This 217.2-mile drive from Spearman to Lubbock, Texas, is manageable in about 3 hours and 25 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate West Kenneth Avenue and FM 119 before merging onto US 287 South. With a projected fuel cost of around $33, this journey through the Great Plains region is budget-friendly. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. This route offers a straightforward connection between two points in the vast Texas landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.5 miles from Spearman, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
104.5 mi
1h 44m
US 287
51.8 mi
56m
FM 281
28 mi
30m
TX 207
14.3 mi
14m
Canyon Expressway
13.9 mi
15m
FM 119
13.4 mi
13m
Spur 326
2.8 mi
4m
West Kenneth Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 104.5 mi, about 1h 44m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Spearman, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on FM 759; FM 760
154 ft·3 sec·Northwest Court
2
Turn slight right onto FM 759; FM 760
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Kenneth Avenue
3
Turn left onto TX 207
14 mi·14 min·TX 207
4
Turn right onto FM 281
28 mi·30 min·FM 281
5
Turn left onto FM 119
13 mi·13 min·FM 119
6
Turn left onto US 287
50 mi·51 min·US 287
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
1.9 mi·4 min·US 287
Toward US 287 South: Taylor StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight left onto US 287
14 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27
104 mi·1 hr 44 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit onto Spur 326
2.8 mi·4 min·Spur 326
Exit 536AToward Spur 326: Avenue Q
11
Turn left onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft·0 sec·19th Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 25 minute duration, starting your trip in Spearman in the morning allows ample time to reach Lubbock without feeling rushed. With only one suggested stop, plan your break strategically along FM 119 or as you transition to US 287 South. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Spearman, as services might be more spaced out on these local roads. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits as you move from smaller roads to the US highway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 114.5 miles from Spearman, TX, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 50 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.5 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Spearman, 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 Spearman, TX
This is one driving day of about 229.1 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Spearman, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 104.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 229.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
14.7 mi into trip|~15m in|FM 281
Turn right onto FM 281
Navigation decision point
7
106 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Taylor Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 287 South: Taylor Street
4
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 27 / Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27 / Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
226.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|Spur 326
Take the exit onto Spur 326 toward Spur 326: Avenue Q
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 536A
Toward Spur 326: Avenue Q
4
229.1 mi into trip|~4h in|US 62; TX 114 / 19th Street
Turn left onto US 62; TX 114 / 19th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.38 one way
$62.76 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$35.05
$70.10
premium
$4.23
$38.11
$76.22
diesel
$4.80
$43.26
$86.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.7
0
$24.06
$11.00
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.16
EV Truck/SUV
91.6
1
$32.07
$14.66
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 18, 2026
Origin
Spearman, TX
Late night
in Spearman on Sunday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 10 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Late night
in Lubbock on Sunday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
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.
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 86.9
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 86.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is decidedly turn-heavy, with a 0% highway share, meaning you won't be on high-speed interstates for any significant portion. This suggests a journey that flows through local roads and state highways, requiring your attention to navigation and speed adjustments. While the longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, the overall profile indicates a route where you'll be making frequent turns and encountering varied road conditions typical of local and farm-to-market roads. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with the landscape and the local infrastructure.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in near FM 281.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles (FM 281): Navigation decision point; at 106 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.8 miles (I 27 / Marshall Formby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles (FM 281): Navigation decision point; at 106 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.8 miles (I 27 / Marshall Formby Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lubbock, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
