Trip from Lubbock, TX to San Leon, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 30m

Distance

573.2 mi

922 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 29 min

4 AM

10h 21m ★

6 AM

10h 31m

8 AM

10h 50m

10 AM

10h 38m

12 PM

10h 36m

3 PM

10h 39m

5 PM

10h 49m

8 PM

10h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

San Leon, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Lubbock, TX to San Leon, TX is 573.2 miles and takes about 10h 30m via Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for 2 days. This long-haul drive begins in the Great Plains region of Texas and ends in the same region, offering a straightforward, mostly highway experience. Given the 10.5-hour estimated drive time, breaking this up over two days is a practical choice to avoid a marathon driving session. You'll encounter minimal changes in scenery, making it a route best suited for those prioritizing direct travel over extensive sightseeing.

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

286.6 miles from Lubbock, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 9m 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
Gulf Freeway	28.4 mi	33m
East Highway 84	26.9 mi	26m

Longest stretch: Texas State Highway 71 — 137 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lubbock, TX and San Leon, TX.

Start on US 62; TX 114

33 ft · 6 sec · 19th Street

Turn left onto US 84

2.9 mi · 3 min · Avenue Q

Continue on US 84

4.8 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road

Continue on US 84

6.9 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Ralls Road

Turn straight onto TX 207

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F

At end of road, turn left onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

6.5 mi · 6 min · US 84

Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Exit 244 Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue

Turn right onto TX 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Continue on TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Turn left onto TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

Continue on TX 153

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

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

9.4 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 283

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 17 min · US 183

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 183 Toll

6.3 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Continue on TX 71

0.5 mi · 29 sec · East State Highway 71

Continue on TX 71

137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

10 mi · 12 min · Katy Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 768B Toward I 45 South: Galveston Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 45

28 mi · 33 min · Gulf Freeway

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 19 Toward FM 517: Dickinson

Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

Turn left onto FM 517

1.5 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive

Continue on FM 517

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Pine Street

Continue on FM 517

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Main Street

Turn slight right onto FM 517

4.2 mi · 6 min · 41st Street East

Continue on FM 517

1.6 mi · 2 min · Avenue S

Turn slight right onto FM 517

2.8 mi · 5 min · FM 517

Arrive at destination

Avenue I

Trip Plan

For this 10.5-hour drive, plan for an early morning departure if you intend to complete it in one day, or split it into two more relaxed driving days. With 3 recommended stops and a recommended 2-day trip, you have flexibility for rest and refueling. Aim to complete the longest stretch of 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71 before needing a significant break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, as services can be spaced out in some areas. The $87 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices along your route.

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 286.6 miles from Lubbock, TX, or about 5h 9m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 126 miles or 2h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 286.6 miles or 5h 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 286.6 miles or 5h 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 9h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Leon, 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 287 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into San Leon, TX

Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 126 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 137 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Brownwood, TX

189 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

Austin, TX

378 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 Austin, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Killeen, TX

287 mi · about 5.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 287 miles or 5.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Sweetwater, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 126 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 286.6 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 137 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 287 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.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Houston, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 45min to go 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Houston, Texas

2.1 mi

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Houston, Texas

2.2 mi from route

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

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17137520314

Visit website

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15124343927

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 115.7 and 532.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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,...

340.8 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in | 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

376.6 mi into trip | ~6h 48m in

Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...

532.6 mi into trip | ~9h 37m in

Take the exit toward I 45 South: Galveston

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 768B Toward I 45 South: Galveston

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$86.61 one way

$173.22 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 201 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$94.80	$189.61
premium	$4.54	$102.34	$204.68
diesel	$5.61	$126.56	$253.11

Estimated Tolls: $1.23

183A Toll Road (14.3 mi) $1.00

Katy Tollway (3.2 mi) $0.23

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

$87

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$218–$328

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 200.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	172	2	$60.19	$27.51
Efficient EV	143.3	1	$50.16	$22.93
EV Truck/SUV	229.3	2	$80.25	$36.68

Gas CO2

201 kg

EV CO2

67 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Lubbock, TX

Late night in Lubbock on Tuesday

Local time

5:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

37°F

Clear

SSE 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 10:58PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:55PM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

San Leon, TX

Late night in San Leon on Tuesday

Local time

5:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

N 25 mph 82% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 10:58PM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:55PM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

83°F

Brownwood, TX

189 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

24 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 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is primarily highway driving, with 92% of the 573.2 miles on major roads like Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 137 miles, found on Texas State Highway 71. You'll spend most of your time on these main thoroughfares, experiencing consistent cruising speeds. Expect the transition to surface roads to occur later in the drive as you approach your destination.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 137 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 115.7 miles in near US 84.

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 22 significant decision points across 573.2 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 340.8 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between Lubbock, TX and San Leon, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and 71 Toll 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

71 Toll East

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

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 San Leon, TX

Full guide →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 137 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 287 miles on day one.

Expect about $1.23 in tolls one way, starting with 183A Toll Road. 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 San Leon, 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.5 hours each way, a round trip means 21.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Leon, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Lubbock, TX or browse trips ending in San Leon, TX.

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Trip from Lubbock, TX to San Leon, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Downtown Aquarium

Downtown Aquarium

Cidercade Houston

Children's Museum Houston

Rest Area US-84 US-283

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

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

Buc-ee's

Road Ranger

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Mackenzie Main City Park

American Windmill Museum

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Union Station

Midtown Park

Pioneer Farms

Toybrary Austin

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lubbock, TX

San Leon, TX

Same local time

24 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 30m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Lubbock, TX

Arriving in San Leon, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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