Just because an EDL lets you enter the United States, though, doesn't mean you can necessarily leave and head to other countries without your passport. Canada accepts EDLs in place of passports for entry from the U.S., even if those licenses were issued by the States rather than Canada, but Mexico and the Caribbean don't. You'll still need a passport or passport card to get into those countries, so don't rely on your EDL at the border. If you already need to upgrade to a RealID, though, you may as well bring the extra paperwork along with you. Better to have an EDL and not need it than to lose your passport somewhere abroad and be left with no way home.