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Trip from Amarillo, TX to Alief, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 51m

Distance

602.5 mi

970 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$90

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
10h 42m ★
6 AM
10h 51m
8 AM
11h 11m
10 AM
10h 58m
12 PM
10h 56m
3 PM
10h 59m
5 PM
11h 10m
8 PM
10h 46m

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

Downtown Amarillo, TX, TX

Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Alief, TX, TX

Alief, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Amarillo, TX to Alief, TX is 602.5 miles and takes about 10h 51m via Central East Freeway and US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's best split over two days. This route is a long-haul drive that stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. Given its length, planning for an overnight stop is wise to make the most of your time on the road and arrive refreshed. It's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover significant ground efficiently.

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

301.2 miles from Amarillo, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Central East Freeway 99.2 mi 1h 46m
North South Freeway 84.6 mi 1h 27m
US Highway 287 81.8 mi 1h 27m
US 287 77.2 mi 1h 21m
East State Highway 6 46.6 mi 46m
US Highway 287 East 40.5 mi 42m
US 290 35.4 mi 40m
North Earl Rudder Freeway 30.1 mi 31m
Longest stretch: Central East Freeway — 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~2,789 veh/hr typical · worst 3,569

Quietest

2 AM

~423 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

5.1 mi · 6 min · East Amarillo Boulevard
2

Turn right

194 ft · 5 sec
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
4

Merge onto Loop 335

1.9 mi · 2 min · North Lakeside Drive
5

Turn left onto East Interstate Drive

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Interstate Drive
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
7

Merge onto I 40; US 287

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 40; US 287
8

Take the exit onto US 287

77 mi · 1 hr 21 min · US 287
Exit 78 Toward US 287 South: Fort Worth
9

Turn slight right onto US 287

14 mi · 13 min · US Highway 287
10

Continue on US 287

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Burnett Street
11

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287
12

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northwest
13

Continue on US 287

54 mi · 58 min · US Highway 287
14

Continue on US 287

4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

41 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · Northwest Freeway
17

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
18

Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287

2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway
21

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

1.8 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway
22

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

97 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Central East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on US 81; US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Merge onto I 35W; US 287

4.5 mi · 4 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 35W Express Toll South Use the slight left lane.
26

Merge onto I 35W TEXpress

4.0 mi · 3 min · I 35W TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Merge onto I 35W

85 mi · 1 hr 27 min · North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Continue on I 35; US 77

0.1 mi · 8 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
29

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 337 Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.1 mi · 16 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
31

Turn left onto US 77 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Loop Drive
32

Continue on Loop 484

2.7 mi · 3 min · Marlin Highway
33

Continue on TX 6

9.1 mi · 9 min · East State Highway 6
34

Continue on TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Memorial Street
35

Continue on TX 6

37 mi · 37 min · East State Highway 6
36

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
37

Continue on TX 6

6.2 mi · 6 min · North State Highway 6
38

Continue on US 79; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Market Street
39

Continue on US 190; TX 6

14 mi · 14 min · South State Highway 6
40

Continue on US 190; TX 6

30 mi · 31 min · North Earl Rudder Freeway
41

Continue on TX 6

22 mi · 25 min · State Highway 6
Use the straight / right lanes.
42

Continue on US 290 Business

423 ft · 10 sec · US 290 Business
Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
43

Turn left

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South Use the left lane.
44

Merge onto US 290

35 mi · 40 min · US 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Toward SHT North, SHT South: Sam Houston Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward SHT South Use the slight right lane.
47

Merge onto SHT

7.8 mi · 9 min · West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Keep slight left at fork onto SHT

2.1 mi · 2 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South
49

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward TBT West: Westpark Tollway West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50

Turn straight onto BW 8

0.4 mi · 45 sec · West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the straight / left lanes.
51

Take the ramp

154 ft · 3 sec
Toward WPT West, SHT South Use the right lane.
52

Keep slight left at fork

334 ft · 10 sec
Toward WPT West
53

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · this road
Toward WPT Toll West
54

Merge onto WPT

1.5 mi · 1 min · Westpark Tollway
55

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward West Houston Center Boulevard, Dairy Ashford Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56

Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard

312 ft · 15 sec · West Houston Center Boulevard
Use the left lane.
57

Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Alief Clodine Road
Use the right lane.
58

Turn left onto Cook Road

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Cook Road
Use the left lane.
59

Arrive at destination

Cook Road

Trip Plan

For this 10-hour drive, it's recommended to split the 602.5 miles over two days, perhaps stopping around the halfway point. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for stops. With an estimated fuel cost of $87, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before entering longer stretches with fewer services. Plan for at least three stops to stretch your legs and refuel, ensuring you're comfortable for the duration of the drive.

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 301.2 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 5h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 133 miles or 2h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 301.2 miles or 5h 23m 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 301.2 miles or 5h 23m

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 9h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alief, 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 301 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Alief, TX

Aim for roughly 301 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 133 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 Central East Freeway for about 99.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Wichita Falls, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Wichita Falls, TX

199 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.

city in Texas, USA; suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Mansfield, TX

398 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 Mansfield, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Plainview, TX

301 mi · about 5.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Plainview, TX after about 301 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Childress, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 133 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainview, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 301.2 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 Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 301 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0 mi from route

Wise County Northbound

0 mi from route

Wichita County Southbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls

0 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Donley County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound

0.1 mi from route

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound

0.1 mi from route

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Wichita County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Texas Travel Information Center at Amarillo and Safety Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

National Truck Stop Amarillo

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Donley County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.9 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.3 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 31

5 decision points cluster between mile 423 and 599.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
423 mi into trip | ~7h 31m in

Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 337 Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
7
552.9 mi into trip | ~9h 51m in

Turn left toward US 290 East, TX 6 South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
7
588.7 mi into trip | ~10h 33m in

Take the exit toward SHT North, SHT South: Sam Houston Tollway

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. Toward SHT North, SHT South: Sam Houston Tollwa...
7
588.9 mi into trip | ~10h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SHT South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward SHT South
8
599.8 mi into trip | ~10h 46m in

Take the ramp toward WPT West, SHT South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward WPT West, SHT South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$90.45 one way

$180.89 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 211 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $100.08 $200.15
premium $4.57 $108.28 $216.57
diesel $6.28 $148.87 $297.74

Estimated Tolls: $0.91

Sam Houston Tollway (9.9 mi) $0.80
Westpark Tollway (1.5 mi) $0.11

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$90

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$221–$331

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 210.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 180.8 2 $63.26 $28.92
Efficient EV 150.6 1 $52.72 $24.10
EV Truck/SUV 241 3 $84.35 $38.56

Gas CO2

211 kg

EV CO2

70 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 Oct 21, 2026

Origin

Amarillo, TX

Afternoon in Amarillo on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Sunny

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Alief, TX

Afternoon in Alief on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Sunny

NE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

60°F

Mansfield, TX

398 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

3 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

10h 51m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 415.5
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
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
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This is a trip where you'll spend 93% of your time on highways, covering 602.5 miles. You'll encounter a long stretch of 99.2 miles on Central East Freeway before transitioning to other major roads like North South Freeway and US Highway 287. Expect a significant amount of cruising on high-speed roads, with fewer exits for extended periods, especially during the longest non-stop segment.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
59 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on Central East Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and North South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 423 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 31 significant decision points across 602.5 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 423 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 552.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 588.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,670 ft 75 ft

Total Climb

27 ft

Total Descent

3,622 ft

Highest Point

3,670 ft

Elevation Range

3,595 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Amarillo, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1887

Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle at the edge of the Great Plains.

Top landmarks

  • • Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 5000 — class of 1 American 2-10-4 locomotive (preserved)
  • • Santa Fe Building — historic place in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas
  • • Courtyard by Marriott, Downtown Amarillo — Historic building and Hotel in Amarillo, Texas

Arriving in Alief, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1894

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 301 miles on day one.

Expect about $0.91 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 45 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Alief, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 45 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 423 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 552.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 588.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.9 hours each way, a round trip means 21.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alief, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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