Trip from Lubbock, TX to Brownwood, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 20m
Distance
557.5 mi
897 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brownwood, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lubbock to Brownwood covers 557.5 miles and requires roughly 10 hours and 20 minutes of time behind the wheel. Because of the significant distance, you should plan to split this journey into two days to keep your arrival stress-free. Your route relies primarily on US Highway 84, Texas State Highway 71, and State Highway 153. Expect to set aside approximately $85 for fuel to complete the trip. Both cities sit within the Great Plains region, meaning you will experience consistent terrain throughout your travels. It is a substantial trek, so treating it as a multi-day excursion ensures you remain alert and comfortable behind the wheel.
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
278.7 miles from Lubbock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 183 | 51.8 mi | 57m |
| South US Highway 183 | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| US Highway 84 East | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
| US 67 | 21.5 mi | 24m |
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,887 veh/hr typical · worst 5,738
Quietest
2 AM
~583 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 51 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 Lubbock, TX and Brownwood, 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
Continue on TX 153
Continue on TX 153
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
Continue on US 67; US 84
Turn right onto US 84; US 183
Continue on US 84; US 183
Turn right onto US 183; TX 16
Continue on US 183; US 190
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
Continue on US 183
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll
Continue on US 183
Continue on 183 Toll
Continue on US 183
Take the exit
Continue on TX 71
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
Continue on TX 71
Continue on TX 71
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10 Toll
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Continue on I 10; US 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 330
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Decker Drive
Turn right onto Bayway Drive
Turn right onto West Schreck Street
Continue on West Schreck Street
Turn right onto Bayshore Drive
Continue on Bayshore Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleton Avenue
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 557.5-mile distance effectively, try to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours during your first leg. With two planned stops recommended, pace yourself by scheduling breaks every few hours to stretch and refresh. Since you are covering significant ground, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer 137-mile stretch of Highway 71 where service stations may be more spaced out. Budgeting $85 for gas is a solid baseline, but carrying a little extra cash or keeping your tank topped off is a smart strategy for this duration. Breaking the trip into two days will help you stay sharp and make the transition between the Great Plains regions much more enjoyable.
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 123 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 278.7 miles or 5h 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 278.7 miles or 5h
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 8h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brownwood, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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 279 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brownwood, TX
Aim for roughly 279 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
184 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
368 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 Jarrell, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
279 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kempner, TX after about 279 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 123 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 278.7 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 279 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.
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.
Llano Estacado Picnic Area
San Saba Picnic Area
Flying J Travel Center
Buc-ee's
Picnic Area
Service Plaza
QuikTrip
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
Buc-ee's
Road Ranger
TA
Flying J Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Flying J Travel Center
TA
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Flying J Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Pilot Travel Center
Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area
Colorado County Westbound Rest Area
Rest Area
Buc-ee's
Service Plaza
Mackenzie Main City Park
Near the start, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
Near the start, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteLakeline Park
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Cedar Park, Texas
+15124015500
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12814206597
Visit websiteARs Entertainment Hub Baytown
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Baytown, Texas
Hours: 4–10 pm
+18889999440
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 115.7 and 518.6 — 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
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.63 one way
$169.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $93.28 | $186.56 |
| premium | $4.58 | $100.53 | $201.05 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $117.43 | $234.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 195.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 167.3 | 2 | $58.54 | $26.76 |
| Efficient EV | 139.4 | 1 | $48.78 | $22.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 223 | 2 | $78.05 | $35.68 |
Gas CO2
195 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Lubbock, TX
Afternoon in Lubbock on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 3:38PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 2:56PM CDT until May 28 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Destination
Brownwood, TX
Afternoon in Brownwood on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 3:38PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 2:56PM CDT until May 28 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
76°F
Brownwood, TX
184 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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
10h 20m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is defined by its long-distance nature, featuring a high 92% share of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time navigating open stretches, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 137 miles along Texas State Highway 71. The road transitions between various highway types, offering a mix of high-speed cruising and steady pacing. You can expect a relatively straightforward driving experience, though the length of the trip demands sustained attention. Prepare for a consistent rhythm as you traverse these specific state and federal corridors across the Texas landscape.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84. 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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 557.5 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 340.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
71 ft
Total Descent
3,268 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
Elevation Range
3,198 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lubbock, TX and Brownwood, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and 71 Toll East.
Sh 70 South
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
San Angelo
71 Toll East
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Brownwood, TX
Full guide →Brownwood is a city in central Texas. Founded in 1857, it has some of the common origin stories of Texas towns with railroads and oil booms, and it was considered to be the biggest cotton center west of Fort Worth at the turn of the century. What really spurred its growth though was the establishment of a WWII training camp called Camp Bowie. Today, Brownwood is known for its Baptist college Howard Payne University and its reservoir with fishing and swimming nearby.
Top landmarks
- • St. John's Episcopal Church — church building in Brownwood, Texas, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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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