Hotels in Lubbock

You'll find Lubbock's greatest concentration of hotels and motels in three areas: downtown; off of I-27 between 50th Street and Loop 289; and in the city's southwest corner, off Loop 289 near Quaker and Indiana avenues. Rates are highest the weekends Texas Tech plays home football games and during graduation and other special events.

Among the city's chain properties are Courtyard by Marriott, 4001 S. Loop 289 (tel. 806/795-1633), with double rates of $119 to $169; Embassy Suites, 5215 S. Loop 289 (tel. 806/771-7000), with suites for $109 to $299; and Motel 6, 909 66th St. (tel. 800/466-8356 or 806/745-5541), with double rates of $42 to $52. In Post, 36 miles southeast of Lubbock via U.S. 84, the historic 1915 Hotel Garza, 302 E. Main St. (tel. 806/495-3962; www.hotelgarza.com), offers individually decorated rooms and suites for $96 to $142 for two people, as well as a number of guest cottages for $80 to $300 nightly. Under construction at press time and slated to open in fall 2009, Lubbock's biggest hotel will soon be the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, on 4th Street just east of University Avenue (tel. 806/776-7000; www.overtonhotel.com), with double rates of $169 to $299.

Room taxes in Lubbock add 13% to lodging bills.

Camping -- Buffalo Springs Lake, FM 835 (tel. 806/747-3353), has one of the most scenic campgrounds in the area, with 33 shady sites and three tent areas. Camping fees are $12 for tents and $18 to $24 for full hookups. Caprock Canyons State Park (tel. 806/455-1492) is another popular camping destination, with primitive backcountry sites ($8) and tent sites ($12-$14), as well as sites with partial RV hookups ($15-$20).