Rest Area US-84 US-283
0 mi from route
Trip from Waco, 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
6h 27m
Distance
353.7 mi
569 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 15m
★
6 AM
6h 27m
8 AM
6h 52m
10 AM
6h 36m
12 PM
6h 34m
3 PM
6h 37m
5 PM
6h 51m
8 PM
6h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waco, TX
Tomás Asurmendi
Lubbock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 353.7-mile drive from Waco to Lubbock, Texas, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day of travel. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 27 minutes on the road, with an estimated fuel cost of $53. You'll primarily be navigating West US Highway 84 and US 84, making up 82% of the route. Both Waco and Lubbock reside within the Great Plains region, so the scenery remains consistent throughout this Texas-to-Texas trip. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
176.9 miles from Waco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West US Highway 84 | 103.5 mi | 1h 54m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| East Commerce Street | 22 mi | 25m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| West Waco Drive | 10.8 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 70 | 10.4 mi | 10m |
| Wallis Avenue | 7.2 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
West US Highway 84
— 103.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,210 veh/hr typical · worst 1,594
Quietest
3 AM
~203 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 31 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 Waco, TX and Lubbock, TX.
1
Start on US 84
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Waco Drive
2
Continue on US 84
11 mi
·
15 min
·
West Waco Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Continue on US 84
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West US Highway 84
4
Continue on US 84
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East McGregor Drive
5
Continue on US 84
98 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
West US Highway 84
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 84; US 183
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Garmon Drive
7
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Early Boulevard
8
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
22 mi
·
25 min
·
East Commerce Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Wallis Avenue
10
Turn right onto TX 153
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
11
Continue on TX 153; TX 206
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Walnut Street
12
Continue on TX 153
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
State Highway 153
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Highway 153
14
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
15
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
16
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Northwest Georgia Avenue
17
Take the ramp
340 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
18
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 20; US 84
19
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 84
21
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue F
22
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Avenue F
23
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ralls Road
24
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 15th Street
25
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
26
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 84
27
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
28
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
29
Continue on US 84
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Slaton Road
30
Continue on US 84
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue Q South Drive
31
Turn right onto US 62; TX 114
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
19th Street
32
Arrive at destination
US 62; TX 114
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 27-minute duration, departing from Waco in the morning will get you to Lubbock with daylight to spare. With only one suggested stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 103.5-mile stretch on West US Highway 84, as services might be less frequent. A good tip for this route is to utilize your GPS's traffic feature to anticipate any delays on US 84, which is the backbone of this trip, and adjust your departure accordingly for the smoothest arrival.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.9 miles from Waco, TX, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.5 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 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.9 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 23m
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 Waco, 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 Waco, TX
This is one driving day of about 353.7 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Waco, 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 West US Highway 84 for about 103.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 176.9 miles from Waco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West US Highway 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.5 miles.
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.
Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
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
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
2.1 mi from route
Rest Area
2.2 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 websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 118.3 and 237.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
118.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
142 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
220.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
TX 153 / State Highway 153
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153 / State Highway 153
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
231.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
Northwest Georgia Avenue
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
237.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m 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
$48.45 one way
$96.89 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $54.11 | $108.23 |
| premium | $4.23 | $58.83 | $117.67 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $66.79 | $133.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.14 | $16.98 |
| Efficient EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.95 | $14.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.5 | 1 | $49.52 | $22.64 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% 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
Waco, TX
Morning in Waco on Monday
Local time
9:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Lubbock, TX
Morning in Lubbock on Monday
Local time
9:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 10 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
9 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
6h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 82% of the journey on major roads like West US Highway 84 and US 84. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 103.5 miles on West US Highway 84, meaning extended periods without needing to turn. While primarily highway, the inclusion of State Highway 153 suggests some variation as you get closer to your destination or depart from Waco. The overall profile points to a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress across the Texas landscape.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.5 mi on West US Highway 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West US Highway 84 and US 84. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 118.3 miles in near US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 353.7 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 118.3 miles (US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 142 miles (US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 220.1 miles (TX 153 / State Highway 153): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,203 ft
470 ft
Total Climb
2,792 ft
Total Descent
59 ft
Highest Point
3,203 ft
~353.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,732 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Waco, TX
Full guide →Founded 1849
Waco is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of north central Texas. Waco is best known in Texas for being the home of Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world, chartered during the Republic of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Waco Mammoth National Monument — National Monument of the United States in Texas
- • Waco Suspension Bridge — structure in Waco, McLennan County, Texas
- • ALICO Building — historic place in Waco, McLennan 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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 353.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.5 miles on West US Highway 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 118.3 miles (US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377 / Early Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 142 miles (US 84; US 283 / Wallis Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 220.1 miles (TX 153 / State Highway 153): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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