Odessa to Amarillo is 259.6 miles and takes about 4h 32m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and North US Highway 87, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, moving from one part of Texas to another. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making for a straightforward drive. Given its duration and distance, this is a manageable one-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
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
129.8 miles from Odessa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m 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 mi
47m
Canyon Expressway
13.5 mi
15m
Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway
12.5 mi
12m
Tahoka Highway
4.4 mi
4m
Sergeant Michael Naylor Memorial Highway
3.1 mi
3m
East 2nd Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 111.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Traffic on I-27
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~615 veh/hr typical
· worst 753
Quietest
2 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Odessa, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on US 385
11 ft·4 sec·North Grant Avenue
2
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
2.6 mi·4 min·East 2nd Street
3
Continue on I 20 Bus
1.4 mi·2 min·East Highway 80
4
Turn left onto Northeast Loop 338
493 ft·17 sec·Northeast Loop 338
5
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Loop 338
0.2 mi·22 sec·Northeast Loop 338
6
Merge onto Loop 338
1.3 mi·1 min·Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
279 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto State Highway 191 East
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 191 East
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
10
Merge onto TX 191
2.4 mi·2 min·Chris Kyle Memorial Highway
11
Continue on TX 191
3.1 mi·3 min·Sergeant Michael Naylor Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward TX 349, FM 1788: UT Permian Basin CEED, Midland International Airport
13
Turn straight onto State Highway 191
0.2 mi·30 sec·State Highway 191
14
Turn slight left onto TX 349; FM 1788
2.2 mi·3 min·North FM 1788
15
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 349
12 mi·12 min·Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway
16
At end of road, turn left onto TX 349
47 mi·47 min·State Highway 349
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180
268 ft·3 sec·South US Highway 87
18
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
19
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
20
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
21
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
22
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
23
Continue on I 27; US 87
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
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.
26
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.
27
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
28
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 4.5 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. The estimated fuel cost is around $39, which is helpful for budgeting. Plan for one stop to break up the 259.6 miles, perhaps after the longest stretch of 111.1 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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 129.8 miles from Odessa, TX, or about 2h 16m 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 57 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.8 miles or 2h 16m 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 40m
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 Odessa, 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 Odessa, TX
This is one driving day of about 259.6 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Odessa, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 258.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in|Northeast Loop 338
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Loop 338
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
4.2 mi into trip|~6m in|Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Merge onto Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
5.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
258 mi into trip|~4h 28m 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
258.9 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.56 one way
$71.11 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$39.72
$79.43
premium
$4.23
$43.18
$86.36
diesel
$4.80
$49.02
$98.03
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: 90.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.9
0
$27.26
$12.46
Efficient EV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.38
EV Truck/SUV
103.8
1
$36.34
$16.61
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Odessa, TX
Late night
in Odessa on Monday
Local time
12:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Monday
Local time
12:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 10 to 15 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
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
3 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
4h 32m 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 259.6
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 259.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 45% of this 259.6-mile drive on main highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 111.1 miles along Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. After that, expect a mix of highway and surface roads for the remainder of the journey. This means you'll experience some rural cruising with fewer exits and then transition to roads with more local traffic and intersections.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 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?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near Northeast Loop 338.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 259.6 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 4.1 miles (Northeast Loop 338): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Odessa is a city of 120,000 people (2018) in West Texas, 20 mi (32 km) west of its sister city, Midland. Much of the major industry in the area is oil- and gas-related. As such, the Midland/Odessa area is colloquially known as the petroplex. Many of the attractions you will find in the area are in Midland, so if you're visiting Odessa, the Midland article deserves a look as well. It's also notable as the fountainhead for the Friday Night Lights media franchise, which began with a 1990 book that explored football at the city's Permian High School, later followed by a movie that was mostly faithful to the book, and then a TV series that was a looser adaptation.
Top landmarks
•White-Pool House — historic place in Odessa, Ector County, Texas
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 259.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
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.
Yes — we found about 13 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (Northeast Loop 338): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (Loop 338 / Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Amarillo, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
