Del Rio to Lubbock is 353 miles and takes about 6h 21m via US 277 and US Highway 87 North, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling between two sections of the Great Plains, staying within Texas for the entire trip. This is a straightforward, primarily highway route that covers a significant distance in a single day. It's a practical choice if you need to get from South Texas to the Panhandle efficiently, with most of your travel on major roadways.
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
176.5 miles from Del Rio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 277
146.6 mi
2h 42m
US Highway 87 North
75.3 mi
1h 15m
North US Highway 87
66.4 mi
1h 6m
South US Highway 87
18.1 mi
18m
US 87
15.8 mi
16m
Tahoka Highway
4.4 mi
4m
Veterans Boulevard
4.3 mi
6m
William Crooker Highway
4.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 277
— 146.6 mi, about 2h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Del Rio, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on Spur 297
0.2 mi·25 sec·Spur 297
2
Continue on US 90; US 277; US 377
4.3 mi·6 min·Veterans Boulevard
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 277; US 377
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·US 277; US 377
4
Turn left onto US 277; Loop 467
0.7 mi·1 min·South Crockett Avenue
5
Take the exit onto US 277
60 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 277
6
Take the exit onto US 277
0.1 mi·19 sec·US 277
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 277
0.6 mi·1 min·US 277
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 277
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 277
9
Merge onto US 87; US 277
2.8 mi·4 min·South Bryant Boulevard
10
Continue on US 87; US 277
1.4 mi·2 min·South Koenigheim Street
11
Continue on US 87; US 277; US 67 Bus
4.3 mi·6 min·North Bryant Boulevard
12
Continue on US 87
23 mi·23 min·US Highway 87 North
13
Continue on US 87
16 mi·16 min·US 87
14
Turn straight onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163
52 mi·52 min·US Highway 87 North
15
Continue on US 87
15 mi·15 min·North US Highway 87
16
Continue on US 87
4.3 mi·4 min·William Crooker Highway
17
Continue on US 87
18 mi·18 min·South US Highway 87
18
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
19
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
20
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
21
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
22
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
23
Continue on I 27; US 87
1.2 mi·1 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward 50th Street
25
Turn straight onto Interstate 27
236 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
26
Turn left onto FM 835
0.6 mi·1 min·50th Street
27
Turn right onto US 84
2.0 mi·2 min·Avenue Q
28
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft·0 sec·19th Street
29
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, leaving Del Rio in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Lubbock with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 146.6-mile stretch on US 277, as services might be spread out. The relatively short duration means you have flexibility; you could even depart mid-morning if needed. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before departing, as this route offers limited opportunities for unscheduled maintenance stops.
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 176.5 miles from Del Rio, TX, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.6 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 78 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.5 miles or 3h 20m 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 19m
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 Del Rio, 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 Del Rio, TX
This is one driving day of about 353 miles and 6h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Del Rio, 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 277 for about 146.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 349.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|US 277; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 277; US 377
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 277
Take the exit onto US 277
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
150.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 277
Keep slight left at fork onto US 277
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
151.6 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|US 277
Keep slight right at fork onto US 277
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
349.9 mi into trip|~6h 17m in
Take the exit toward 50th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 50th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.35 one way
$96.70 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$54.01
$108.01
premium
$4.23
$58.72
$117.44
diesel
$4.80
$66.65
$133.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.9
1
$37.07
$16.94
Efficient EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
EV Truck/SUV
141.2
1
$49.42
$22.59
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Del Rio, TX
Late night
in Del Rio on Monday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 10 mph72% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Late night
in Lubbock on Monday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
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 21m 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.
Amistad National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-b...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 12.2
Park Closure: Diablo East Marina Cove, Scuba Cove, and Walkway Access Are Closed
Caution: Help Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Infestation
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 91% highway, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your 353 miles on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 146.6 miles on US 277. Expect consistent rural cruising for most of the trip, with minimal time on surface streets. You'll notice the landscape opening up as you head north, typical of the Great Plains.
91% 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: 146.6 mi on US 277.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 277 and US Highway 87 North. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near US 277; US 377.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 353 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (US 277; US 377): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 90.9 miles (US 277): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.9 miles (US 277): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 21m. Total distance: 353 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.6 miles on US 277. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (US 277; US 377): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 90.9 miles (US 277): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.9 miles (US 277): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Amistad National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 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.
