Trip from Gladewater, TX to Lubbock, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 55m

Distance

461.6 mi

743 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$71

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

7h 47m ★

6 AM

7h 55m

8 AM

8h 13m

10 AM

8h 2m

12 PM

8h 0m

3 PM

8h 3m

5 PM

8h 12m

8 PM

7h 50m

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

Best Time

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Gladewater, TX

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Gladewater, TX to Lubbock, TX is 461.6 miles and takes about 7h 55m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I 20, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route crosses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path across the state. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a solid option if you need to get from East Texas to the South Plains efficiently. You'll encounter a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, so plan for varied driving conditions. It's a practical choice for a direct transit, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

230.8 miles from Gladewater, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	219.1 mi	3h 43m
I 20	90.9 mi	1h 32m
US 84	74.5 mi	1h 14m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	22 mi	23m
Highway 84	20 mi	19m
US Highway 271	10 mi	10m
East Highway 84	6.8 mi	6m
Slaton Road	4.9 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway — 219.1 mi, about 3h 43m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,899 veh/hr typical · worst 2,421

Quietest

2 AM

~243 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 105 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 Gladewater, TX and Lubbock, TX.

Start on US 271

0.3 mi · 24 sec · North Main Street

Turn slight right onto US 271

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Tyler Street

Continue on US 271

10.0 mi · 10 min · US Highway 271

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 20

72 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 20

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

19 mi · 20 min · I 20

Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

22 mi · 23 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 20

25 mi · 26 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

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

Starting early from Gladewater, TX, will give you ample daylight to complete the 7h 55m drive to Lubbock, TX, without feeling rushed. The route has two planned stops, which are ideal for stretching your legs and refueling. Consider taking your longer break around the halfway point or after the 219.1-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from the highway segments to surface roads, as fuel availability might vary. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in timing your departure and 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 230.8 miles from Gladewater, TX, or about 3h 58m 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 102 miles or 1h 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 230.8 miles or 3h 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 51m

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 Gladewater, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Gladewater, TX

This is one driving day of about 461.6 miles and 7h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Gladewater, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks 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.

city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Stephenville, TX

231 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

Mesquite, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stephenville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 230.8 miles from Gladewater, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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 website

American 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 website

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Visit website

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

Visit website

12th Armored Division Memorial

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13256776515

Visit website

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Final third 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 345.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

13.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

85 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | I 20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

151.2 mi into trip | ~2h 37m 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

155.2 mi into trip | ~2h 42m 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

345.3 mi into trip | ~5h 55m 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

$70.68 one way

$141.35 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$78.00	$156.00
premium	$4.64	$84.29	$168.57
diesel	$6.18	$112.29	$224.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$71

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$96–$121

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 161.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	138.5	1	$48.47	$22.16
Efficient EV	115.4	1	$40.39	$18.46
EV Truck/SUV	184.6	2	$64.62	$29.54

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 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 Oct 17, 2026

Origin

Gladewater, TX

Afternoon in Gladewater on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Clear

N 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Destination

Lubbock, TX

Afternoon in Lubbock on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

35°F

Patchy Frost

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

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

12 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

7h 55m 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?

This drive is 49% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 461.6 miles at higher speeds. The longest continuous stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway is 219.1 miles, offering a chance for steady cruising. After that, expect a transition to surface roads as you navigate the remaining distance. You'll notice a shift from consistent highway travel to a more varied pace, potentially with more intersections and local traffic as you approach your destination.

49% 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?

8/10

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 13.3 miles in near I 20.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 461.6 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 13.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.2 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,203 ft 363 ft

Total Climb

3,157 ft

Total Descent

317 ft

Highest Point

3,203 ft

~462.3 mi in

Elevation Range

2,840 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Gladewater, TX

Full guide →

Gladewater is a city in the Central Piney Woods region of Texas. It's probably best known for being Elvis Presley's base early in his career, and Johnny Cash wrote "I Walk the Line" here.

Arriving in Lubbock, TX

Full guide →

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 7h 55m. Total distance: 461.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

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 52 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 52 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.8 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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