Cleburne to Lubbock is 323.2 miles and takes about 5h 47m via I 20 and US 84, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a predominantly highway experience. Given its direct nature and manageable duration, it's a solid choice for a single-day trip if you prefer to get to your destination efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries, making for a straightforward drive across the state.
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
161.6 miles from Cleburne, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
169.2 mi
2h 50m
US 84
74.5 mi
1h 14m
TX 171
35.5 mi
52m
Highway 84
20 mi
19m
East Highway 84
6.8 mi
6m
Slaton Road
4.9 mi
6m
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
4m
Avenue Q South Drive
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 169.2 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,058 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,515
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Cleburne, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on US 67 Bus
49 ft·8 sec·East Henderson Street
2
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
281 ft·12 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 67 Bus
280 ft·12 sec·East Chambers Street
4
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Caddo Street
5
Continue on TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
520 ft·8 sec·North Caddo Street
6
Turn straight onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
1.6 mi·2 min·North Main Street
7
Turn left onto TX 171
35 mi·52 min·TX 171
8
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
10
Merge onto I 20
169 mi·2 hr 50 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 84
Exit 238AToward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 84
13
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi·1 min·South Avenue F
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Avenue F
15
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi·38 sec·Ralls Road
16
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·17 sec·East 15th Street
17
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
18
Continue on US 84
20 mi·19 min·Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
21
Continue on US 84
4.9 mi·6 min·Slaton Road
22
Continue on US 84
2.9 mi·3 min·Avenue Q South Drive
23
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft·0 sec·19th Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
For this 5h 47m drive, leaving Cleburne in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider an early start to avoid afternoon traffic. There's only one recommended stop, so plan for a break around the halfway point or when you feel the need. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 169.2-mile stretch on I 20, as services can be spread out in some sections of West Texas. The $44 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 161.6 miles from Cleburne, TX, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.2 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 71 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.6 miles or 3h 1m 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 45m
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 Cleburne, 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 Cleburne, TX
This is one driving day of about 323.2 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Cleburne, 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 169.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 206.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 67 Bus / East Chambers Street
Turn left onto US 67 Bus / East Chambers Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Caddo Street
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
5
37.4 mi into trip|~55m in|West Interstate 20
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
206.9 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
$44.27 one way
$88.54 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$49.45
$98.89
premium
$4.23
$53.76
$107.52
diesel
$4.80
$61.03
$122.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97
1
$33.94
$15.51
Efficient EV
80.8
0
$28.28
$12.93
EV Truck/SUV
129.3
1
$45.25
$20.68
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Cleburne, TX
Evening
in Cleburne on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Partly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 17 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Evening
in Lubbock on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 17 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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 47m 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?
You'll cover 323.2 miles, with 95% of that on highways, meaning you'll be on major roads for almost the entire trip. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 169.2 miles, which occurs on I 20. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of this drive, with fewer exits and more open road once you are out of the immediate urban areas. Surface roads will only be a minor factor toward the beginning and end of your travel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 169.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 84. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main 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 47m drive. You will face about 14 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 (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 67 Bus / East Chambers Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Caddo Street): Navigation decision point.
Cleburne is one of those fun close-minded towns named after a Confederate general in the Cross Timbers region. It was first a rendezvous point for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, mostly under Patrick Cleburne, then a watering hole on the Chisholm Trail, then a stop along multiple railroads. But today it's more or less a conservative suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with a couple of museums and a reservoir known as Lake Cleburne.
Top landmarks
•Johnson County Courthouse — historic place in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas
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
The longest stretch is about 169.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 67 Bus / East Chambers Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Caddo Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 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.
