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Trip from Odessa, TX to Lubbock, TX

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

Drive Time

2h 26m

Distance

137.7 mi

222 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 17m ★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m

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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city in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Odessa, TX

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 137.7-mile drive from Odessa, TX, to Lubbock, TX, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes. Primarily utilizing North US Highway 87, along with State Highway 349 and Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway, this journey offers a direct path between two points in the Great Plains region. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, it's an economical option for travelers. The route is focused on highway driving, making it a practical choice for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll find this drive best suited for a quick transit rather than an extended exploration.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

68.8 miles from Odessa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North US Highway 87 51.2 mi 51m
State Highway 349 47 mi 47m
Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway 12.5 mi 12m
Tahoka Highway 4.4 mi 4m
Sergeant Michael Naylor Memorial Highway 3.1 mi 3m
East 2nd Street 2.6 mi 4m
Chris Kyle Memorial Highway 2.4 mi 2m
North FM 1788 2.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: North US Highway 87 — 51.2 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 385

11 ft · 4 sec · North Grant Avenue
2

Turn right onto I 20 Bus

2.6 mi · 4 min · East 2nd Street
3

Continue on I 20 Bus

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Highway 80
4

Turn left onto Northeast Loop 338

493 ft · 17 sec · Northeast Loop 338
5

Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Loop 338

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Northeast Loop 338
6

Merge onto Loop 338

1.3 mi · 1 min · Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the exit

279 ft · 7 sec
Use the right lane.
8

Turn straight onto State Highway 191 East

0.2 mi · 22 sec · State Highway 191 East
9

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
10

Merge onto TX 191

2.4 mi · 2 min · Chris Kyle Memorial Highway
11

Continue on TX 191

3.1 mi · 3 min · Sergeant Michael Naylor Memorial Highway
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward TX 349, FM 1788: UT Permian Basin CEED, Midland International Airport
13

Turn straight onto State Highway 191

0.2 mi · 30 sec · State Highway 191
14

Turn slight left onto TX 349; FM 1788

2.2 mi · 3 min · North FM 1788
15

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 349

12 mi · 12 min · Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway
16

At end of road, turn left onto TX 349

47 mi · 47 min · State Highway 349
17

At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180

268 ft · 3 sec · South US Highway 87
18

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Dallas Avenue
19

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.7 mi · 1 min · South Lynn Avenue
20

Continue on US 87

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lubbock Highway
21

Continue on US 87

51 mi · 51 min · North US Highway 87
22

Continue on I 27; US 87

4.4 mi · 4 min · Tahoka Highway
23

Continue on I 27; US 87

1.2 mi · 1 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
24

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward 50th Street
25

Turn straight onto Interstate 27

236 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27
26

Turn left onto FM 835

0.6 mi · 1 min · 50th Street
27

Turn right onto US 84

2.0 mi · 2 min · Avenue Q
28

Turn right onto US 62; TX 114

33 ft · 0 sec · 19th Street
29

Arrive at destination

US 62; TX 114

Trip Plan

Since this trip clocks in at just under 2.5 hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Aiming for a morning departure can help you arrive in Lubbock with plenty of daylight. With no specific stops noted, you can decide on your own pace, but remember the longest stretch without a significant road change is over 51 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and plan for refueling before you leave Odessa or upon arrival in Lubbock if needed. A good tip is to check traffic conditions on North US Highway 87 before you set out, as it's the primary artery for this short hop.

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 68.8 miles from Odessa, TX, or about 1h 14m 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 30 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.8 miles or 1h 14m 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 59m

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 Odessa, 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 Odessa, TX

This is one driving day of about 137.7 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Odessa, 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.

city and county seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lamesa, TX

69 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Lamesa, TX to Lubbock, TX

61.4 mi · 1h 4m

Pacing Suggestions

Midland, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lamesa, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.8 miles from Odessa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Chuck E. Cheese

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour Moderately mile 19.7

Midland, Texas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14326972322

Visit website

Jack Rabbit

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18007804678

Visit website

McKinney Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

Visit website

Mackenzie Main City Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 137.7

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18067752673

Visit website

American Windmill Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 137.7

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18067478734

Visit website

Chris Kyle Memorial

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 9.8

Odessa, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14323329111

Visit website

Discover Odessa

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14323337871

Visit website

Jim Parker Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

Ector County Coliseum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14323663541

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 73.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | Northeast Loop 338

Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Loop 338

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway

Merge onto Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
5.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit

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

Use the right lane.
5
11.5 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward TX 349, FM 1788: UT Permian Basin CEED, Midland International Airport

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

Toward TX 349, FM 1788: UT Permian Basin CEED,...
5
73.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.81 one way

$41.61 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $22.77 $45.55
premium $4.54 $24.59 $49.17
diesel $5.61 $30.40 $60.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.3 0 $14.46 $6.61
Efficient EV 34.4 0 $12.05 $5.51
EV Truck/SUV 55.1 0 $19.28 $8.81

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (67% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Odessa, TX

Late night in Odessa on Sunday

Local time

1:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lubbock, TX

Late night in Lubbock on Sunday

Local time

1:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

SW 10 to 25 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 7:52AM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 13 at 7:52AM CDT until April 14 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

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

5 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 26m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for about 74% of this 137.7-mile route. Much of your time will be spent on North US Highway 87, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 51.2 miles. While the overall profile is that of a direct highway drive, segments on State Highway 349 and Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway might offer slight variations in road conditions or speed limits. This isn't a winding, scenic byway; it's designed for efficient travel, allowing you to maintain a steady pace for most of the journey.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 87 and State Highway 349. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near Northeast Loop 338.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 137.7 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 4.1 miles (Northeast Loop 338): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

3,203 ft 2,853 ft

Total Climb

383 ft

Total Descent

78 ft

Highest Point

3,203 ft

~137.7 mi in

Elevation Range

349 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Odessa, TX and Lubbock, TX, road signs point toward Fm 1788: Ut Permian Basin Ceed and Midland International Airport.

Fm 1788: Ut Permian Basin Ceed

11.5 mi in | ~15m

Midland International Airport

11.5 mi in | ~15m

About the Cities

Starting in Odessa, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Odessa is a city of 120,000 people (2018) in West Texas, 20 mi (32 km) west of its sister city, Midland. Much of the major industry in the area is oil- and gas-related. As such, the Midland/Odessa area is colloquially known as the petroplex. Many of the attractions you will find in the area are in Midland, so if you're visiting Odessa, the Midland article deserves a look as well. It's also notable as the fountainhead for the Friday Night Lights media franchise, which began with a 1990 book that explored football at the city's Permian High School, later followed by a movie that was mostly faithful to the book, and then a TV series that was a looser adaptation.

Top landmarks

  • • White-Pool House — historic place in Odessa, Ector County, Texas

Arriving 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.

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 137.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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 Lubbock, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (Northeast Loop 338): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lubbock, TX before heading back.

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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