Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Forney, TX to Lubbock, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 23m
Distance
369.2 mi
594 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 11m
★
6 AM
6h 23m
8 AM
6h 48m
10 AM
6h 32m
12 PM
6h 29m
3 PM
6h 33m
5 PM
6h 47m
8 PM
6h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 369.2-mile drive from Forney, Texas, to Lubbock, Texas, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and US 84, with a portion on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, making for a 36% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $56, and with only one recommended stop, it's a fairly straightforward trip. This route offers a mixed drive experience across the Great Plains, connecting two cities within the same 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
184.6 miles from Forney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 219.1 mi | 3h 43m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 22 mi | 23m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| I 20 | 7.3 mi | 7m |
| East Highway 84 | 6.8 mi | 6m |
| Slaton Road | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway | 4.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 219.1 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 84 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,998 veh/hr typical · worst 2,491
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
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 Forney, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on West Main Street
52 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto FM 740
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Bois d'Arc Street
3
Continue on FM 740
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 740
4
At end of road, turn right onto FM 740
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 740
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
6
Merge onto I 20
7.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
190 mi
·
3 hr 12 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward 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 6-hour and 23-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Forney to maximize daylight and ensure you arrive in Lubbock with ample time. With only one stop recommended, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 219.1 miles, so be prepared for extended periods behind the wheel and ensure you have snacks and drinks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach Lubbock, as the $56 estimated fuel cost is based on the total mileage.
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 184.6 miles from Forney, TX, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.1 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 81 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.6 miles or 3h 13m 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 Forney, 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 Forney, TX
This is one driving day of about 369.2 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Forney, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 219.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.6 miles from Forney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 219.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
Mackenzie Main City Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 253 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
62.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
6
253 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m 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
$50.57 one way
$101.14 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $56.48 | $112.97 |
| premium | $4.23 | $61.41 | $122.82 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $69.71 | $139.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.8 | 1 | $38.77 | $17.72 |
| Efficient EV | 92.3 | 1 | $32.31 | $14.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.7 | 1 | $51.69 | $23.63 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Origin
Forney, TX
Late night in Forney on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Late night in Lubbock on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
99°F
Albany, TX
185 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
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 23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Forney to Lubbock presents a mixed driving profile, with a significant portion, 219.1 miles, spent on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. While 36% of the route involves highway travel, expect a good balance of faster stretches and potentially more local road segments. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a journey that offers variety in its road character as you traverse the Great Plains.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 219.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near I 20.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 369.2 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 4.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles (I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.8 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,203 ft
474 ft
Total Climb
2,910 ft
Total Descent
181 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
~369.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,729 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Forney, TX
Full guide →Forney is a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex located in North Central Texas, just east of Dallas.
Top landmarks
- • Brooks, William and Blanche, House — historic place in Forney, Kaufman County, Texas
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 6h 23m. Total distance: 369.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 219.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles (I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.8 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 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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