Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Lubbock, TX to Port Lavaca, 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
9h 30m
Distance
528 mi
850 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 22m
★
6 AM
9h 31m
8 AM
9h 48m
10 AM
9h 37m
12 PM
9h 35m
3 PM
9h 38m
5 PM
9h 47m
8 PM
9h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Port Lavaca, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lubbock to Port Lavaca is 528 miles and takes about 9 hours 30 minutes via US Highway 84 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $84 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive begins in the Great Plains region of Texas and concludes in the same region, covering a significant portion of the state. While it's possible to complete in one day, a 9.5-hour driving time suggests that most travelers will find it more comfortable to break this trip into two days. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path across Texas with minimal elevation changes.
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
264 miles from Lubbock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 10 | 59.6 mi | 1h |
| Grassmeyer Street | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| US Highway 87 East | 41.2 mi | 46m |
| US 83 | 40 mi | 38m |
| Anderson Loop | 33 mi | 37m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 84
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~537 veh/hr typical · worst 948
Quietest
3 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
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 Lubbock, TX and Port Lavaca, 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
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
29
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
30
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
31
Merge onto Loop 1604
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
33
At end of road, turn left onto US 87
41 mi
·
46 min
·
US Highway 87 East
34
Continue on US 87
23 mi
·
24 min
·
West Fay
35
Turn left onto TX 72
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
TX 72
36
Turn left onto US 77 Alt; US 87; US 183
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Esplanade Street
37
Turn right onto US 87
24 mi
·
27 min
·
East Broadway Street
38
Continue on US 87
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
39
Turn left onto US 87; US 59 Bus; US 77 Bus
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Rio Grande Street
40
Turn right onto US 87
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Navarro Street
41
Turn left onto US 87
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Goodwin Avenue
Use the left lane.
42
Continue on US 87
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Port Lavaca Drive
43
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US 87
44
Arrive at destination
US 87
Trip Plan
Given the 9.5-hour estimated driving time, planning for two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart Lubbock early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for the first leg. With two recommended stops, you can comfortably break the drive into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 73.9-mile stretch on US Highway 84, as services may be more spread out in some areas. Your estimated fuel cost is $84, so budget accordingly and consider refueling stops strategically.
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 264 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 4h 40m 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 116 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 264 miles or 4h 40m 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 264 miles or 4h 40m
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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Lavaca, 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 264 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Port Lavaca, TX
Aim for roughly 264 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 116 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
174 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
348 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 San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
264 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 264 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 116 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 264 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 264 miles or 4.8 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
0 mi from route
Scenic View
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Kerr County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Kerr County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
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
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Circle K / Valero Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Shell / Texas Cooler Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
Maui Maui Kids Play Island
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+12102578118
Visit websiteMackenzie Main City Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteGet Out of My Escape Room
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Hill Country Village, Texas
Hours: Closed
+12104753174
Visit websiteHolocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–3 pm
+12103026807
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 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
$80.16 one way
$160.31 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
185 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $88.35 | $176.69 |
| premium | $4.58 | $95.21 | $190.41 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $111.21 | $222.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 184.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 158.4 | 1 | $55.44 | $25.34 |
| Efficient EV | 132 | 1 | $46.20 | $21.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 211.2 | 2 | $73.92 | $33.79 |
Gas CO2
185 kg
EV CO2
62 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.
Origin
Lubbock, TX
Afternoon in Lubbock on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph
27% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 22 at 8:56AM CDT until May 25 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 22 at 7:12AM CDT until May 25 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Port Lavaca, TX
Afternoon in Port Lavaca on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
2 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
9h 30m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 400.5
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 345.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 60% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 73.9 miles on US Highway 84 before transitioning to I-10. The shift from US Highway 84 to I-10 will involve merging with faster-moving traffic. Expect stretches of rural cruising interspersed with sections of more developed areas as you approach your destination. The final approach into Port Lavaca will involve navigating surface streets like Grassmeyer Street.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 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
At 9h 30m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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 27 significant decision points across 528 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,203 ft
18 ft
Total Climb
506 ft
Total Descent
3,691 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
Elevation Range
3,185 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 Port Lavaca, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Loop 1604 East.
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 East
370.6 mi in
|
~6h 27m
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 Port Lavaca, TX
Full guide →Port Lavaca is a city on the South Barrier Coast of Texas and is the county seat of Calhoun County.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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 264 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 32 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 Port Lavaca, 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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Port Lavaca, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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