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Trip from Lubbock, TX to Richwood, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 38m

Distance

581 mi

935 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$87

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
10h 29m ★
6 AM
10h 38m
8 AM
10h 57m
10 AM
10h 45m
12 PM
10h 43m
3 PM
10h 46m
5 PM
10h 57m
8 PM
10h 33m

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

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Richwood, TX, TX

Richwood, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Lubbock, TX to Richwood, TX is 581 miles and takes about 10h 38m via Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84, with a fuel budget near $84 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses mostly the Great Plains region, staying within Texas for the entire trip. Given its length, it's best tackled over two days to avoid fatigue. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, long-haul drive. Plan accordingly if you intend to break it up.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

290.5 miles from Lubbock, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Texas State Highway 71 138.3 mi 2h 26m
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
Nolan Ryan Expressway 24.6 mi 28m
Longest stretch: Texas State Highway 71 — 138.3 mi, about 2h 26m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,210 veh/hr typical · worst 1,594

Quietest

3 AM

~203 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 31 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 Richwood, 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

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
18

Continue on TX 153

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street
19

Continue on TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street
20

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283

9.4 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 283
21

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84
22

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive
23

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East
24

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16
25

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190
26

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281
27

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue
28

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183
29

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road
30

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 17 min · US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Continue on 183 Toll

6.3 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Continue on US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
34

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Use the slight left / straight lanes.
35

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36

Turn straight onto 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37

Continue on TX 71

0.5 mi · 29 sec · East State Highway 71
38

Continue on TX 71

138 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Exit 756 Toward Sam Houston Tollway Use the slight right lane.
40

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward SHT South Use the slight right lane.
41

Merge onto SHT

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Keep slight left at fork onto SHT

5.6 mi · 6 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43

Continue on BW 8

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44

Continue on SHT

10 mi · 12 min · South Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Toward TX 288 Toll North, TX 288 South: Downtown, Lake Jackson, Freeport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward TX 288 Toll South, TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport Use the slight right lane.
47

Continue on South Freeway

0.2 mi · 15 sec · South Freeway
48

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward TX 288 Toll South Use the slight left lane.
49

Merge onto TX 288 Toll

5.0 mi · 5 min · TX 288 Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
50

Merge onto TX 288

0.2 mi · 17 sec · South Freeway
51

Continue on TX 288

25 mi · 28 min · Nolan Ryan Expressway
52

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward TX 35
53

Turn left onto TX 35

1.2 mi · 2 min · TX 35
54

Turn right onto Loop 274

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Front Street
55

Turn straight onto TX 288 Bus

3.3 mi · 4 min · South Velasco Street
56

Continue on TX 288 Bus

3.7 mi · 5 min · Brazosport Boulevard North
57

Turn right onto Cedar Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Cedar Drive
58

Arrive at destination

Cedar Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 10-hour duration, this trip is best split over two days. Consider departing Lubbock in the morning and aiming for a midpoint around the 5-hour mark. You'll have 3 planned stops, so utilize these for breaks and refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 138.3-mile stretch on Texas State Highway 71, as services might be spaced out. The $84 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra budgeted.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 290.5 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 5h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.3 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 128 miles or 2h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 290.5 miles or 5h 13m 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 290.5 miles or 5h 13m

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 9h 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richwood, 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 291 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Richwood, TX

Aim for roughly 291 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 128 miles from Lubbock, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 138.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Texas, United States of America

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Brownwood, TX

192 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.

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

383 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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

291 mi · about 5.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 291 miles or 5.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Sweetwater, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 128 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kempner, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 290.5 miles from Lubbock, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 291 miles or 5.3 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.

Rest Area US-84 US-283

0 mi from route

Llano Estacado Picnic Area

0 mi from route

San Saba Picnic Area

0 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.4 mi from route

Service Plaza

1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.3 mi from route

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Rest Area

2.2 mi from route

Brazosport Museum of Natural Science

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Clute, Texas

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+19792657661

Visit website

The Center for the Arts & Sciences

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Clute, Texas

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+19792657661

Visit website

Mackenzie 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 website

American 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 website

Morrison Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lake Jackson, Texas

+19792974533

Visit website

Lake Jackson Historical Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Lake Jackson, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19792971570

Visit website

Sea Center Texas

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Lake Jackson, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19792920100

Visit website

Kids Party Planet

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lake Jackson, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19795292076

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 520 and 541.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
520 mi into trip | ~9h 21m in

Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 756 Toward Sam Houston Tollway
7
520.4 mi into trip | ~9h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SHT South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward SHT South
7
540.3 mi into trip | ~9h 46m in

Take the exit toward TX 288 Toll North, TX 288 South: Downtown, Lake Jackson, Freeport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward TX 288 Toll North, TX 288 South: Downtow...
8
540.8 mi into trip | ~9h 47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 288 Toll South, TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 288 Toll South, TX 288 South: Lake Ja...
8
541.4 mi into trip | ~9h 48m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 288 Toll South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 288 Toll South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$87.22 one way

$174.44 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 203 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $96.51 $193.01
premium $4.57 $104.42 $208.84
diesel $6.28 $143.56 $287.11

Estimated Tolls: $2.39

Sam Houston Tollway (17.4 mi) $1.39
183A Toll Road (14.3 mi) $1.00

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

$87

Tolls

$2

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$220–$330

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 203.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $61 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 174.3 2 $61.01 $27.89
Efficient EV 145.3 1 $50.84 $23.24
EV Truck/SUV 232.4 2 $81.34 $37.18

Gas CO2

203 kg

EV CO2

68 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.

Forecast as of Oct 20, 2026

Origin

Lubbock, TX

Afternoon in Lubbock on Thursday

Local time

4:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

S 5 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Destination

Richwood, TX

Afternoon in Richwood on Thursday

Local time

4:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Clear

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

81°F

Brownwood, TX

192 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

7 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

10h 38m 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 is a long-haul drive where 89% of the route is on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 138.3 miles on Texas State Highway 71. Expect mostly rural cruising with limited exits for extended periods. As you transition from highway to surface roads, you'll notice a change in speed limits and traffic patterns.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
58 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.3 mi on Texas State Highway 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 520 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 27 significant decision points across 581 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 520 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 520.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 540.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,203 ft 15 ft

Total Climb

0 ft

Total Descent

3,187 ft

Highest Point

3,203 ft

Elevation Range

3,187 ft

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 Richwood, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo, 71 Toll East, Sam Houston Tollway and Sht South - among others.

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

71 Toll East

379.3 mi in | ~6h 51m | via 71 Toll

Sam Houston Tollway

520 mi in | ~9h 21m

Sht South

520.4 mi in | ~9h 22m

Lake Jackson

540.3 mi in | ~9h 46m

Freeport

540.3 mi in | ~9h 46m

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.

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 Richwood, TX

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 138.3 miles on Texas State Highway 71. 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 291 miles on day one.

Expect about $2.39 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 24 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 Richwood, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 520 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 520.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 540.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.6 hours each way, a round trip means 21.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richwood, 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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