Trip from Bedford, TX to Lubbock, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 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

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 26m ★

6 AM

5h 39m

8 AM

6h 6m

10 AM

5h 49m

12 PM

5h 46m

3 PM

5h 50m

5 PM

6h 4m

8 PM

5h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bedford, TX

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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

Longest stretch: I 20 — 182.3 mi, about 3h 4m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,680 veh/hr typical · worst 2,135

Quietest

2 AM

~202 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Forest Ridge Drive

95 ft · 10 sec · Forest Ridge Drive

Turn left onto Bedford Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bedford Road

Turn right onto Airport Freeway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Airport Freeway

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward TX 183 Express Toll West, TX 121 Express Toll South Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto TX 121; TX 183

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Airport Freeway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec

Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express West Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min

Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

182 mi · 3 hr 4 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84

Continue on US 84

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

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.9 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road

Continue on US 84

2.9 mi · 3 min · Avenue Q South Drive

Turn right onto US 62; TX 114

33 ft · 0 sec · 19th Street

Arrive at destination

US 62; TX 114

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 164.2 miles from Bedford, TX, or about 2h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.3 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 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.

Before You Leave

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Bedford, 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 I 20 for about 182.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tye, TX

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Mineral Wells, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Abilene, TX

Meal break

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

0.2 mi from route

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

12th Armored Division Memorial

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13256776515

Visit website

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Hurst, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm

+18178184359

Visit website

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

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.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Airport Freeway

Turn right onto Airport Freeway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 183 Express Toll West, TX 121 Express...

1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express Wes...

23.6 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford

212.2 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in | US 84

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

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.99 one way

$89.99 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 115 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$50.26	$100.52
premium	$4.23	$54.64	$109.28
diesel	$4.80	$62.03	$124.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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, 2026-07-13.

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Bedford, TX

Late night in Bedford on Monday

Local time

4:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny

S 10 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:57AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:56AM CDT until July 19 at 11:50PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Lubbock, TX

Late night in Lubbock on Monday

Local time

4:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 15 mph 29% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:57AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:56AM CDT until July 19 at 11:50PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.

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

6 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

5h 39m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 182.3 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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.

Driving Effort 9/10

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.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,203 ft 593 ft

Total Climb

2,811 ft

Total Descent

201 ft

Highest Point

3,203 ft

~328.5 mi in

Elevation Range

2,610 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Bedford, TX

Full guide →

Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Arriving in Lubbock, TX

Full guide →

“Hub City” · Founded 1890

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.

Top landmarks

• Buddy Holly Center — music museum and art gallery in Lubbock, Texas
• Holden Properties Historic District — historic district in Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas
• Cactus Theater — building in Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 182.3 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 31 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 Lubbock, 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lubbock, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Bedford, TX or browse trips ending in Lubbock, TX.

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Trip from Bedford, TX to Lubbock, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Llano Estacado Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Mackenzie Main City Park

American Windmill Museum

White Settlement Museum

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

Paramount Theatre

12th Armored Division Memorial

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Bedford, TX

Lubbock, TX

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 39m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Bedford, TX

Arriving in Lubbock, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Lubbock, TX

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