Origin
Lubbock, TX
Late night in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lubbock, TX to Cotulla, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 12m
Distance
468.2 mi
753 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 4m
★
6 AM
8h 12m
8 AM
8h 28m
10 AM
8h 18m
12 PM
8h 16m
3 PM
8h 19m
5 PM
8h 27m
8 PM
8h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Cotulla, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 468.2-mile journey from Lubbock, TX to Cotulla, TX is a substantial drive, typically taking around 8 hours and 12 minutes to complete. Given the duration, it's best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace. The route primarily utilizes US Highway 84 and I-10, with about 57% of the drive on highways. You'll be covering ground across the Great Plains region of Texas, with an estimated fuel cost of $71. With two recommended stops, this trip offers a manageable adventure for those looking to traverse this part of the state.
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
234.1 miles from Lubbock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 71.1 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 10 | 59.6 mi | 1h |
| Grassmeyer Street | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| US 83 | 40 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 84
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lubbock, TX and Cotulla, TX.
1
Start on US 62; TX 114
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
19th Street
2
Turn left onto US 84
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue Q
3
Continue on US 84
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Slaton Road
4
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
5
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
20 min
·
East Highway 84
7
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
8
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 15th Street
9
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Ralls Road
10
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue F
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US Highway 84
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
14
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southwest Georgia Avenue
15
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
16
Continue on TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
17
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 153
18
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi
·
13 min
·
FM 2111
19
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
TX 158
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hutchings Avenue
21
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi
·
18 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 83
42 mi
·
44 min
·
Grassmeyer Street
23
Continue on US 83
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Ellis Street
24
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi
·
38 min
·
US 83
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on I 10
54 mi
·
54 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
29
Turn right onto North Loop 1604 West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop 1604 West
30
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Loop 1604 West
31
Merge onto Loop 1604
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto Interstate 35 South
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Interstate 35 South
33
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 35 South
34
Merge onto I 35
71 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 35 Business South: Cotulla
36
Turn slight left onto North Interstate 35
488 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Interstate 35
37
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
38
Turn left onto TX 97
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tilden Street
39
Arrive at destination
TX 97
Trip Plan
For this 8-hour, 12-minute drive, planning an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start your first day with ample daylight, especially if you plan to cover a good portion of the 468.2 miles. With two recommended stops, you can break up the drive effectively, ensuring you have opportunities for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the longest stretch of 73.9 miles on US Highway 84, where services might be more spread out. Your estimated fuel cost is $71, so factor that into your budget.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 234.1 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 4h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 miles.
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 103 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.1 miles or 4h 9m 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 234.1 miles or 4h 9m
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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cotulla, 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 234 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Cotulla, TX
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Lubbock, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 84 for about 73.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
234 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 Live Oak, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Live Oak, TX after about 234 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234.1 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 234 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 115.7 and 369.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
115.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
US 84
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
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6
122.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
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
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...
6
181.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
|
US 83 / South 7th Street
Turn left onto US 83 / South 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
269.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 46m in
|
US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
7
369.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 25m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.75 one way
$141.49 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $77.44 | $154.87 |
| premium | $4.54 | $83.59 | $167.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.37 | $206.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.5 | 1 | $49.16 | $22.47 |
| Efficient EV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.97 | $18.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.3 | 2 | $65.55 | $29.96 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cotulla, TX
Late night in Cotulla on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 12m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 387.4
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 339
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, 57%, on highways. While there are stretches of faster travel, you'll also navigate sections of US Highway 84, including a continuous 73.9-mile segment. The Purple Heart Trail also features in the drive, suggesting a blend of major roadways and potentially more local or scenic byways. This varied road personality means you'll experience different driving conditions, moving from efficient highway cruising to more engaging two-lane travel, making for a dynamic journey.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on US Highway 84.
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 115.7 miles in near US 84.
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 23 significant decision points across 468.2 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 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.
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 Cotulla, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Loop 1604 West.
Sh 70 South
122.2 mi in
|
~2h 6m
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
122.2 mi in
|
~2h 6m
San Angelo
122.2 mi in
|
~2h 6m
Loop 1604 West
370.7 mi in
|
~6h 27m
About the Cities
Starting 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on US Highway 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 234 miles on day one.
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 Cotulla, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cotulla, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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