Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Palestine, TX to Lubbock, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 6m
Distance
451.5 mi
727 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 58m
★
6 AM
8h 6m
8 AM
8h 23m
10 AM
8h 12m
12 PM
8h 10m
3 PM
8h 13m
5 PM
8h 22m
8 PM
8h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palestine, TX
Alfo Medeiros
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Palestine, TX to Lubbock, TX is 451.5 miles and takes about 8h 6m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and US 84, with a fuel budget near $68 and best split over two days. This drive takes you across the heart of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another section of the Great Plains. Expect a mixed drive experience, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road travel. With a recommended two-day itinerary, you'll have ample time to break up the 451.5 miles and enjoy the journey without feeling rushed.
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
225.7 miles from Palestine, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 219.1 mi | 3h 43m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| US Highway 175 West | 58.9 mi | 1h 3m |
| North State Highway 19 | 28.3 mi | 41m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| East Highway 84 | 6.8 mi | 6m |
| Slaton Road | 4.9 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 219.1 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 84 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,998 veh/hr typical · worst 2,491
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
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 Palestine, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on Loop 127
267 ft
·
7 sec
·
Avenue A
2
Turn right onto US 84; US 287
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Spring Street
3
Continue on TX 19
28 mi
·
41 min
·
North State Highway 19
4
Continue on TX 19 Bus
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Palestine Street
5
Turn left onto US 175 Bus
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Corsicana Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 Bus
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US Highway 175 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 20
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 20
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
190 mi
·
3 hr 12 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 84
14
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue F
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Avenue F
16
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ralls Road
17
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 15th Street
18
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 84
20
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
22
Continue on US 84
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Slaton Road
23
Continue on US 84
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue Q South Drive
24
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
19th Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time, it's highly recommended to split this trip over two days to make the most of your travel. Aim to depart Palestine, TX in the morning to cover a substantial portion of the distance on your first day. Plan your overnight stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or a town that offers good amenities. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 219.1-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, as services can be spread out in some sections.
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 225.7 miles from Palestine, TX, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.1 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 99 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 225.7 miles or 4h 14m 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 225.7 miles or 4h 14m
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 7h 2m
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 Palestine, 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 Palestine, TX
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lubbock, TX
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from Palestine, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 219.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
226 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 Mineral Wells, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
226 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mineral Wells, TX after about 226 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 99 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 225.7 miles from Palestine, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 219.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 226 miles or 4.1 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.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
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
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
Mackenzie Main City Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteParamount Theatre
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Abilene, Texas
+13256769620
Visit websiteAdamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Visit website12th Armored Division Memorial
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13256776515
Visit websiteThe Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+13256735050
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 35.4 and 335.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
35.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 175 Bus / US Highway 175 West
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 Bus / US Highway 175 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
94.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
141.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
145.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
6
335.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.84 one way
$123.68 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
158 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $69.08 | $138.15 |
| premium | $4.23 | $75.10 | $150.20 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $85.25 | $170.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$192–$302
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 158 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 135.5 | 1 | $47.41 | $21.67 |
| Efficient EV | 112.9 | 1 | $39.51 | $18.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 180.6 | 2 | $63.21 | $28.90 |
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Palestine, TX
Late night in Palestine on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Late night in Lubbock on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph
24% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth 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.
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 6m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 219.1 miles. While there are faster highway sections, be prepared for a change in pace as you transition to roads like US Highway 175 West. The drive generally keeps you moving steadily across the Texas landscape without extreme changes in elevation or road complexity.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 219.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.4 miles in near US 175 Bus / US Highway 175 West.
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 451.5 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 35.4 miles (US 175 Bus / US Highway 175 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.1 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,203 ft
379 ft
Total Climb
2,916 ft
Total Descent
189 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
~451.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,823 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Palestine, TX
Full guide →Founded 1846
Palestine is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. It dates way back to the origins of the Texas Republic practically, when Anderson County was carved out and needed a county seat. Then it was a stage stop on the route between Texarkana and Austin and later a stop for the railroad, from which it derives a lot of its fame today, because of a popular restored line between here and Rusk that offers a sense of train travel of yesteryear through the Piney Woods. The town itself looks a little stuck in the past, and can be worth a gander.
Top landmarks
- • Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School — building in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas
- • Texas State Railroad — Heritage railroad in east-central Texas
- • Anderson County Courthouse — historic place in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas
Arriving 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 219.1 miles on Ronald Reagan 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 226 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 36 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 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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.4 miles (US 175 Bus / US Highway 175 West): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.1 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lubbock, 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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