Mackenzie Main City Park
Near the end, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
328.5 mi
529 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Planning a trip from Bedford, TX, to Lubbock, TX? This drive covers 328.5 miles and is estimated to take about 5 hours and 39 minutes, making it a feasible one-day journey. You'll primarily be on I-20, US-84, and Highway 84, with 95% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $50. Both Bedford and Lubbock are located within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This route is a straightforward highway-focused option for getting between these two Texas cities.
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
164.2 miles from Bedford, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 182.3 mi | 3h 4m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| Jim Wright Freeway | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 6.9 mi | 6m |
| East Highway 84 | 6.8 mi | 6m |
| West Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| Slaton Road | 4.9 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, TX and Lubbock, TX.
Start on Forest Ridge Drive
Turn left onto Bedford Road
Turn right onto Airport Freeway
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 121; TX 183
Take the exit
Merge onto TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
Merge onto I 820
Continue on I 820
Take the exit
Merge onto I 30
Merge onto I 20
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
For this 5-hour and 39-minute drive, departing from Bedford, TX, early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With a fuel cost of approximately $50, plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially considering the longest stretch without exits is 182.3 miles on I-20. While it’s a manageable day trip, you have flexibility since it's not an excessively long drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the latter half of the journey, particularly before entering longer, less populated sections of US-84.
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.
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 72 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.2 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lubbock, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bedford, 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 Bedford, TX
This is one driving day of about 328.5 miles and 5h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
164 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 164.2 miles from Bedford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the end, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
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White Settlement, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+18172469719
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Abilene, Texas
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Abilene, Texas
+13256769620
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13256776515
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Hurst, Texas
Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm
+18178184359
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+13256735050
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 212.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Airport Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward TX 183 Express Toll West, TX 121 Express Toll South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$49.64 one way
$99.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $54.33 | $108.66 |
| premium | $4.54 | $58.65 | $117.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.53 | $145.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.6 | 1 | $34.49 | $15.77 |
| Efficient EV | 82.1 | 0 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.4 | 1 | $45.99 | $21.02 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Late night in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the 328.5 miles spent on major roads like I-20 and US-84. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 182.3 miles on I-20, meaning you can settle in for some uninterrupted driving. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, as the road profile is largely dominated by high-speed highway travel. While the landscape remains consistent across the Great Plains, the character of the drive is defined by its efficiency and directness.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Airport Freeway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 328.5 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 0.5 miles (Airport Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Lubbock is the largest city in the Panhandle of Texas and serves as the area's agricultural and economic hub. Lubbock, commonly known as the Hub City, is in the center of the South Plains, an expansive cotton-growing region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 328.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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