Amarillo, TX to Pharr, TX is 741.9 miles and takes about 13 hours 6 minutes via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and I-10, with a fuel budget near $110 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that spans across the state of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region down towards its southern tip. Given the duration, it's best planned as an overnight trip, breaking up the 13+ hours of driving. You'll be on major highways for a significant portion of the route, making it a straightforward though lengthy transit.
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
371 miles from Amarillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
103.7 mi
1h 43m
US Highway 84
73.9 mi
1h 14m
I 10
71.7 mi
1h 14m
Lucian Adams Freeway
66.8 mi
1h 8m
South Nueces Street
66.2 mi
1h 10m
Falfurrias Expressway
55.8 mi
58m
Grassmeyer Street
41.9 mi
44m
US 83
40 mi
38m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 103.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-27
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~615 veh/hr typical
· worst 753
Quietest
2 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
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 Pharr, TX.
1
Start on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
286 ft·8 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
0.4 mi·57 sec·North Pierce Street
3
Continue on US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
1.0 mi·2 min·North Pierce Street
4
Continue on US 60; US 87
14 mi·16 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27
104 mi·1 hr 43 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 536BToward Loop 289
7
Turn straight onto North Interstate 27
0.5 mi·1 min·North Interstate 27
8
Turn left onto North Loop 289
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Loop 289
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
10
Merge onto Loop 289
7.5 mi·8 min·Loop 289
11
Take the exit
421 ft·10 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
12
Keep slight right at fork
233 ft·5 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
13
Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southeast Loop 289
14
Turn right onto Spur 331
1.9 mi·2 min·Southeast Drive
15
Merge onto US 84
0.2 mi·13 sec·Slaton Road
16
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
17
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 84
20 mi·20 min·East Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
20
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·16 sec·East 15th Street
21
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi·37 sec·Ralls Road
22
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi·2 min·North Avenue F
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US Highway 84
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi·6 min·US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 244Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
26
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southwest Georgia Avenue
27
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
28
Continue on TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
29
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi·33 min·State Highway 153
30
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi·13 min·FM 2111
31
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi·7 min·TX 158
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft·18 sec·Hutchings Avenue
33
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi·18 min·South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Grassmeyer Street
35
Continue on US 83
29 mi·31 min·Ellis Street
36
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi·38 min·US 83
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the left lane.
37
Continue on I 10
54 mi·54 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
40
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
42
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
43
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
44
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Market Street
45
Continue on East Market Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Market Street
46
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
0.2 mi·21 sec·Tower of the Americas Way
Use the right lane.
47
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
48
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
49
Continue on I 37; US 281
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·South Nueces Street
52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi·10 min·I 69C; US 281
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi·58 min·Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
54
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
16 mi·17 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Use the slight right lane.
56
Turn straight onto North Cage Boulevard
2.4 mi·4 min·North Cage Boulevard
57
Turn left onto US 83 Bus
278 ft·6 sec·US 83 Bus
58
Turn right
228 ft·18 sec
59
Turn right onto East Park Avenue
261 ft·13 sec·East Park Avenue
60
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
101 ft·1 sec·South Cage Boulevard
61
Turn slight right
152 ft·2 sec
62
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of over 13 hours, this route is best tackled over two days. Plan to leave early in the morning from Amarillo to maximize your daylight hours for the first leg. Aim to stop for the night around the halfway point or in a town that offers convenient lodging and dining options. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 103.7-mile stretch on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway where services might be more spread out. Budgeting around $110 for fuel is a good estimate for this 741.9-mile trip.
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 371 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 6h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 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 163 miles or 2h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 371 miles or 6h 32m 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 371 miles or 6h 32m
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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pharr, 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 371 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Pharr, TX
Aim for roughly 371 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 163 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 Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 103.7 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 40
5 decision points cluster between mile 127.8 and 505.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
6
238 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6
244.5 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...
8
391.8 mi into trip|~6h 54m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
8
505.1 mi into trip|~8h 49m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
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 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$116.60 one way
$233.20 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg260 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.39
$128.14
$256.28
premium
$4.72
$137.84
$275.67
diesel
$5.60
$163.45
$326.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$117
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$247–$357
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 259.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.
Driving Electric?
About $78 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
222.6
2
$77.90
$35.61
Efficient EV
185.5
2
$64.92
$29.68
EV Truck/SUV
296.8
3
$103.87
$47.48
Gas CO2
260 kg
EV CO2
87 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 May 26, 2026
Origin
Amarillo, TX
Evening
in Amarillo on Wednesday
Local time
6:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 10 to 15 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 9:56PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Pharr, TX
Evening
in Pharr on Wednesday
Local time
6:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 9:56PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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
15 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
13h 6m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 511.7
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.
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 460.5
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?
This trip involves 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, representing a substantial portion of your time on surface roads. Overall, 62% of the route utilizes major highways like I-10. Expect to encounter more frequent exits as you approach destinations or pass through populated areas. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 100 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.7 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 13h 6m, 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 127.8 miles in.
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 40 significant decision points across 741.9 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 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft111 ft
Total Climb
627 ft
Total Descent
4,186 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
Elevation Range
3,559 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Amarillo, TX and Pharr, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Downtown.
Loop 289
119.1 mi in|~2h 3m
Sh 70 South
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
San Angelo
244.5 mi in|~4h 14m
Downtown
505.1 mi in|~8h 49m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Early Bird Coffee
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
San Antonio, TX
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 08...
The longest stretch is about 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. 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 371 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 52 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 Pharr, 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 52 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 13.1 hours each way, a round trip means 26.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pharr, TX before the return drive.
