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Trip from Los Fresnos, TX to Amarillo, TX

Drive Time

13h 54m

Distance

772.5 mi

1,243 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$119

one way

EV Charging

Good

20 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
13h 42m ★
6 AM
13h 54m
8 AM
14h 19m
10 AM
14h 3m
12 PM
14h 0m
3 PM
14h 4m
5 PM
14h 18m
8 PM
13h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Los Fresnos, TX, TX

Los Fresnos, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Downtown Amarillo, TX, TX

Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Los Fresnos, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 772.5 miles and takes about 13h 54m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on US 281, Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, U.S. Highway 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.7 miles on US 281. At current regular gas prices, budget about $119.24 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

386.2 miles from Los Fresnos, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 772.5 miles and 13h 54m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are US 281 and Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 57 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 281 is the longest continuous segment at about 122.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 13h 54m, 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 264.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 42 significant decision points across 772.5 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 264.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 42 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
264.3 mi into trip | ~5h in

Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome

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 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
266.2 mi into trip | ~5h 4m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
267 mi into trip | ~5h 5m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
281.7 mi into trip | ~5h 22m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
770.8 mi into trip | ~13h 50m in | US 87

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 87 North

Towns Along This Route

Between Los Fresnos, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome, Menard and Lubbock.

Alamodome

264.3 mi in | ~5h

Menard

380.3 mi in | ~6h 59m | via US 83

Lubbock

533.9 mi in | ~9h 46m | via US 84

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 281 122.7 mi 2h 12m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway 109.9 mi 1h 51m
U.S. Highway 77 99.5 mi 1h 50m
I 10 98.7 mi 1h 37m
US 84 74.5 mi 1h 14m
Frisco Avenue 41.9 mi 44m
State Highway 153 29.5 mi 33m
North Main Street 29.3 mi 30m
Longest stretch: US 281 — 122.7 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Fresnos, TX and Amarillo, TX.

1

Start on TX 100

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard
2

Continue on TX 100

4.2 mi · 5 min · Texas State Highway 100
3

Continue on TX 100

1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 100
4

Turn right onto North Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North Frontage Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
6

Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

100 mi · 1 hr 50 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 8 sec
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
9

Turn left onto FM 772

0.2 mi · 17 sec · FM 772
10

Turn straight onto US 77 Business

4.4 mi · 7 min · South 6th Street
11

Turn left onto TX 141

14 mi · 17 min · West King Avenue
12

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
13

Merge onto US 281

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · US 281
14

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

15 mi · 18 min · Nueces Street
15

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 281
16

Take the exit onto US 281

68 mi · 1 hr 10 min · US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
20

Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87

93 ft · 1 sec · South Pan Am Expressway
21

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · McDermott Freeway
Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87

15 mi · 17 min · McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

99 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83
Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
25

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street
Use the right lane.
26

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue
27

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue
28

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
29

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
30

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111
31

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153
32

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153
33

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
34

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
35

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
36

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
37

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84
38

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84
Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
39

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84
40

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F
41

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F
42

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road
43

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street
44

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
45

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84
46

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
47

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
48

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road
49

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
50

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27
51

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
52

Merge onto I 27; US 87

110 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
53

Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87

13 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
54

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 87
Toward US 87 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
55

Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Fillmore Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
56

Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

105 ft · 1 sec · East Amarillo Boulevard
57

Arrive at destination

I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

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 386.2 miles from Los Fresnos, TX, or about 7h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.7 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 170 miles or 3h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 386.2 miles or 7h 6m 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 386.2 miles or 7h 6m

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 49m

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 Los Fresnos, 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 Los Fresnos, TX

Aim for roughly 386 miles and 7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX

Aim for roughly 386 miles and 7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 170 miles from Los Fresnos, 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 US 281 for about 122.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 386.2 mi from Los Fresnos, TX · 7h 6m into the drive

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

255 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Amarillo, TX

506.9 mi · 8h 52m

Downtown Sweetwater, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Sweetwater, TX

510 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Sweetwater, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

386 mi · about 7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 386 miles or 7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 170 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 386.2 miles from Los Fresnos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 386 miles or 7 hours on the road.

Arriving in Amarillo, TX

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Amarillo, 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.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 266.4
View on nps.gov
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

National Monument

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.

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 772.5
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 319.6
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $25 near mile 79.9
View on nps.gov
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free near mile 772.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$119.24 one way

$238.48 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 273 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $130.67 $261.35
premium $4.59 $141.09 $282.18
diesel $5.64 $173.42 $346.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$119

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$249–$359

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 273.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Make Ready Market - Tesla Supercharger

San Antonio, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Stuart Place Crossing - Tesla Supercharger

Harlingen, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fuel America - Tesla Supercharger

Kingsville, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Rodeo Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Pleasanton, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Alice, TX

Tesla

11 DCFC

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kingsville - Tesla Supercharger

Kingsville, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Love's Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Three Rivers, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target San Antonio #T0771

San Antonio, TX

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Tesla: 7 EV Connect: 4 ChargePoint Network: 2 eVgo Network: 2 CIRCLE_K: 2 Blink Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $81 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 231.8 2 $81.11 $37.08
Efficient EV 193.1 2 $67.59 $30.90
EV Truck/SUV 309 3 $108.15 $49.44

Gas CO2

270 kg

EV CO2

90 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Los Fresnos, TX

Morning in Los Fresnos on Monday

Local time

7:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amarillo, TX

Morning in Amarillo on Monday

Local time

7:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

55°F

Sweetwater, TX

510 mi in

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

25 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

13h 54m 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 Los Fresnos, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 772.5 miles and takes about 13h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 281, Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, U.S. Highway 77. 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 386 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 386.2 miles from Los Fresnos, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $118.00 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 42 significant decision points across 772.5 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 264.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Los Fresnos, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome, Menard and Lubbock.

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