Trip from Lubbock, TX to Port Arthur, TX

Drive Time

11h 20m

Distance

621.9 mi

1,001 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$95

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lubbock, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Port Arthur, TX

John Hill

Trip Overview

The drive from Lubbock, TX to Port Arthur, TX covers 621.9 miles and takes about 11h 20m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Texas State Highway 71, US Highway 84, State Highway 153 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $95.00 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

311 miles from Lubbock, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 621.9 miles and 11h 20m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 54 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Texas State Highway 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 137 miles.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,203 ft 1 ft

Total Climb

249 ft

Total Descent

3,452 ft

Highest Point

3,203 ft

Elevation Range

3,202 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in near US 84.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 621.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 340.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

122.2 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in

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

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...

340.8 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in | 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

376.6 mi into trip | ~6h 48m in

Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...

617.3 mi into trip | ~11h 13m in | TX 73

Take the exit onto TX 73 toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves

Towns Along This Route

Between Lubbock, TX and Port Arthur, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and 71 Toll East.

Sh 70 South

122.2 mi in | ~2h 6m

Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater

122.2 mi in | ~2h 6m

San Angelo

122.2 mi in | ~2h 6m

71 Toll East

379.3 mi in | ~6h 51m | via 71 Toll

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Texas State Highway 71	137 mi	2h 25m
US Highway 84	73.9 mi	1h 14m
State Highway 153	69 mi	1h 14m
East Freeway	59.1 mi	1h 9m
US 183	51.8 mi	57m
South US Highway 183	35.3 mi	38m
US Highway 84 East	29.2 mi	33m
TX 73	27.3 mi	29m

Longest stretch: Texas State Highway 71 — 137 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lubbock, TX and Port Arthur, TX.

Start on US 62; TX 114

33 ft · 6 sec · 19th Street

Turn left onto US 84

2.9 mi · 3 min · Avenue Q

Continue on US 84

4.8 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road

Continue on US 84

6.9 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Ralls Road

Turn straight onto TX 207

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F

At end of road, turn left onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

6.5 mi · 6 min · US 84

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue

Turn right onto TX 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Continue on TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Turn left onto TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

Continue on TX 153

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283

9.4 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 283

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 17 min · US 183

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 183 Toll

6.3 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

0.5 mi · 29 sec · East State Highway 71

Continue on TX 71

137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

11 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 10; US 90

5.8 mi · 7 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

13 mi · 16 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

40 mi · 46 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto TX 73

0.4 mi · 27 sec · TX 73

Exit 828 Toward TX 73, TX 124: Winnie, Port Arthur

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 73

25 mi · 25 min · TX 73

Take the exit onto TX 73

2.4 mi · 2 min · TX 73

Toward TX 73 East: Port Arthur, Groves Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward Spur 215

Keep slight right at fork

197 ft · 5 sec

Toward Spur 215

Turn straight onto Spur 215

2.0 mi · 3 min · Savannah Avenue

Turn right onto 17th Street

369 ft · 15 sec · 17th Street

Turn left onto Augusta Avenue

162 ft · 4 sec · Augusta Avenue

Arrive at destination

Augusta Avenue

Trip Plan

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 311 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 5h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 137 miles or 2h 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 311 miles or 5h 37m 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 311 miles or 5h 37m

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 10h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Arthur, 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 311 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Port Arthur, TX

Aim for roughly 311 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 137 miles from Lubbock, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 311 mi from Lubbock, TX · 5h 37m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Killeen, TX

205 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.

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to Austin, TX

67.3 mi · 1h 17m

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

410 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 Austin, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Killeen, TX

311 mi · about 5.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 311 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Sweetwater, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 137 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 311 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 311 miles or 5.7 hours on the road.

Arriving in Port Arthur, TX

The final approach into Port Arthur, 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 Port Arthur, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Port Arthur, 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

$95.00 one way

$190.00 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 218 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$104.11	$208.21
premium	$4.59	$112.41	$224.81
diesel	$5.64	$138.16	$276.33

Estimated Tolls: $1.23

183A Toll Road (14.3 mi) $1.00

Katy Tollway (3.2 mi) $0.23

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$95

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$226–$336

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 217.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $65 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	186.6	2	$65.30	$29.85
Efficient EV	155.5	1	$54.42	$24.88
EV Truck/SUV	248.8	3	$87.07	$39.80

Gas CO2

218 kg

EV CO2

73 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 13 hours ago

Origin

Lubbock, TX

Afternoon in Lubbock on Sunday

Local time

2:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

S 10 mph 69% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 12 at 12:53AM CDT until April 12 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Port Arthur, TX

Afternoon in Port Arthur on Sunday

Local time

2:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Mostly Cloudy

SE 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 12 at 12:53AM CDT until April 12 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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.

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

12 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

11h 20m 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 Port Arthur, TX covers 621.9 miles and takes about 11h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Texas State Highway 71, US Highway 84, State Highway 153. 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 311 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 311 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 $95.00 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Lubbock, TX and Port Arthur, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and 71 Toll East.

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 1 ft to 3,203 ft elevation with about 249 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Port Arthur, TX to Lubbock, TX

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621.6 mi 11h 19m

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Trip from Lubbock, TX to Port Arthur, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Port Arthur, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lubbock, TX

Port Arthur, TX

Same local time

12 degrees warmer at arrival

11h 20m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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