Stretching 227.8 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this drive from Big Spring to Amarillo typically takes about 3 hours and 57 minutes. Because it is a manageable sub-four-hour trek, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the distance. You will primarily navigate via the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US Highway 87. This route offers a straightforward transition through the heart of the region, making it a functional choice for travelers who prefer a direct, no-nonsense path between these two Texas hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
113.9 miles from Big Spring, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
111.1 mi
1h 52m
North US Highway 87
68.8 mi
1h 10m
South US Highway 87
18.1 mi
18m
Canyon Expressway
13.5 mi
15m
Tahoka Highway
4.4 mi
4m
William Crooker Highway
4.3 mi
4m
South Lynn Avenue
1.7 mi
1m
South Dallas Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 111.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Spring, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on I 20 Bus
81 ft·9 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto US 87 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·South Gregg Street
3
Continue on US 87 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·North Lamesa Highway
4
Continue on US 87 Bus
2.4 mi·3 min·North US Highway 87
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto US 87
0.4 mi·25 sec·William B Crooker Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 87
15 mi·15 min·North US Highway 87
8
Continue on US 87
4.3 mi·4 min·William Crooker Highway
9
Continue on US 87
18 mi·18 min·South US Highway 87
10
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
11
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
12
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
13
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
14
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
15
Continue on I 27; US 87
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
0.9 mi·2 min·US 87
Toward US 87 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66
0.7 mi·1 min·South Fillmore Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 227.8-mile journey, aim to depart early to take full advantage of the daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to pace yourself based on your personal comfort, but be sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that 111.1-mile stretch on the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. Because the total duration is just under four hours, you can easily reach your destination by mid-afternoon if you leave in the morning. Factor the $35 fuel cost into your travel budget ahead of time to avoid any surprises at the pump. Since the route is relatively short, use your single stop to stretch and reset before tackling the remaining miles into Amarillo.
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 113.9 miles from Big Spring, TX, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 50 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
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 Big Spring, 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 Big Spring, TX
This is one driving day of about 227.8 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Big Spring, 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 Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 111.1 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 227.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Turn left onto US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street
Navigation decision point
3
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|US 87 / William B Crooker Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 87 / William B Crooker Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
226.1 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 87 North
6
227.1 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|US 87; Original US Route 66 / South Fillmore Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66 / South Fillmore Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
227.7 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60 / East Amarillo Boulevard
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60 / East Amarillo Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.42 one way
$68.84 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$37.68
$75.35
premium
$4.54
$40.67
$81.34
diesel
$5.61
$50.30
$100.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.92
$10.93
Efficient EV
57
0
$19.93
$9.11
EV Truck/SUV
91.1
1
$31.89
$14.58
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Big Spring, TX
Late night
in Big Spring on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
3h 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 227.8
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 227.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The route features a mixed driving profile, with highways accounting for 44% of your total time behind the wheel. You should prepare for a consistent pace, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 111.1 miles along the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. Transitioning between the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and the segments of North and South US Highway 87 provides a steady, rhythmic experience on the road. While it lacks the stop-and-go intensity of urban commuting, the varied road types keep the drive from feeling purely monotonous. Expect a balanced mix of highway cruising and local road travel as you head north.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.1 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (US 87 / William B Crooker Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 226.1 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.1 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 87 Bus / South Gregg Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (US 87 / William B Crooker Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 226.1 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Amarillo, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
