Concho County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to Lamesa, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 28m
Distance
340.7 mi
548 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 16m
★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 35m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 52m
8 PM
6h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Lamesa, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin to Lamesa is 340.7 miles and takes about 6h 28m via US Highway 87 North, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to highways, making for a straightforward trip across the Texas landscape. You'll be traveling through the Great Plains region for the entire duration, so expect consistent scenery. With 93% of the route on highways, it's a quick and efficient way to get between these two Texas cities, ideal if you want to cover ground without much complication.
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
170.3 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 87 North | 75.3 mi | 1h 15m |
| United States Highway 87 | 71.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| TX 71 | 48.7 mi | 53m |
| East State Highway 71 | 42 mi | 56m |
| West Highway 71 | 22.4 mi | 31m |
| US 87 | 18.6 mi | 20m |
| South US Highway 87 | 18.1 mi | 18m |
| North US Highway 87 | 15.2 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 87 North
— 75.3 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and Lamesa, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
417 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Brazos Street
357 ft
·
23 sec
·
Brazos Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto East 6th Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Atlanta Street
233 ft
·
6 sec
·
Atlanta Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Loop 1 South
6
Merge onto Loop 1
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
9
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto West Highway 71
22 mi
·
31 min
·
West Highway 71
11
Continue on TX 71
42 mi
·
56 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 71
13
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Young Street
14
Continue on TX 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
TX 71
15
Turn right onto US 87; US 377
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 87; US 377
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Commerce Street
17
Turn straight onto US 87
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
United States Highway 87
18
Continue on US 87; Loop 306
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Bryant Boulevard
19
Continue on US 87; US 277
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Koenigheim Street
20
Continue on US 87; US 277; US 67 Bus
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
North Bryant Boulevard
21
Continue on US 87
23 mi
·
23 min
·
US Highway 87 North
22
Continue on US 87
16 mi
·
16 min
·
US 87
23
Turn straight onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163
52 mi
·
52 min
·
US Highway 87 North
24
Continue on US 87
15 mi
·
15 min
·
North US Highway 87
25
Continue on US 87
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
William Crooker Highway
26
Continue on US 87
18 mi
·
18 min
·
South US Highway 87
27
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dallas Avenue
28
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lynn Avenue
29
Turn left
160 ft
·
11 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, starting in Austin early in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Lamesa with plenty of daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan to break up the drive around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on US Highway 87 North, as services can be spread out in this part of Texas. The $53 fuel estimate is based on the total mileage, so budget accordingly before you depart.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.3 miles from Austin, TX, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 miles.
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 75 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.3 miles or 3h 28m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lamesa, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Austin, 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 Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 340.7 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Austin, 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.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 87 North for about 75.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
170 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170.3 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 87 North if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
US-87 Knotts Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Coke County Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
1.9 mi from route
TXB Market
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteBadu Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Llano, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+13252474158
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteHeart of Texas Country Music Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Early stretch
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Brady, Texas
Hours: Closed
+13255971895
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Brazos Street
Turn left onto Brazos Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Atlanta Street
Turn left onto Atlanta Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, L...
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.67 one way
$93.33 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
119 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $52.12 | $104.25 |
| premium | $4.23 | $56.67 | $113.34 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $64.33 | $128.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.2 | 1 | $35.77 | $16.35 |
| Efficient EV | 85.2 | 0 | $29.81 | $13.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.3 | 1 | $47.70 | $21.80 |
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Austin, TX
Afternoon in Austin on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 5 to 10 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 7:22AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Lamesa, TX
Afternoon in Lamesa on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 to 15 mph
49% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 7:22AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
95°F
Mason, TX
170 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.
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
7 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
6h 28m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 47
Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 93% of the 340.7 miles being high-speed cruising. You'll experience a longest stretch of 75.3 miles on US Highway 87 North without needing to exit. Expect consistent rural cruising for the majority of the trip. The drive transitions from US Highway 87 North to TX 71, but the highway feel persists for most of the journey.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.3 mi on US Highway 87 North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 87 North and United States Highway 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Brazos Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 340.7 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 0.1 miles (Brazos Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,993 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
2,750 ft
Total Descent
243 ft
Highest Point
2,993 ft
~340.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,506 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Austin, TX
Full guide →“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
- • Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
- • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
- • Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Arriving in Lamesa, TX
Full guide →Founded 1903
Lamesa is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas. It is heavy on the agriculture sector and gives off an authentic feel of provincial Texan life.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 28m. Total distance: 340.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.3 miles on US Highway 87 North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lamesa, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Brazos Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lamesa, TX before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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