Trip from Lubbock, TX to Austin, TX

Drive Time

5h 54m

Distance

373.1 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Lubbock, TX to Austin, TX covers 373.1 miles and takes about 5h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Avenue Q, Slaton Road, Highway 84 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.51 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

186.6 miles from Lubbock, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 54m drive with frequent turns across 373.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Avenue Q is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue Q	0 mi	0m
Slaton Road	0 mi	0m
Highway 84	0 mi	0m
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway	0 mi	0m
East 15th Street	0 mi	0m
Ralls Road	0 mi	0m
North Avenue F	0 mi	0m
I 20 East	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Avenue Q — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 19th Street

2

Turn left onto Avenue Q

3

Continue on Slaton Road

4

Continue on East Highway 84

5

Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

6

Continue on East Highway 84

7

Continue on North US Highway 84

8

Turn left onto East 15th Street

9

Turn right onto Ralls Road

10

Turn straight onto North Avenue F

11

At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 84

12

Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

13

Take the exit slight right toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

14

Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

15

Turn right onto Lamar Street

16

Continue on State Highway 70

17

Turn left onto State Highway 153

18

Continue on West Walnut Street

19

Continue on East Walnut Street

20

At the end of the road, turn left

21

Continue straight

22

Turn right onto Garmon Drive

23

Continue on US Highway 84 East

24

Turn right

25

Continue straight

26

Merge slight left onto North US Highway 281

27

Continue on North Key Avenue

28

Continue on South US Highway 183

29

Continue straight

30

Keep slight left to continue on 183A Toll Road

31

Continue straight

32

Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1: Mopac Boulevard

33

Keep slight right to continue on Loop 1 South: Mopac Boulevard South

34

Merge slight left onto North Mopac Expressway

35

Take the exit slight left toward Express 1 Toll

36

Merge slight left

37

Take the exit slight right

38

Keep slight left to continue on West 5th Street

39

Turn straight onto West 5th Street

40

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 186.6 miles from Lubbock, TX.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 82 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 186.6 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lubbock, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lubbock, TX

This is one driving day of about 373.1 miles and 5h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Lubbock, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Killeen, TX

187 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to Austin, TX

73.8 mi · 1h 14m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Austin, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Austin, TX.

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 186.6 mi from Lubbock, TX

Rotan, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.6 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$55.51	$111.02
midgrade	$4.25	$62.46	$124.92
premium	$4.59	$67.44	$134.87
diesel	$3.99	$58.65	$117.31

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 130.5 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lubbock, TX to Austin, TX covers 373.1 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue Q, Slaton Road, Highway 84. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 186.6 miles from Lubbock, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.