Origin
Waco, TX
Night in Waco on Thursday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
6h 27m
Distance
353.7 mi
569 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waco, TX
Tomás Asurmendi
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 353.7-mile drive from Waco to Lubbock, Texas, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day of travel. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 27 minutes on the road, with an estimated fuel cost of $53. You'll primarily be navigating West US Highway 84 and US 84, making up 82% of the route. Both Waco and Lubbock reside within the Great Plains region, so the scenery remains consistent throughout this Texas-to-Texas trip. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
176.9 miles from Waco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 353.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 82% of the journey on major roads like West US Highway 84 and US 84. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 103.5 miles on West US Highway 84, meaning extended periods without needing to turn. While primarily highway, the inclusion of State Highway 153 suggests some variation as you get closer to your destination or depart from Waco. The overall profile points to a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress across the Texas landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West US Highway 84 and US 84. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 118.3 miles in near US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard.
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 353.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 118.3 miles (US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 142 miles (US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 220.1 miles (TX 153 / State Highway 153): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153 / State Highway 153
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West US Highway 84 | 103.5 mi | 1h 54m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| East Commerce Street | 22 mi | 25m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| West Waco Drive | 10.8 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 70 | 10.4 mi | 10m |
| Wallis Avenue | 7.2 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waco, TX and Lubbock, TX.
Start on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84; US 183
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
Turn right onto TX 153
Continue on TX 153; TX 206
Continue on TX 153
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Turn right onto Loop 46
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
Arrive at destination
Given the 6-hour 27-minute duration, departing from Waco in the morning will get you to Lubbock with daylight to spare. With only one suggested stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 103.5-mile stretch on West US Highway 84, as services might be less frequent. A good tip for this route is to utilize your GPS's traffic feature to anticipate any delays on US 84, which is the backbone of this trip, and adjust your departure accordingly for the smoothest arrival.
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 is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.9 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lubbock, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Waco, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waco, TX
This is one driving day of about 353.7 miles and 6h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176.9 mi from Waco, TX · 3h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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.
A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 176.9 miles from Waco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West US Highway 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.5 miles.
The final approach into Lubbock, 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 Lubbock, TX.
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.
Regular Gas
$53.44 one way
$106.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $58.50 | $117.00 |
| premium | $4.54 | $63.15 | $126.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.09 | $156.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.14 | $16.98 |
| Efficient EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.95 | $14.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.5 | 1 | $49.52 | $22.64 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Waco on Thursday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Lubbock on Thursday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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