Connecting Midland to Lubbock, this 118-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Texas Great Plains. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 4 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Since the drive is short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay; you can comfortably complete the commute in one go. Budgeting roughly $18 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Both cities sit within the same region, so the landscape remains consistent as you transition between these West Texas hubs. It is an efficient route designed for those who value practicality and speed over sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59 miles from Midland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North US Highway 87
51.2 mi
51m
State Highway 349
47.7 mi
47m
North Big Spring Street
6.3 mi
10m
Tahoka Highway
4.4 mi
4m
Avenue Q
2 mi
2m
South Lynn Avenue
1.7 mi
1m
South Dallas Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 87
— 51.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midland, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on Loop 269
44 ft·3 sec·West Wall Street
2
Turn right onto TX 349 Bus
6.3 mi·10 min·North Big Spring Street
3
Continue on TX 349 Bus
48 mi·47 min·State Highway 349
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180
268 ft·3 sec·South US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
6
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
7
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
8
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
9
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
10
Continue on I 27; US 87
1.2 mi·1 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward 50th Street
12
Turn straight onto Interstate 27
236 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
13
Turn left onto FM 835
0.6 mi·1 min·50th Street
14
Turn right onto US 84
2.0 mi·2 min·Avenue Q
15
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft·0 sec·19th Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive of just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route involves zero formal stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled and ready before leaving Midland to keep your $18 estimate accurate. Keep a close watch on your speed as you transition between the main highways, especially when moving onto North Big Spring Street. Given the lack of required stops, consider planning a quick break if you feel fatigued, though the route's brevity generally allows for a direct arrival in Lubbock. Use the 51.2-mile stretch on North US Highway 87 as your primary window for steady cruising.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59 miles from Midland, TX, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lubbock, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Midland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Midland, TX
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Midland, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North US Highway 87 for about 51.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 118 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street
Turn right onto TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street
Navigation decision point
5
54 mi into trip|~58m in|US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87
Navigation decision point
4
114.9 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward 50th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 50th Street
3
116 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 84 / Avenue Q
Turn right onto US 84 / Avenue Q
Navigation decision point
3
118 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 62; TX 114 / 19th Street
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114 / 19th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.83 one way
$35.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$19.52
$39.03
premium
$4.54
$21.07
$42.14
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Midland, TX
Late night
in Midland on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Late night
in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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.
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
1 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
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will primarily utilize North US Highway 87, State Highway 349, and North Big Spring Street to navigate between the two cities. The road features a significant uninterrupted stretch, with your longest segment covering 51.2 miles on North US Highway 87. Expect a steady, consistent pace behind the wheel, as the infrastructure is built to facilitate direct travel. While the route lacks technical turns or complex interchanges, it offers a predictable experience that is ideal for drivers who prefer a focused, no-nonsense time on the pavement.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.2 mi on North US Highway 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 87 and State Highway 349. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Midland, TX to Lubbock, TX is easy. At 2h 4m with 84% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87): Navigation decision point; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.
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.
The longest stretch is about 51.2 miles on North US Highway 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87): Navigation decision point; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lubbock, TX before heading back.
