Origin
Dripping Springs, TX
Morning in Dripping Springs on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dripping Springs, TX to Amarillo, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 4m
Distance
495 mi
797 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$75
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 56m
★
6 AM
9h 4m
8 AM
9h 21m
10 AM
9h 10m
12 PM
9h 8m
3 PM
9h 11m
5 PM
9h 20m
8 PM
8h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dripping Springs, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Amarillo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dripping Springs to Amarillo is 495 miles and takes about 9 hours 4 minutes via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US 84, and TX 71, with a fuel budget near $75 and an overnight stay recommended. This drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape as you head north. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the driving and make the most of your travel time across the state. It's a straightforward route that keeps you moving, making it a practical choice for getting from the Hill Country to the Panhandle.
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
247.5 miles from Dripping Springs, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Formby Memorial Highway | 109.9 mi | 1h 51m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| TX 71 | 48.7 mi | 53m |
| United States Highway 87 | 32 mi | 37m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| West State Highway 71 | 21.2 mi | 31m |
| North Main Street | 20.4 mi | 21m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dripping Springs, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on this road
332 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right
104 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto RM 12
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Ranch Road 12
4
Turn left onto US 290
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Merge onto US 281; US 290
17 mi
·
19 min
·
South US Highway 281
6
Turn left onto RM 962
10 mi
·
13 min
·
West Ranch Road 962
7
At end of road, turn left onto TX 71
21 mi
·
31 min
·
West State Highway 71
8
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 71
9
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Young Street
10
Continue on TX 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
TX 71
11
Turn right onto US 87; US 377
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 87; US 377
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Commerce Street
13
Turn straight onto US 87
32 mi
·
37 min
·
United States Highway 87
14
Turn right onto US 83
20 mi
·
21 min
·
North Main Street
15
Continue on US 83
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Roberts Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi
·
13 min
·
FM 2111
19
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 153
20
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Highway 153
21
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
22
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
23
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Northwest Georgia Avenue
24
Take the ramp
340 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
25
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 20; US 84
26
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 84
28
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue F
29
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Avenue F
30
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ralls Road
31
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 15th Street
32
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
33
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 84
34
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
35
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
36
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Slaton Road
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
38
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft
·
6 sec
·
Interstate 27
39
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
40
Merge onto I 27; US 87
110 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
41
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 87
Toward US 87 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
43
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.
44
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
45
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 9-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours and reach your overnight stop. You'll make two planned stops along the way, so use these for fuel, food, and rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, as services can be spaced out in this region. Be prepared for consistent driving conditions across the Great Plains.
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 247.5 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, or about 4h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 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 109 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.5 miles or 4h 46m 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 247.5 miles or 4h 46m
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 7h 59m
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 Dripping Springs, 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 Dripping Springs, TX
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Dripping Springs, 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 Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 109.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
248 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 Sweetwater, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
248 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 248 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 247.5 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 248 miles or 4.5 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 325 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 493.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 290 / West US Highway 290
Turn left onto US 290 / West US Highway 290
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
190.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 44m in
|
US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue
Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
190.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 44m in
|
TX 158 / North Broadway Street
Turn left onto TX 158 / North Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
493.3 mi into trip
|
~9h 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.80 one way
$149.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
173 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $81.87 | $163.74 |
| premium | $4.54 | $88.38 | $176.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $109.29 | $218.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 173.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 148.5 | 1 | $51.97 | $23.76 |
| Efficient EV | 123.8 | 1 | $43.31 | $19.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 198 | 2 | $69.30 | $31.68 |
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Morning in Amarillo on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Sweetwater, TX
248 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
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
9h 4m 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.
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 17.1
Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure
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 495
View on nps.gov
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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 495
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 64% of the 495 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, which is a good indicator of sustained cruising. Expect more rural conditions as you transition from TX 71 to US 84 and then onto Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, with fewer exits and more open road. The profile is mostly highway, so plan for consistent speeds for much of the trip.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.9 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 495 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 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (US 290 / West US Highway 290): Lane positioning matters here; at 190.9 miles (US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft
1,081 ft
Total Climb
3,030 ft
Total Descent
514 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
~495 mi in
Elevation Range
2,589 ft
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.
On the drive from Dripping Springs, TX to Amarillo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Lubbock along the way.
Lubbock
256.4 mi in
|
~4h 56m
|
via US 84
About the Cities
Starting in Dripping Springs, TX
Full guide →Dripping Springs is in the Hill Country region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead — building in Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas
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 109.9 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 248 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (US 290 / West US Highway 290): Lane positioning matters here; at 190.9 miles (US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park, 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 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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