks, TX (79761)
Green Acres, TX (79761)
Greens of Odessa, TX (79765)
Hillcrest Addition, TX (79761)
La Promesa, TX (79761)
Livingston Manor, TX (79761)
Masterson, TX (79766)
Mission Dorado, TX (79761)
Mockingbird Lane Estates, TX (79762)
Oakwood Estates, TX (79761)
Oakwood Terrace, TX (79761)
Odessa Country Club Estates, TX (79761)
Painter Ranch Estates, TX (79763)
Parkview Heights, TX (79761)
Prairie Creek, TX (79762)
Rosemont Gardens, TX (79761)
Sherwood Estates, TX (79761)
Skyline Heights, TX (79762)
Southern Hills, TX (79761)
Spring Meadows, TX (79761)
Stonebridge Addition, TX (79761)
Stratford, TX (79762)
Sunray, TX (79764)
Trails End, TX (79761)
Vega, TX (79768)
West Odessa, TX (79763)
Whispering Winds Mobile Home Park, TX (79763)
Wildorado, TX (79769)
Woodhaven, TX (79763)
Woodson South, TX (79763)
Hours
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact Us.
Get Solutions For All Fencing Services
Every day from
9:00 — 5:00
Call to ask any question