Amarillo, TX to Mexia, TX is 437.2 miles and takes about 8h 8m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily traverses the Great Plains, offering a consistent landscape for much of the drive. Given the mostly highway profile and manageable distance, it's feasible as a single long day of travel or a relaxed two-day trip. Consider this route if you prefer straightforward driving with minimal city navigation and want to reach your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
218.6 miles from Amarillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central East Freeway
99.2 mi
1h 46m
US Highway 287
81.8 mi
1h 27m
US 287
77.2 mi
1h 21m
North South Freeway
53.6 mi
56m
TX 171
42.6 mi
1h 3m
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi
42m
Northwest Freeway
5.2 mi
5m
East Amarillo Boulevard
5.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Central East Freeway
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,833 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,439
Quietest
2 AM
~402 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Mexia, 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 78Toward 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 SouthUse 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
54 mi·56 min·North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 368AToward TX 22, TX 171: Whitney, CorsicanaUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto Northwest I-35 Frontage Road
0.4 mi·46 sec·Northwest I-35 Frontage Road
30
Turn left onto TX 22; TX 171
1.2 mi·1 min·Corsicana Highway
31
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 171
43 mi·1 hr 3 min·TX 171
32
Turn right onto TX 171
139 ft·10 sec·North Echols Street
33
Turn left onto US 84
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Milam Street
34
Turn right onto North McKinney Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·North McKinney Street
35
Arrive at destination
South McKinney Street
Trip Plan
With an 8-hour driving time, this trip is best tackled over two days to avoid fatigue, though a single-day push is possible. Aim to depart from Amarillo early in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for breaks. Plan for at least two stops along the way to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a significant break is 99.2 miles, so keep that in mind when planning your own stops. Given the $60 fuel cost estimate, ensure your tank is full before leaving Amarillo, as fuel availability can vary on longer highway stretches.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 218.6 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 3h 54m 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 96 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.6 miles or 3h 54m 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 218.6 miles or 3h 54m
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 6h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mexia, 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 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Mexia, TX
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Amarillo, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 391.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.8 mi into trip|~12m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 287 South: Fort Worth
6
221.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...
6
228.1 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
333.8 mi into trip|~5h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 35W Express Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W Express Toll South
8
391.9 mi into trip|~7h in
Take the exit toward TX 22, TX 171: Whitney, Corsicana
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 368A
Toward TX 22, TX 171: Whitney, Corsicana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.88 one way
$119.77 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$66.89
$133.78
premium
$4.23
$72.72
$145.45
diesel
$4.80
$82.55
$165.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$190–$300
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.2
1
$45.91
$20.99
Efficient EV
109.3
1
$38.26
$17.49
EV Truck/SUV
174.9
2
$61.21
$27.98
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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.
Forecast as of Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 20 at 8:37AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 20 at 8:34AM CDT until July 22 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Mexia, TX
Late night
in Mexia on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 20 at 8:37AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 20 at 8:34AM CDT until July 22 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
8h 8m 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.
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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 407
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The vast majority of this drive, 96%, is on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 99.2 miles on the Central East Freeway before transitioning to US Highway 287 for the bulk of the trip. Expect consistent highway cruising for most of the 437.2 miles. The profile is mostly highway, so you'll encounter a steady flow of traffic and fewer stops for town navigation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 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 US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in near US 287.
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 21 significant decision points across 437.2 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: at 9.8 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 221.5 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228.1 miles (US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft497 ft
Total Climb
85 ft
Total Descent
3,231 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
Elevation Range
3,173 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Amarillo, TX to Mexia, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corsicana along the way.
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 219 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 36 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 Mexia, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 221.5 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228.1 miles (US 82; US 287 / Central East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Waco Mammoth 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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mexia, TX before the return drive.
