Mackenzie Main City Park
Near the start, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h
Distance
509.6 mi
820 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Alice, TX
Atahan Demir
Lubbock, TX to Alice, TX is 509.6 miles and takes about 9 hours via US Highway 84 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $77 and best split over two days. This long-distance drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path south. It's a practical route for moving between these two points, with a significant portion on major highways. Consider this trip if you need an efficient way to cover the ground, keeping in mind the need for an overnight stop to make the journey comfortable.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
254.8 miles from Lubbock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 30m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 10 | 71.7 mi | 1h 14m |
| Lucian Adams Freeway | 66.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| Grassmeyer Street | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| US 83 | 40 mi | 38m |
| South Nueces Street | 36.1 mi | 36m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lubbock, TX and Alice, TX.
Start on US 62; TX 114
Turn left onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto TX 153
Turn right onto FM 2111
Turn left onto TX 158
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
Turn left onto US 83
Continue on US 83
Continue on US 83
Take the exit onto US 83
Continue on I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Continue on West Market Street
Continue on East Market Street
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 37; US 281
Continue on I 37; US 281
Take the exit onto US 281 South
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
Take the exit
Continue on US 281 Business
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
Turn right onto North Cameron Street
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 9-hour duration, splitting this 509.6-mile drive into two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight for your first leg. With two recommended stops, plan for breaks roughly every 2.5 hours. Pay attention to fuel availability, especially on the longer stretches between towns on US Highway 84; topping off your tank when you see a station is a good strategy. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for potential wind, which can be a factor across the open Texas landscape.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 112 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 254.8 miles or 4h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 254.8 miles or 4h 30m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lubbock, 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.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lubbock, TX
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Alice, TX
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
168 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
336 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Fair Oaks Ranch, TXNight 1
255 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 255 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 254.8 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 255 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~11 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 8 am–12 pm
+17262273834
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 115.7 and 382.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 83 / South 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$77.00 one way
$154.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $84.28 | $168.57 |
| premium | $4.54 | $90.99 | $181.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $112.51 | $225.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 152.9 | 1 | $53.51 | $24.46 |
| Efficient EV | 127.4 | 1 | $44.59 | $20.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 203.8 | 2 | $71.34 | $32.61 |
Gas CO2
178 kg
EV CO2
60 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Patchy Blowing Dust
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 8:45PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:58PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Late night in Alice on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
59°F
Sweetwater, TX
168 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is primarily a highway drive, with 72% of it on major roads like US Highway 84 and I-10. Expect long stretches of open road, including one segment of 73.9 miles on US Highway 84 where you'll maintain consistent speeds. The Lucian Adams Freeway provides a final approach to your destination. While largely highway-focused, the overall character is that of a long haul across Texas, emphasizing forward progress over varied scenery.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 84 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in near US 84.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 509.6 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 115.7 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.7 miles (US 83 / South 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lubbock, TX and Alice, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Downtown.
Sh 70 South
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
San Angelo
Downtown
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.
Alice is a city of 19,000 people (2018) on the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. It is a focal point for the oil industry in the area, and is considered to the "birthplace of Tejano music".
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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