Trip from Portland, TX to Lubbock, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 20m
Distance
534.7 mi
861 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$73
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, TX
Thomas balabaud
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 534.7-mile journey from Portland, TX, to Lubbock, TX, is a substantial undertaking, requiring approximately 9 hours and 20 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best planned as a two-day trip to avoid excessive fatigue. The route primarily utilizes I-37, I-10, and US-84, with a significant 79% share of highway driving. You can expect a fuel cost of around $81 for this trip. Spanning across the Great Plains region, this drive is a straightforward, long-distance trek perfect for those who enjoy covering ground efficiently.
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
267.4 miles from Portland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 37 | 138.8 mi | 2h 20m |
| I 10 | 98.7 mi | 1h 37m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| Frisco Avenue | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| North Main Street | 29.3 mi | 30m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| Roberts Avenue | 16.5 mi | 18m |
Traffic on I-37
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,782 veh/hr typical · worst 2,317
Quietest
2 AM
~178 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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 Portland, TX and Lubbock, TX.
Start on this road
Turn straight onto US Highway 181
Continue on US Highway 181
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 181; TX 35
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 37
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 37
Take the exit
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto US 83
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
Continue on US 83
Continue on US 83
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
Turn left onto TX 158
Turn right onto FM 2111
Turn left onto TX 153
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Turn right onto Loop 46
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour and 20-minute drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight driving and reach a comfortable stopping point. With two recommended stops, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically, keeping in mind the longest stretch without a major change is 138.8 miles on I-37. The estimated fuel cost of $81 means you'll want to monitor your gas levels, especially during those longer highway segments. Consider breaking the drive roughly in half to make the most of your travel time.
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.
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 118 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 267.4 miles or 4h 36m 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 267.4 miles or 4h 36m
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 8h 16m
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 Portland, 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 Portland, TX
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lubbock, TX
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 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
353 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 Mount Pleasant, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
267 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Junction, TX after about 267 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 267.4 miles from Portland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 37 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 miles or 4.7 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.
Kerr County Westbound Rest Area
San Patricio County Southbound Rest Area
Parking Area
Llano Estacado Picnic Area
Picnic Area
Love's Travel Stop
Picnic Area
Picnic Area
Flying J Travel Center
Picnic Area
Kerr County Eastbound Rest Area
Picnic Area
Picnic Area
Picnic Area
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
Service Plaza
Scenic View
Picnic Area
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Service Plaza
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
QuikTrip
Picnic Area
Pilot Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Picnic Area
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Flying J Travel Center
Mackenzie Main City Park
Near the end, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18067752673
Visit websiteAmerican Windmill Museum
Near the end, short detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18067478734
Visit websiteSan Antonio Museum of Art
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12109788100
Visit websiteSan Antonio River Lock & Dam
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+12102271373
Visit websiteSpanish Governor's Palace
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12102077527
Visit websiteSan Antonio Fire Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm
+12103907236
Visit websiteGO RIO San Antonio River Cruises
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+12102274746
Visit websiteSan Antonio | The Saga
Early in the drive, short detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9–9:30 pm
+12102259800
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 315 decision points cluster between mile 148.9 and 264.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.24 one way
$146.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $81.80 | $163.61 |
| premium | $4.23 | $88.94 | $177.88 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $100.96 | $201.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$203–$313
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 187.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.4 | 1 | $56.14 | $25.67 |
| Efficient EV | 133.7 | 1 | $46.79 | $21.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.9 | 2 | $74.86 | $34.22 |
Gas CO2
187 kg
EV CO2
63 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
Portland, TX
Morning in Portland on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Morning in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
11:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
8 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
9h 20m 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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-distance drive, with over three-quarters of the route (79%) being highway miles. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 138.8 miles on I-37, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While primarily highway, the transition through different interstate and US highway segments means the road's character will evolve, offering a mix of faster travel and potentially more varied scenery as you head northwest. The overall feel is one of covering distance across open terrain.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 37 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 148.9 miles in.
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 31 significant decision points across 534.7 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 148.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.8 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.6 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,886 ft
Total Descent
712 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
~534.7 mi in
Elevation Range
3,174 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portland, TX and Lubbock, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome and Menard.
Alamodome
Menard
About the Cities
Starting in Portland, TX
Full guide →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
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.
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