Trip from Austin, TX to Amarillo, TX

Drive Time

7h 36m

Distance

496.3 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Austin, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 496.3 miles and takes about 7h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Red River Street, East 7th Street, Interstate 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

248.2 miles from Austin, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 36m drive with frequent turns across 496.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Red River Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Red River Street	0 mi	0m
East 7th Street	0 mi	0m
Interstate 35	0 mi	0m
I 35 North	0 mi	0m
Purple Heart Trail	0 mi	0m
US 183 North	0 mi	0m
Highway 183	0 mi	0m
South Key Avenue	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Red River Street — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on East 5th Street

2

Turn left onto Red River Street

3

Turn right onto East 7th Street

4

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

5

Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East

6

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

7

Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail

8

Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North: Lampasas

9

Merge slight left

10

Continue straight

11

Continue on North US Highway 183

12

Continue on South Key Avenue

13

Continue on North US Highway 281

14

Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183

15

At the end of the road, turn left

16

Turn left onto Early Boulevard

17

Continue on East Commerce Street

18

Keep slight right to continue on Wallis Avenue

19

Turn right onto East Walnut Street

20

Continue on West Walnut Street

21

Continue on State Highway 153

22

Keep slight right to continue on State Highway 153

23

Turn right onto State Highway 70

24

Continue on Lamar Street

25

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

26

Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 West: Midland

27

Merge slight left

28

Take the exit slight right toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

29

Keep slight left

30

Turn right onto South Avenue F

31

Keep slight left to continue on North Avenue F

32

Turn straight onto Ralls Road

33

Turn left onto East 15th Street

34

Turn right onto North US Highway 84

35

Continue on Highway 84

36

Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

37

Continue on East Highway 84

38

Continue on Slaton Road

39

Take the exit slight right

40

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

41

Take the ramp straight

42

Merge slight left onto Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

43

Continue on Canyon Expressway

44

Keep slight left to continue on US 87 North

45

Keep slight right to continue on South Fillmore Street

46

Turn right onto East Amarillo Boulevard

47

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 248.2 miles from Austin, TX.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 109 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 248.2 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amarillo, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Austin, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Austin, TX

This is one driving day of about 496.3 miles and 7h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Austin, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Anson, TX

248 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Amarillo, 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 Amarillo, 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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 248.2 mi from Austin, TX

Ames, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Anson, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 248.2 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$73.84	$147.68
midgrade	$4.25	$83.08	$166.16
premium	$4.59	$89.71	$179.41
diesel	$3.99	$78.02	$156.04

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 173.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Austin, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 496.3 miles and takes about 7h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Red River Street, East 7th Street, Interstate 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 248.2 miles from Austin, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.84 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.