Beaumont to Amarillo is 640.2 miles and takes about 11h 50m via US 69, US 81, and US Highway 175 West, with a fuel budget near $93 and enough daylight to finish in a day if pushed, but it's really best as a 2-day trip. This long-haul drive cuts across Texas, moving from the edge of the Great Plains region into its heartland. It's a substantial trek, mostly on highways, so plan for a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Given the distance, breaking it up over two days is the most practical approach.
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
320.1 miles from Beaumont, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 69
147.2 mi
2h 49m
US 81
103.4 mi
1h 49m
US Highway 175 West
78.4 mi
1h 25m
US Highway 287
75.4 mi
1h 17m
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
Longest stretch:
US 69
— 147.2 mi, about 2h 49m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,463 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~376 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 7 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 Beaumont, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on Calder Avenue
206 ft·12 sec·Calder Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto North Pearl Street
0.2 mi·17 sec·North Pearl Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn straight
0.3 mi·17 sec
4
Turn straight onto Pine Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Pine Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 10 West: Houston
6
Merge onto I 10; US 90
1.6 mi·1 min·I 10; US 90
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 853AToward US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North: Lufkin, Jasper
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 853AToward US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North
9
Merge onto US 69; US 96; US 287
9.5 mi·10 min·Eastex Freeway
Toward Jasper, Lufkin
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 69; US 287
94 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 69; US 287
Toward US 69 North, US 287 North: Kountze, Lufkin
11
Turn right onto US 69 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·South Chestnut Street
12
Turn straight
304 ft·11 sec
13
Turn straight onto US 59 Bus; US 69 Bus
1.2 mi·2 min·South Timberland Drive
14
Turn left onto US 69 Bus; TX 103
2.1 mi·3 min·Kurth Drive
15
At end of road, turn left onto TX 103; Loop 287
0.6 mi·59 sec·Loop 287 Frontage Road
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·21 sec
17
Merge onto US 69
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 69
18
Turn left onto US 175
0.2 mi·19 sec·Alexander Boulevard
19
Continue on US 175
0.6 mi·56 sec·Frankston Highway
20
Continue on US 175
9.6 mi·10 min·US Highway 175 West
21
Turn slight right
3.8 mi·4 min
22
Merge onto US 175
1.9 mi·2 min·East Pine Street
23
Continue on US 175
21 mi·22 min·US Highway 175
24
Continue on US 175 Bus
2.5 mi·4 min·East Corsicana Street
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 175 Bus
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·US Highway 175 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 286AToward Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on Spur 366
0.9 mi·1 min·Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 35E North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto I 35E
4.1 mi·5 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183
0.8 mi·48 sec·John W Carpenter Freeway
Exit 433AToward TX 183: Irving, DFW AirportUse the slight left / straight lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
1.5 mi·1 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
15 mi·14 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
2.0 mi·2 min·SH 121/183 TEXpress
35
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi·7 sec·SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
0.7 mi·42 sec·SH 121/183 TEXpress
37
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.2 mi·6 min·I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
39
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·50 sec
Toward I 35W Express North: DentonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
40
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi·2 min·I 35W TEXpress
41
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: DecaturUse the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Merge onto US 81; US 287
1.7 mi·1 min·US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on US 81; US 287
102 mi·1 hr 47 min·US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
45
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
46
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi·5 min·Northwest Freeway
Exit 3AToward US 287 North: Vernon, AmarilloUse the slight left / straight lanes.
47
Continue on US 287
40 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
48
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.
49
Continue on US 287
26 mi·26 min·US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
50
Continue on US 287
29 mi·32 min·East 11th Street
51
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northeast
52
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
53
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·Burnett Street
54
Continue on US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
55
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi·28 min·Boykin Drive
56
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
57
Continue on US 287
28 mi·28 min·US Highway 287
58
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
59
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
60
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft·8 sec·East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
61
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
62
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
63
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi·1 min·North Lakeside Drive
64
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
65
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·East Amarillo Boulevard
66
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
67
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
68
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
For this 640.2-mile drive, consider an early morning start if you plan to split it over two days, aiming to cover around 320 miles each day. With 3 recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to stretch your legs and refuel. The $93 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, but always check current prices. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer stretches, as services can be spaced out. Breaking this into two days will make the 11h 50m total duration much more manageable.
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 320.1 miles from Beaumont, TX, or about 6h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.2 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 141 miles or 2h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 320.1 miles or 6h 7m 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 320.1 miles or 6h 7m
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 10h 44m
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 Beaumont, 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 Beaumont, TX
Aim for roughly 320 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 320 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 141 miles from Beaumont, 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 69 for about 147.2 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 34
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 418.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 853A
Toward US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North
8
275.5 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward Waco, Denton
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 286A
Toward Waco, Denton
9
281.4 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 433A
Toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
7
307.8 mi into trip|~5h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
9
418.3 mi into trip|~7h 51m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$98.02 one way
$196.04 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg224 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$108.18
$216.36
premium
$4.64
$116.90
$233.80
diesel
$6.18
$155.74
$311.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$228–$338
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 224 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $67 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
192.1
2
$67.22
$30.73
Efficient EV
160.1
1
$56.02
$25.61
EV Truck/SUV
256.1
3
$89.63
$40.97
Gas CO2
224 kg
EV CO2
75 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 17, 2026
Origin
Beaumont, TX
Afternoon
in Beaumont on Saturday
Local time
1:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Afternoon
in Amarillo on Saturday
Local time
1:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Widespread Frost
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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
23 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
11h 50m 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.
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 640.2
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 640.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway cruising, with 86% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter your longest stretch without a significant change in road type at 147.2 miles on US 69. Expect a substantial amount of time on these faster routes before transitioning to surface roads. The transition from highway to US 69 and then US 81 will feel like a shift from faster, more direct travel to a more rural cruising experience.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
68 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.2 mi on US 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 69 and US 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 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 34 significant decision points across 640.2 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 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 275.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.4 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft17 ft
Total Climb
3,791 ft
Total Descent
138 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
~650.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,653 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Beaumont, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dfw Airport.
Beaumont is a city in Texas, USA on the northern Gulf Coast, close to the Louisiana state line. It is famous for its early 20th-century oil industry history.
Top landmarks
•Spindletop — oil field in Texas
•Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica — church in Beaumont, Texas, United States
•Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor Center — sports museum in Beaumont, Texas
The longest stretch is about 147.2 miles on US 69. 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 320 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 Amarillo, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 275.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.4 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — 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 11.8 hours each way, a round trip means 23.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amarillo, TX before the return drive.
