BDlord
LBB to El Paso is about 6 to 6.5 hours. If you mean hidalgo as in hidalgo, texas in hidalgo county, that is near McAllen, Texas or the tip of Texas. There is also a hidalgo, Mexico which is about 2 hours south of lrd.

McAllen to El Paso would be tortious drive, although you could stop in Langtry, Texas home of Judge Roy Bean. El Paso to Hidalgo, Texas would take you about 12.5 hours going very fast (80 to 90 mph). Plus you would pass through at least three immigration and customs check points, which could slow you down. Watch out for deer and mule deer in west texas. The deer congregate to the highway because Texas has planted a lot of wild flowers along the roads. The flowers are grass most of the year if there is water. Since this is a very dry area of the US, it is the only vegetation, thus the deer. When you drive you will see many accident scenes between deer and car (big blood spot on the road). YOu can always fly to all these on co or wn(except LRD). The intra texas fares on co are cheap ($100 to $200 round trip).

Pesonally, I would not drive it unless I had to. Also, there are not a lot of radio stations in west Texas. El Paso to Del Rio on 90 is very desolate (ie the movie with young Kevin Costner and the bottle of dom). Buy books on tape. At either Loves truck stops or cracker barrels you can buy the books on tape, and return them. They will only charge you by the week (about $5).

If you want restaurants, in those towns, I can give you more recommendations. The safe bets are Mexican food, chicken fried steak, steaks, and BBQ. As I always tell my kids, don't order the shrimp cocktail at a restuarant in West Texas. Fast food which is always good for great hamburgers is Whataburger. If you see one stop. I am recommending this even though my family owns franchises in another national hamburger chain in the area you are going. If you take I-10, I would stop in SAT. It is a lot of fun for tourist, plus we have Mortons, the Palm, and Ruth Chris. On the river walk you can not go wrong with Little Rein Steakhouse, for a cheap German-Deli Lunch there is Schilo's.

IN Juntion Texas at 1-10 at 83 try Coopers BBQ and get the smoked porke chops.

Good Luck.