Origin
Clute, TX
Night in Clute on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clute, TX to Amarillo, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 51m
Distance
657.5 mi
1,058 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$99
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 41m
★
6 AM
11h 51m
8 AM
12h 13m
10 AM
11h 59m
12 PM
11h 57m
3 PM
12h 0m
5 PM
12h 11m
8 PM
11h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clute, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Amarillo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on the journey from Clute, Texas, to Amarillo, Texas, covers 657.5 miles and will take approximately 11 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. This long-distance drive, predominantly on the North Freeway and US Highway 287, is best split over two days, especially considering its substantial length. With an estimated fuel cost of $99, budgeting for gas is a key consideration. This route traverses the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for much of the trip. Given the duration, planning for at least three stops is essential for comfort and safety.
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
328.8 miles from Clute, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 237.2 mi | 4h 9m |
| US 81 | 103.4 mi | 1h 49m |
| US Highway 287 | 75.4 mi | 1h 17m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| East 11th Street | 28.7 mi | 32m |
| Nolan Ryan Expressway | 27.2 mi | 31m |
| Boykin Drive | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 287 West | 25.7 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 237.2 mi, about 4h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clute, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto TX 288 Bus
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Brazosport Boulevard North
3
Continue on TX 288 Bus
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Velasco Street
4
Turn left onto CR 220
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Coale Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto TX 288
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Nolan Ryan Expressway
7
Continue on TX 288
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
South Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Brazoria County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 45
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 45
237 mi
·
4 hr 9 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 286A
Toward Waco, Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Spur 366
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 35E North: Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 35E
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
Exit 433A
Toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
15 mi
·
14 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
20
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
0.7 mi
·
42 sec
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
22
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto US 81; US 287
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on US 81; US 287
102 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
30
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
32
Continue on US 287
40 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
33
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.
34
Continue on US 287
26 mi
·
26 min
·
US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on US 287
29 mi
·
32 min
·
East 11th Street
36
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue F Northeast
37
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 287
38
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnett Street
39
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 287
40
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Boykin Drive
41
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
42
Continue on US 287
28 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 287
43
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
44
Continue on US 287
20 mi
·
20 min
·
US Highway 287
45
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
46
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 3rd Avenue
47
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
48
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lakeside Drive
49
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
50
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
51
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
52
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
53
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
For this 657.5-mile trip, it's highly recommended to break it into two days to avoid excessive fatigue. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight hours. Plan for your three stops strategically, perhaps coinciding with a meal break and refueling. Given the 11-hour 51-minute estimated duration, an overnight stay around the halfway point is ideal. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on the North Freeway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on these major highways.
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 328.8 miles from Clute, TX, or about 5h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.2 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 145 miles or 2h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 328.8 miles or 5h 58m 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 328.8 miles or 5h 58m
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 45m
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 Clute, 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 Clute, TX
Aim for roughly 329 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 329 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 145 miles from Clute, 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 North Freeway for about 237.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
217 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
434 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 Wichita Falls, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
329 mi · about 5.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bedford, TX after about 329 miles or 5.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 145 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 328.8 miles from Clute, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 237.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 329 miles or 5.9 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 52.7 and 435.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
8
292.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m 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
298.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m 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
325.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 54m 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
435.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 52m 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
$99.35 one way
$198.70 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
230 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $108.75 | $217.49 |
| premium | $4.54 | $117.39 | $234.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $145.17 | $290.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$99
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$229–$339
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 230 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $69 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 197.3 | 2 | $69.04 | $31.56 |
| Efficient EV | 164.4 | 1 | $57.53 | $26.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 263 | 3 | $92.05 | $42.08 |
Gas CO2
230 kg
EV CO2
77 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.
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Night in Amarillo on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mesquite, TX
217 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
2 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
11h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its significant highway share, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 237.2 miles on the North Freeway, which sets a pace for the majority of the journey. While primarily a highway-focused route, the transition to US 81 and then US Highway 287 means you'll encounter varied interstate and highway conditions. Expect a steady, consistent driving experience for the most part, typical of long-distance travel across Texas.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237.2 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and US 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.7 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 24 significant decision points across 657.5 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 52.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 292.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 298.7 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clute, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dfw Airport.
Waco
292.8 mi in
|
~5h 19m
Denton
292.8 mi in
|
~5h 19m
Dfw Airport
298.7 mi in
|
~5h 27m
|
via TX 183
About the Cities
Starting in Clute, TX
Full guide →Clute is a city on the North Barrier Coast of Texas. If you have never seen an industrial plant, you are in for a treat, as Dow tanks and stacks and whatever else seem to overshadow everything around here.
Arriving in Amarillo, TX
Full guide →Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle at the edge of the Great Plains.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 237.2 miles on North 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 329 miles on day one.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 52.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 292.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 298.7 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.9 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Amarillo, TX
More trips to Amarillo, TX
Explore more options from Clute, TX or browse trips ending in Amarillo, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.