Origin
Lubbock, TX
Late night in Lubbock on Friday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lubbock, TX to Center, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 25m
Distance
532.6 mi
857 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 17m
★
6 AM
9h 26m
8 AM
9h 43m
10 AM
9h 32m
12 PM
9h 30m
3 PM
9h 33m
5 PM
9h 42m
8 PM
9h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Center, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Lubbock, TX, to Center, TX? This 532.6-mile journey will take approximately 9 hours and 25 minutes of driving time. Given the distance and duration, it's best suited for a 2-day trip, allowing you to break up the drive comfortably. You'll be navigating primarily on US 84 and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Expect a fuel cost around $80 for this extensive drive. This route spans across Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and finishing in the same region, offering a consistent landscape for much of the way.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
266.3 miles from Lubbock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a long-distance drive with a significant portion, 69% of the total mileage, on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 183 miles on US 84 that offer uninterrupted driving. While primarily highway-based, the route maintains a consistent pace without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a steady progression as you travel across the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 183 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 25m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in near US 84.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 532.6 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 298.7 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.3 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
115.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
8
298.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 5m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
7
321.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 29m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
357.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 7m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
5
468.5 mi into trip
|
~8h in
Take the exit toward FM 2011, FM 2087
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward FM 2011, FM 2087
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lubbock, TX and Center, TX, road signs point toward Shreveport, Fm 2011 and Fm 2087.
Shreveport
298.7 mi in
|
~5h 5m
|
via I 20
Fm 2011
468.5 mi in
|
~8h
Fm 2087
468.5 mi in
|
~8h
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 84 | 183 mi | 3h 5m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 147.8 mi | 2h 31m |
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
| TX 149 | 25.7 mi | 38m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 22 mi | 23m |
| US 59 | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| US 96 | 7.8 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
US 84
— 183 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lubbock, TX and Center, TX.
1
Start on US 62; TX 114
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
19th Street
2
Turn left onto US 84
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue Q
3
Continue on US 84
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Slaton Road
4
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
5
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
20 min
·
East Highway 84
7
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
8
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 15th Street
9
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Ralls Road
10
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue F
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US Highway 84
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
183 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
·
US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 20
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
111 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward FM 2011, FM 2087
18
Continue on FM 2011
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 2011
19
Turn left onto FM 349
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
FM 349
20
Turn right onto TX 149
26 mi
·
38 min
·
TX 149
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
22
Merge onto US 79; TX 149
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest Loop
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 59 South: Houston
24
Turn right onto US 59
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 59
25
Continue on US 96
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
US 96
26
Turn slight left onto TX 87
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 87
27
Turn right onto TX 7; TX 87
459 ft
·
13 sec
·
Nacogdoches Street
28
Turn left onto TX 7; TX 87
464 ft
·
14 sec
·
Austin Street
29
Turn left onto TX 7; TX 87
463 ft
·
8 sec
·
San Augustine Street
30
Turn right onto TX 87
257 ft
·
10 sec
·
Shelbyville Street
31
Turn left onto Jackson
238 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jackson
32
Turn right onto Porter Street
50 ft
·
2 sec
·
Porter Street
33
Arrive at destination
Porter Street
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour, 25-minute drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving. With two planned stops, you can effectively pace your journey, ensuring you take breaks every few hours. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 183 miles on US 84, as services might be spaced out. Planning your overnight stay roughly halfway will make this trip much more manageable.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 266.3 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 4h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 117 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 266.3 miles or 4h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 266.3 miles or 4h 32m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Center, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lubbock, TX
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Center, TX
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Lubbock, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 84 for about 183 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 266.3 mi from Lubbock, TX · 4h 32m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
352 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Mesquite, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
266 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Fort Worth, TX after about 266 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 266.3 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 183 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 266 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
Arriving in Center, TX
The final approach into Center, 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 Center, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Center, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.48 one way
$160.95 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
186 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $88.09 | $176.18 |
| premium | $4.54 | $95.09 | $190.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $117.59 | $235.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 159.8 | 1 | $55.92 | $25.56 |
| Efficient EV | 133.2 | 1 | $46.60 | $21.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213 | 2 | $74.56 | $34.09 |
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Center, TX
Late night in Center on Friday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Sweetwater, TX
176 mi in
54°F
Mesquite, TX
352 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 25m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lubbock, TX to Center, TX covers 532.6 miles and takes about 9h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 84, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, US Highway 84. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 266 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 266.3 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 $80.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 532.6 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 298.7 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.3 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lubbock, TX and Center, TX, road signs point toward Shreveport, Fm 2011 and Fm 2087.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Center, TX
More trips to Center, TX
Explore more options from Lubbock, TX or browse trips ending in Center, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.