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Trip from Santa Fe, 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

10h 23m

Distance

569 mi

916 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$86

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
10h 14m ★
6 AM
10h 24m
8 AM
10h 42m
10 AM
10h 30m
12 PM
10h 28m
3 PM
10h 31m
5 PM
10h 41m
8 PM
10h 18m

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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Downtown Santa Fe, TX, TX

Santa Fe, TX

Mark Direen

county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States

Lubbock, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 569.7-mile journey from Santa Fe, Texas, to Lubbock, Texas, will take approximately 8 hours and 56 minutes of driving time. Given its length, this route is best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy the drive. You'll be traveling entirely within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region towards another part of the Great Plains. Expect a fuel cost of around $87 for this trip. With two planned stops, this is a substantial long-distance drive that requires careful planning.

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

284.5 miles from Santa Fe, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 84 104.9 mi 1h 49m
TX 71 77.7 mi 1h 22m
Katy Freeway 73.8 mi 1h 20m
North US Highway 183 72.6 mi 1h 18m
State Highway 153 69 mi 1h 14m
South Gulf Freeway 28.3 mi 32m
East Commerce Street 22 mi 25m
Highway 84 20 mi 19m
Longest stretch: US 84 — 104.9 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on TX 6

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Highway 6
2

Turn right onto FM 1764

497 ft · 8 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 1764
3

Continue on FM 1764

1.5 mi · 2 min · FM 1764
4

Turn left onto FM 646

3.5 mi · 6 min · FM 646
5

Turn right onto FM 517

1.1 mi · 2 min · FM 517
6

Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 45 North Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 45

28 mi · 32 min · South Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 48B Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10

Merge onto I 10; US 90

74 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto TX 71

0.5 mi · 33 sec · TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
12

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
17

Continue on 183 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 16 min · US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on 183A Toll

15 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on US 183

36 mi · 38 min · North US Highway 183
21

Continue on US 183

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Key Avenue
22

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

0.2 mi · 14 sec · North US Highway 281
23

Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190

37 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183
24

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

30 mi · 34 min · US 84; US 183; TX 16
25

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

1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard
26

Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377

22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street
27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283

7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue
28

Turn right onto TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street
29

Continue on TX 153; TX 206

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street
30

Continue on TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
31

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153
32

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
33

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
34

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
35

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
36

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84
37

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84
Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
38

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84
39

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F
40

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F
41

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road
42

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street
43

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
44

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84
45

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
46

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
47

Continue on US 84

4.9 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road
48

Continue on US 84

2.9 mi · 3 min · Avenue Q South Drive
49

Turn right onto US 62; TX 114

33 ft · 0 sec · 19th Street
50

Arrive at destination

US 62; TX 114

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 569.7-mile drive, consider starting early in the morning to break up the 8 hours and 56 minutes of travel. Splitting the trip over two days is highly recommended, perhaps with an overnight stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as long stretches between services can occur on FM roads; budgeting around $87 for fuel is a good starting point. The two recommended stops should be strategically placed to allow for rest and to break up the driving into manageable segments, especially as you traverse the Great Plains.

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 284.5 miles from Santa Fe, TX, or about 5h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 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 125 miles or 2h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 284.5 miles or 5h 17m 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 284.5 miles or 5h 17m

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 19m

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 Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, TX

Aim for roughly 285 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Lubbock, TX

Aim for roughly 285 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 125 miles from Santa Fe, 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 US 84 for about 104.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Austin, TX

188 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.

Downtown Live Oak, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Live Oak, TX

376 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 Live Oak, TX

Popular next leg

Live Oak, TX to Lubbock, TX

229 mi · 4h 10m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Killeen, TX

285 mi · about 5.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 285 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

College Station, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 125 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 284.5 miles from Santa Fe, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 285 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.

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.

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

Mackenzie Main City Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 569

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 569

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18067478734

Visit website

Toybrary Austin

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 203.2

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15124343927

Visit website

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

Visit website

The Escape Game Houston (Galleria)

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+17136365541

Visit website

Pioneer Farms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 203.2

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15128371215

Visit website

Midtown Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17135267577

Visit website

ExitusVR

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 40.6

Houston, Texas

+17133440525

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 452.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
7.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the ramp toward I 45 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 45 North
7
36.1 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West: San Antonio

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 48B Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
6
110.6 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | TX 71

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
191.8 mi into trip | ~3h 34m in

Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
6
452.7 mi into trip | ~8h 23m 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

$85.98 one way

$171.95 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 199 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $94.11 $188.22
premium $4.54 $101.59 $203.18
diesel $5.61 $125.63 $251.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$86

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$216–$326

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 199.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 170.7 2 $59.74 $27.31
Efficient EV 142.3 1 $49.79 $22.76
EV Truck/SUV 227.6 2 $79.66 $36.42

Gas CO2

199 kg

EV CO2

67 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Santa Fe, TX

Late night in Santa Fe on Sunday

Local time

3:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lubbock, TX

Late night in Lubbock on Sunday

Local time

3:48 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.

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

3 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 23m 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 involves a significant amount of driving on local roads, with 0% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily be navigating Texas Farm-to-Market (FM) roads, including Highway 6 and FM 1764. The absence of high-speed highway travel means you'll experience a more grounded, local perspective throughout the 8 hours and 56 minutes of travel. While no longest uninterrupted stretch is specified, expect a consistent pace dictated by these secondary roads, offering a different feel than a typical interstate cruise.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.9 mi on US 84.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 84 and TX 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 29 significant decision points across 569 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 7.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Santa Fe, TX and Lubbock, TX, road signs point toward Austin and 183 Toll North: Lampasas.

Austin

110.1 mi in | ~2h 7m | via TX 71

183 Toll North: Lampasas

191.8 mi in | ~3h 34m

About the Cities

Starting in Santa Fe, TX

Full guide →

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.9 miles on US 84. 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 285 miles on day one.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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

The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.4 hours each way, a round trip means 20.8 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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