Big Spring, TX to Montopolis, TX is 302.7 miles and takes about 5h 44m via US 87 and TX 29, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to highways, offering a straightforward journey across the Great Plains region of Texas. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major roadways, making it a relatively efficient trip. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with minimal fuss between these two Texas locations. It's a solid choice for a single-day drive, 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
151.4 miles from Big Spring, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
104.4 mi
1h 55m
TX 29
55.6 mi
1h 14m
State Highway 71
47.2 mi
50m
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
38 mi
38m
US 183
14.8 mi
17m
US Highway 87 South
14.6 mi
14m
183A Toll Road
13.3 mi
13m
Bergstrom Expressway
4.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Spring, TX and Montopolis, TX.
1
Start on I 20 Bus
81 ft·5 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto US 87 Bus
1.8 mi·3 min·South Gregg Street
3
Continue on US 87 Bus
2.7 mi·3 min·South US Highway 87
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward US 87 South: San Angelo
5
Merge onto US 87
38 mi·38 min·William B Crooker Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi·2 min·4th Street
7
Continue on US 87
15 mi·14 min·US Highway 87 South
8
Continue on US 87
104 mi·1 hr 55 min·US 87
9
Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377
2.8 mi·3 min·Bridge Street
10
Turn left onto TX 71
47 mi·50 min·State Highway 71
11
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
56 mi·1 hr 14 min·TX 29; TX 71
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto US 183
0.3 mi·20 sec·North US Highway 183
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
14
Merge onto 183A Toll
13 mi·13 min·183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 183
15 mi·17 min·US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on 183 Toll
4.8 mi·5 min·Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 183
0.4 mi·30 sec·Ed Bluestein Boulevard
19
Take the ramp
486 ft·11 sec
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
20
Arrive at destination
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 44-minute estimated drive time, departing in the morning is ideal to ensure you have ample daylight. While this is a manageable one-day trip, remember that the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 100 miles, so plan for a fuel or rest stop around that mark. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. Keep an eye on the road conditions as you transition between US 87, TX 29, and State Highway 71; while the highway share is high, these can sometimes have varying pavement quality.
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 151.4 miles from Big Spring, TX, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 67 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.4 miles or 2h 45m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montopolis, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Spring, 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 Big Spring, TX
This is one driving day of about 302.7 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Big Spring, 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 87 for about 104.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 302 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Turn right onto US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Navigation decision point
3
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward US 87 South: San Angelo
Navigation decision point
Toward US 87 South: San Angelo
5
213 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|TX 29; TX 71
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
269.1 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Merge onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
302 mi into trip|~5h 43m in
Take the exit toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Montopolis Drive, Patton Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.74 one way
$91.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$50.06
$100.13
premium
$4.54
$54.05
$108.09
diesel
$5.61
$66.83
$133.66
Estimated Tolls: $0.93
183A Toll Road
(13.3 mi)$0.93
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
$46
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.8
1
$31.78
$14.53
Efficient EV
75.7
0
$26.49
$12.11
EV Truck/SUV
121.1
1
$42.38
$19.37
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Big Spring, TX
Morning
in Big Spring on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:03PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 11:55AM MDT until April 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Montopolis, TX
Morning
in Montopolis on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:03PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 11:55AM MDT until April 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
85°F
Mason, TX
151 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
3 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 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the route utilizing major roads. Expect a significant stretch of 104.4 miles on US 87, which forms the backbone of this journey for a considerable duration. While much of the drive will feel like a typical highway experience, transitioning to TX 29 and State Highway 71 will introduce variations in the road type. The overall character is one of steady progress, designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic detours.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and TX 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 44m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 213 miles (TX 29; TX 71): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.93 in tolls one way, starting with 183A Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 213 miles (TX 29; TX 71): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Montopolis, TX before the return drive.
