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Amarillo

Give Amarillo two nights with a car: one full day for Palo Duro Canyon, one half-day for Cadillac Ranch and Route 66, then drive on.

Amarillo is the hub of the Texas Panhandle and the practical base for Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the United States, 27 miles southeast. The city itself is a car town strung along I-40: Route 66 kitsch, a serious quarter-horse museum, steak and Tex-Mex. Two nights covers it; a car turns it from a fuel stop into a stop worth making.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
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Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (35°C (95°F)+ afternoons), late Dec–Feb ice storms
Airports
Rick Husband Amarillo International (AMA) · Tradewind (TDW)
Nights
2

About Amarillo

Amarillo sits at the centre of the Texas Panhandle, on the northern edge of the Llano Estacado Plateau, and serves as the economic, industrial, transport and cultural hub of the High Plains region. Its Spanish name means "yellow". The city is the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon, described as America's second largest canyon, and is rated as having some of the cleanest air in the country thanks to a relatively mild climate. Wide open spaces and striking sunrises and sunsets define the surrounding area.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Amarillo: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices

See

What is worth your time in Amarillo.

  • Cadillac Ranch — An eccentric roadside attraction built by the art collective Ant Farm on the decommissioned Route 66, now reached by an I-40 frontage road, where ten old Cadillacs stand upended and half-buried in a cow pasture and visitors are encouraged to spray-paint them.
  • American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum — A showcase of Western art with larger-than-life bronze statues, a Wall of Honor Plaza, interactive exhibits and a light sculpture of running quarter horses.
  • Amarillo Museum of Art — Houses a gallery of Asian art and rotating exhibits, with free admission and a special event on the third Thursday of each month featuring live music, hands-on art activities, film and free coffee.
  • Amarillo Botanical Gardens — A garden with specimens from the High Plains, next to the Helium Times Column Monument and the Don Harrington Discovery Center.
  • Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian — Displays exhibits on Native American culture along with cultural dance performances.

Eat and drink

Specialities of this place.

  • The Big Texan Steak Ranch — A Route 66 icon moved when I-40 came through, known nationwide for a 72-oz steak dinner given free to anyone who finishes it within one hour; country/Western performances happen every Tuesday.
  • Calico County — Home-style cooking including chicken fried steak, meat loaf, catfish, all-veggie plates and chicken and dumplings.
  • Abuelo's Mexican Food — Voted Best Mexican food in Amarillo for several years.
  • Belmar Bakery & Cafe — Voted Best Bakery in Amarillo, also serving sandwiches, salads and soups.

Customs

  • Cowboy remains an honourable profession in Amarillo, and the area's Western heritage is still felt.
  • The city supports a symphony, ballet, little theater and opera, and is home to Amarillo College.
  • Central Amarillo's north-south avenues are named for US presidents in order of service, from Washington just west of downtown through Cleveland to the east.

Events

  • Tri-State Fair and Rodeo — Held mid-September each year and described as the largest annual event in the Texas Panhandle, with a PRCA rodeo, livestock and horse shows, live entertainment, exhibits and a midway.September
Emergency numbers for Amarillo911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Amarillo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSteak dinner, mid-range steakhouse$28–55
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast burrito or diner plate$10–18
  • Beerdraught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9$9–14
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshareRideshare coverage thins late at night.$12–18
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Museum or sight ticketPalo Duro Canyon day-use entry$8 per person
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$120
  • Mid-range bedMid-range motel double room, a night, per roomUS$120
  • High-end bedMid-range motel double room, a night, per roomUS$200

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$250

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cadillac RanchPalo Duro Canyon gatewayRoute 66 and the Big TexanAmerican Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
Airports
AMA Rick Husband Amarillo International (Nonstop to Dallas, Houston, Denver and Las Vegas; about 11 km (6.8 mi) east of downtown, no public bus to the terminal.) · TDW Tradewind Airport (General aviation only, about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of downtown.)

Map of Amarillo

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

CanyonConwayPanhandleVegaFritchBorgerHereford, TexasGroom

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Amarillo
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  5. May

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid*

    11°C (52°F)

Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F) low), wettest May (7 rain days), driest Jan (3). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Amarillo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

10°C (50°F)

−4°C (25°F)

3 rd

Feb

12°C (54°F)

−3°C (27°F)

4 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

1°C (34°F)

5 rd

Apr

22°C (72°F)

6°C (43°F)

5 rd

May

27°C (81°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

Jun

32°C (90°F)

16°C (61°F)

7 rd

Jul

34°C (93°F)

19°C (66°F)

7 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

18°C (64°F)

7 rd

Sep

29°C (84°F)

14°C (57°F)

6 rd

Oct

23°C (73°F)

7°C (45°F)

4 rd

Nov

16°C (61°F)

1°C (34°F)

3 rd

Dec

11°C (52°F)

−4°C (25°F)

3 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is close to essential: sights sit 5–25 km apart along I-40 and Loop 335, and Amarillo City Transit runs limited routes with long waits. Downtown avenues are named for presidents west to east; most cross streets are numbered. Old Route 66 is Amarillo Boulevard, running just north of downtown and the airport.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Palo Duro Canyon State Parkgo

Door to door: About 45–60 min

US 87 south to Canyon, then Park Road 5; car only

Second-largest canyon in the US, about 120 miles long and up to 800 ft deep. Day-use entry fee per person; book timed entry online in peak season.

Cadillac Ranch

go

Door to door: About 20 min

I-40 west frontage road, exit 60

Ten half-buried Cadillacs in a field; free, open access, walk about 100 yards from the roadside. Bring your own spray paint.

Vega, Texas

go

Door to door: About 30 min

I-40 west, about 28 miles

Well-preserved Route 66 buildings and nearby ghost towns; pair with Cadillac Ranch on the same westbound run.

Borger and Alibates Flint Quarries

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

TX-136 north, about 35 miles to the monument

Quarry tours are ranger-led and by reservation only — check dates before you drive.

Pampa

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

US 60 east, about 55 miles

Route 66 and oil-boom heritage; a half-day if you are already heading east.

McLean, Texas

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

I-40 east, about 70 miles

Small Route 66 town with a restored filling station; combine with Shamrock and Adrian on a full eastbound day.

Shamrock

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

I-40 east, about 90 miles

Art Deco Route 66 main street; long for a return trip, better as a stop en route to Oklahoma.

Adrian, Texas

go

Door to door: About 1 h

I-40 west, about 55 miles

The midpoint of Route 66; a photo stop, not a day.

Wellington, Texasskip

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

US 287 south then US 83, about 100 miles

Too far for a day return from Amarillo.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Polk Street

Walkable bars and restaurants between 7th and 8th; the only area where you can leave the car parked.

I-40 West (Coulter and Soncy)

The motel strip: cheapest beds, Westgate Mall, 15–20 min drive from downtown.

East I-40 near the airport

One-night airport stopovers; nothing to walk to.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$130–200 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$120US$240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Compact car hire, one day1 × US$55US$55
Palo Duro Canyon day-use entry, per person2 × US$8US$16
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$86
Trip total≈ US$237 per person per day, bed includedUS$947

2026 estimate in US dollars; car hire and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Breakfast burrito or diner plate$10–18
Steak dinner, mid-range steakhouse$28–55
Beer: draught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9 / $9–14
5 km taxi or rideshareRideshare coverage thins late at night.$12–18
Palo Duro Canyon day-use entry$8 per person
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Amarillo is a normal mid-size US city: violent crime concentrates in a few pockets, so stay downtown or on the I-40 west motel strip and lock the car. The bigger risks are heat, dehydration and long empty drives.
  • Summer afternoons hit 35°C (95°F)+; hike Palo Duro before 10:00 or after 17:00 and carry more water than you think you need.
  • Spring brings hail, high wind and tornado watches; check the forecast before a canyon day.
  • Distances are deceptive — Palo Duro's gate is 27 miles from downtown, so budget an hour each way with stops.
  • Some Route 66 roadside stops and small museums keep short or seasonal hours: check before driving out.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

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AmarilloAmarillo

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No consulates in Amarillo; nearest consulates-general are in Dallas, Houston and Denver — check your country's list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • AMA airport → downtown, taxi or rideshare: about $25–35, 15–20 min
  • Downtown → Palo Duro Canyon gate: about 27 miles, 45–60 min by car
  • Amarillo City Transit single ride: low fare, limited routes and hours

Say or show

  • Where is the rental car return? — Where is the rental car return?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is Palo Duro Canyon? — How far is Palo Duro Canyon?
  • Is there a fee to park here? — Is there a fee to park here?
  • Thank you — Thank you

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Amarillo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (35°C+ afternoons), late Dec–Feb ice storms · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 9 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for AMA: last flight arrivals, taxi and rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four driving clusters with anchors: downtown and Polk Street, I-40 west (Cadillac Ranch, Vega), Palo Duro and Canyon, east I-40 (Big Texan, airport museums).
  3. Place pages with verified hours and fees (Palo Duro, Quarter Horse Museum, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat, hail and wind fixtures so canyon days can be flagged green or red.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Amarillo

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