Skip to main content

Trip from Montopolis, TX to Sunray, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 5m

Distance

565.9 mi

911 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$78

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
9h 57m ★
6 AM
10h 6m
8 AM
10h 24m
10 AM
10h 12m
12 PM
10h 10m
3 PM
10h 13m
5 PM
10h 23m
8 PM
10h 0m

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

Downtown Montopolis, TX, TX

Montopolis, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Downtown Sunray, TX, TX

Sunray, TX

Pixabay

Trip Overview

Montopolis, TX to Sunray, TX is 565.9 miles and takes about 10h 5m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US 84, with a fuel budget near $90 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Given the roughly 10-hour duration, this trip is best split over two days to avoid fatigue. Plan for a straightforward drive with minimal complex urban navigation.

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

282.9 miles from Montopolis, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway 109.9 mi 1h 51m
US 84 104.9 mi 1h 49m
North US Highway 183 72.6 mi 1h 18m
State Highway 153 69 mi 1h 14m
South Fillmore Street 45.4 mi 47m
East Commerce Street 22 mi 25m
Highway 84 20 mi 19m
US 183 14.6 mi 16m
Longest stretch: Marshall Formby Memorial Highway — 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m

Traffic on I-27

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~615 veh/hr typical · worst 753

Quietest

2 AM

~47 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

13.1×

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 Montopolis, TX and Sunray, TX.

1

Start on this road

219 ft · 5 sec · this road
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
2

Merge onto 183 Toll

0.8 mi · 47 sec · Bergstrom Expressway
3

Continue on US 183

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4

Take the exit

136 ft · 10 sec
Use the left lane.
5

Turn sharp left onto US 183

1.1 mi · 1 min · US Highway 183 South
6

Continue on 183 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 16 min · US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on 183A Toll

15 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on US 183

36 mi · 38 min · North US Highway 183
10

Continue on US 183

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Key Avenue
11

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

0.2 mi · 14 sec · North US Highway 281
12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190

37 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183
13

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16

30 mi · 34 min · US 84; US 183; TX 16
14

Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377

1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard
15

Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377

22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street
16

Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283

7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue
17

Turn right onto TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street
18

Continue on TX 153; TX 206

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street
19

Continue on TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
20

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153
21

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
22

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
23

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
24

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
25

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84
26

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84
Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
27

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84
28

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F
29

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F
30

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road
31

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street
32

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
33

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84
34

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
35

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
36

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road
37

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
38

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27
39

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
40

Merge onto I 27; US 87

110 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
41

Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87

13 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 87
Toward US 87 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
43

Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66

45 mi · 47 min · South Fillmore Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
44

Continue on US 87; US 287

5.6 mi · 6 min · South Dumas Avenue
45

Turn right onto FM 119

14 mi · 14 min · FM 119
46

Arrive at destination

FM 119; FM 281

Trip Plan

For this 565.9-mile drive, consider departing early to maximize daylight, or split the trip over two days, which is highly recommended given the 10-hour duration. Aim for roughly 5 hours of driving each day, allowing ample time for fuel and rest stops. With a fuel cost estimate of $90, budget accordingly and check your fuel levels before departing, especially before longer stretches like the 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.

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 282.9 miles from Montopolis, TX, or about 5h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 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 124 miles or 2h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 282.9 miles or 5h 10m 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 282.9 miles or 5h 10m

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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunray, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Montopolis, 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 Montopolis, TX

Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Sunray, TX

Aim for roughly 283 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Montopolis, 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 Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 109.9 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

187 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.

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Lubbock, TX

373 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 Lubbock, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

283 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 283 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Brownwood, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 124 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rotan, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 282.9 miles from Montopolis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 283 miles or 5 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 coffee break · home stretch

Mi Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sunray, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+18069480089

Visit website

Mi Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Sunray, Texas

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+18069480089

Visit website

Judy's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Sunray, Texas

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

Visit website

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

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Hale County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Hale County Northbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Rest Area

2.2 mi from route

Austin Bat Tours

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

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 1.9 and 500.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit

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

Use the left lane.
5
1.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 183 / US Highway 183 South

Turn sharp left onto US 183 / US Highway 183 South

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
263 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | US 84

Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

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

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
7
499.9 mi into trip | ~8h 54m in | US 87

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 87 North
6
500.9 mi into trip | ~8h 56m in | US 87; Original US Route 66 / South Fillmore Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66 / South Fillmore Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$77.51 one way

$155.02 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 198 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.89 $86.58 $173.16
premium $4.23 $94.13 $188.26
diesel $4.80 $106.85 $213.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$78

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$208–$318

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 198 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 169.8 2 $59.42 $27.16
Efficient EV 141.5 1 $49.52 $22.64
EV Truck/SUV 226.4 2 $79.23 $36.22

Gas CO2

198 kg

EV CO2

66 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Montopolis, TX

Morning in Montopolis on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 mph 42% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:21PM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:19PM CDT until July 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Sunray, TX

Morning in Sunray on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:21PM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:19PM CDT until July 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

94°F

Brownwood, TX

187 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

2 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 5m 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.

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

National Monument

13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 526.8
View on nps.gov
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 526.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is primarily highway driving, with 60% of the total mileage on major roads like Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US 84. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, offering extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect a shift from highway speeds to surface roads as you approach your destination, adding variety to the driving experience.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.9 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

At 10h 5m, 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 1.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 565.9 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 183 / US Highway 183 South): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 263 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,516 ft 463 ft

Total Climb

3,444 ft

Total Descent

402 ft

Highest Point

3,516 ft

~485 mi in

Elevation Range

3,053 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Montopolis, TX to Sunray, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Lubbock along the way.

Lubbock

263 mi in | ~4h 50m | via US 84

About the Cities

Arriving in Sunray, TX

Full guide →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. 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 283 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 19 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 Sunray, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 183 / US Highway 183 South): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 263 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sunray, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to Sunray, TX

Explore more options from Montopolis, TX or browse trips ending in Sunray, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.