Origin
Plainview, TX
Afternoon in Plainview on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainview, TX to Amarillo, TX
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
318.2 mi
512 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 40m
★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 18m
8 PM
5h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainview, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Amarillo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Plainview, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 318.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 287, North US Highway 287, US Highway 287 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.61 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
159.1 miles from Plainview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 52m highway drive covering 318.2 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Plainview Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 318.2 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: near the start (Plainview Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (Riek Road): Navigation decision point; at 96.3 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Plainview Road
Turn left onto Plainview Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Riek Road
Turn right onto Riek Road
Navigation decision point
9
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
5
308.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 39m in
|
East Interstate Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive toward East 3rd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward East 3rd Avenue
5
312.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 287 | 75.4 mi | 1h 17m |
| North US Highway 287 | 72.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| East 11th Street | 28.7 mi | 32m |
| Boykin Drive | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 287 West | 25.7 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 380 West | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Northwest Freeway | 5.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 287
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainview, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on this road
70 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Plainview Road
1.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Plainview Road
3
Turn right onto Riek Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Riek Road
4
Turn left onto Ripy Road
2.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Ripy Road
5
Turn right onto US 380
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 380 West
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
7
Merge onto US 81; US 287
72 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
North US Highway 287
8
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
9
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 287
40 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 287
26 mi
·
26 min
·
US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 287
29 mi
·
32 min
·
East 11th Street
15
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue F Northeast
16
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 287
17
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnett Street
18
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 287
19
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Boykin Drive
20
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
21
Continue on US 287
28 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 287
22
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
23
Continue on US 287
20 mi
·
20 min
·
US Highway 287
24
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 3rd Avenue
26
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
27
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lakeside Drive
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
29
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
30
Continue on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
31
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
32
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.1 miles from Plainview, TX, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.1 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
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 Plainview, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Plainview, TX
This is one driving day of about 318.2 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plainview, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 287 for about 75.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.1 mi from Plainview, TX · 2h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 159.1 miles from Plainview, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 287 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.4 miles.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.61 one way
$97.21 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.27 | $106.53 |
| premium | $4.59 | $57.51 | $115.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $70.69 | $141.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.5 | 1 | $33.41 | $15.27 |
| Efficient EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.84 | $12.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.3 | 1 | $44.55 | $20.36 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Afternoon in Amarillo on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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.
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
10 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
5h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Plainview, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 318.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 287, North US Highway 287, US Highway 287 East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.1 miles from Plainview, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 12 significant decision points across 318.2 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: near the start (Plainview Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (Riek Road): Navigation decision point; at 96.3 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Plainview, TX to Amarillo, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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