Traveling from Midland to Amarillo covers 240 miles across the Texas Great Plains, a journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $37 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. Navigating between these two cities involves a mix of routes, primarily utilizing the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, North US Highway 87, and State Highway 349. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, this drive offers a straightforward connection through the heart of West Texas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120 miles from Midland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
111.1 mi
1h 52m
North US Highway 87
51.2 mi
51m
State Highway 349
47.7 mi
47m
Canyon Expressway
13.5 mi
15m
North Big Spring Street
6.3 mi
10m
Tahoka Highway
4.4 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 Midland, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on Loop 269
44 ft·3 sec·West Wall Street
2
Turn right onto TX 349 Bus
6.3 mi·10 min·North Big Spring Street
3
Continue on TX 349 Bus
48 mi·47 min·State Highway 349
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180
268 ft·3 sec·South US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
6
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
7
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
8
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
9
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
10
Continue on I 27; US 87
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 10-minute transit, aim for a morning departure to keep your afternoon open once you arrive in Amarillo. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refresh your fuel supply, keeping in mind the $37 estimate provided. With the longest stretch lasting over 111 miles, ensure you have your podcasts or music queued up before you hit the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this trip, so don't feel pressured to rush through the transition between Highway 87 and State Highway 349. Prioritize checking your tire pressure before leaving Midland, as the sustained highway speeds on the longer stretches will be the primary test for your vehicle.
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 120 miles from Midland, TX, or about 2h 5m 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 53 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120 miles or 2h 5m 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 22m
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 Midland, 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 Midland, TX
This is one driving day of about 240 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Midland, 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 239.9 — 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|TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street
Turn right onto TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street
Navigation decision point
5
54 mi into trip|~58m in|US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87
Navigation decision point
7
238.3 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
239.3 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
239.9 mi into trip|~4h 10m 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
$36.26 one way
$72.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$39.69
$79.39
premium
$4.54
$42.85
$85.70
diesel
$5.61
$52.99
$105.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72
0
$25.20
$11.52
Efficient EV
60
0
$21.00
$9.60
EV Truck/SUV
96
1
$33.60
$15.36
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Midland, TX
Late night
in Midland on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
5 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 240
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 240
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with 47% of your travel occurring on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, which hosts the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 111.1 miles. The road transition requires you to stay alert as you shift between different road classifications, moving from the primary highway arteries to state-level routes. While the terrain remains consistent across the Great Plains, the varying road types ensure the drive stays engaging rather than feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Prepare for a steady pace that balances higher-speed highway sections with the more localized flow of the state highway segments.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 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 TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring 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 4h 10m 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 (TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87): Navigation decision point; at 238.3 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.
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 (TX 349 Bus / North Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 87; US 180 / South US Highway 87): Navigation decision point; at 238.3 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Amarillo, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
