The drive from Amarillo, TX to McAllen, TX covers 745.4 miles and takes about 13h 10m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US Highway 84, I 10 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $112.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
372.7 miles from Amarillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 34m into the drive
.
Drive Character
At 745.4 miles and 13h 10m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US Highway 84.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 61 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 103.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 13h 10m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 127.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 40 significant decision points across 745.4 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 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 40 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
6
238 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6
244.5 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...
8
391.8 mi into trip|~6h 54m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
8
505.1 mi into trip|~8h 49m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Downtown.
Loop 289
119.1 mi in|~2h 3m
Sh 70 South
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
San Angelo
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
Downtown
505.1 mi in|~8h 49m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
103.7 mi
1h 43m
US Highway 84
73.9 mi
1h 14m
I 10
71.7 mi
1h 14m
Lucian Adams Freeway
66.8 mi
1h 8m
South Nueces Street
66.2 mi
1h 10m
Falfurrias Expressway
55.8 mi
58m
Grassmeyer Street
41.9 mi
44m
US 83
40 mi
38m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 103.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX.
1
Start on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
286 ft·8 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
0.4 mi·57 sec·North Pierce Street
3
Continue on US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
1.0 mi·2 min·North Pierce Street
4
Continue on US 60; US 87
14 mi·16 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27
104 mi·1 hr 43 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 536BToward Loop 289
7
Turn straight onto North Interstate 27
0.5 mi·1 min·North Interstate 27
8
Turn left onto North Loop 289
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Loop 289
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
10
Merge onto Loop 289
7.5 mi·8 min·Loop 289
11
Take the exit
421 ft·10 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
12
Keep slight right at fork
233 ft·5 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
13
Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southeast Loop 289
14
Turn right onto Spur 331
1.9 mi·2 min·Southeast Drive
15
Merge onto US 84
0.2 mi·13 sec·Slaton Road
16
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
17
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 84
20 mi·20 min·East Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
20
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·16 sec·East 15th Street
21
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi·37 sec·Ralls Road
22
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi·2 min·North Avenue F
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US Highway 84
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi·6 min·US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 244Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
26
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southwest Georgia Avenue
27
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
28
Continue on TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
29
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi·33 min·State Highway 153
30
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi·13 min·FM 2111
31
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi·7 min·TX 158
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft·18 sec·Hutchings Avenue
33
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi·18 min·South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Grassmeyer Street
35
Continue on US 83
29 mi·31 min·Ellis Street
36
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi·38 min·US 83
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the left lane.
37
Continue on I 10
54 mi·54 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
40
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
42
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
43
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
44
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Market Street
45
Continue on East Market Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Market Street
46
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
0.2 mi·21 sec·Tower of the Americas Way
Use the right lane.
47
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
48
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
49
Continue on I 37; US 281
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·South Nueces Street
52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi·10 min·I 69C; US 281
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi·58 min·Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
54
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
18 mi·18 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 281 South, TX 495: Pharr
56
Merge onto I 2; US 83
2.1 mi·2 min·I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward Texas 336: 2nd Street, 10th Street
58
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
0.8 mi·1 min·East Expressway 83
59
Turn right onto TX 336
0.9 mi·1 min·South 10th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
60
Turn right onto US 83 Bus
22 ft·0 sec·West Business 83
Use the right lane.
61
Arrive at destination
US 83 Bus
Trip Plan
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 372.7 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 6h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 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 164 miles or 2h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 372.7 miles or 6h 34m 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 372.7 miles or 6h 34m
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 12h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McAllen, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amarillo, 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 Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 373 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into McAllen, TX
Aim for roughly 373 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 164 miles from Amarillo, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 103.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 372.7 mi from Amarillo, TX
· 6h 34m into the drive
The midpoint is around 372.7 miles from Amarillo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 373 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in McAllen, TX
The final approach into McAllen, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around McAllen, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach McAllen, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 514.1
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.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 462.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$112.63 one way
$225.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg261 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$123.28
$246.57
premium
$4.54
$133.09
$266.17
diesel
$5.61
$164.57
$329.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$113
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$243–$353
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 260.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
12 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Supercharger
Amarillo, Texas
Tesla
1 DCFC
Universal EV Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Universal Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Blink
1 DCFC
Universal EV Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Universal EV Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Universal EV Charging Station
Amarillo, Texas
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 9
Tesla: 1
Blink: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $78 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
223.6
2
$78.27
$35.78
Efficient EV
186.4
2
$65.22
$29.82
EV Truck/SUV
298.2
3
$104.36
$47.71
Gas CO2
261 kg
EV CO2
87 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Friday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 10 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
The Fire Weather Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Midland/Odessa TX on this developin...
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 2:01AM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
McAllen, TX
Late night
in McAllen on Friday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
15 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
13h 10m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Amarillo, TX to McAllen, TX covers 745.4 miles and takes about 13h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US Highway 84, I 10. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 373 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 372.7 miles from Amarillo, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $112.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 40 significant decision points across 745.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Amarillo, TX and McAllen, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Downtown.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
