Trip from Pasadena, 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

10h 59m

Distance

616.4 mi

992 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$93

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

10h 50m ★

6 AM

11h 0m

8 AM

11h 20m

10 AM

11h 7m

12 PM

11h 5m

3 PM

11h 8m

5 PM

11h 19m

8 PM

10h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Pasadena, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 616.4-mile journey from Pasadena, TX, to Amarillo, TX, is a significant undertaking, estimated to take nearly 11 hours of driving time. Designed as a 2-day trip, it covers ground efficiently across the Great Plains region of Texas. You'll primarily navigate on I-45, US-81, and US Highway 287, with 82% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $93, this long-distance drive is best approached with an overnight stop to break up the journey. Plan for around 3 stops to manage your time effectively.

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

308.2 miles from Pasadena, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 45	213.5 mi	3h 40m
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
Boykin Drive	26.2 mi	28m
US Highway 287 West	25.7 mi	26m
Hardy Toll Road	21.8 mi	25m

Longest stretch: I 45 — 213.5 mi, about 3h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena, TX and Amarillo, TX.

Start on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward TX 225 West Use the left lane.

Merge onto TX 225

0.6 mi · 38 sec · Pasadena Freeway

Continue on TX 225

2.0 mi · 2 min · La Porte Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 610 North Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 610

11 mi · 13 min · East Loop South

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 19B Toward Hardy Toll Road North Use the slight right lane.

Continue on HTR

22 mi · 25 min · Hardy Toll Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 45

213 mi · 3 hr 40 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 286A Toward Waco, Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Spur 366

0.9 mi · 1 min · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

4.1 mi · 5 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the slight right lane.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress

1.5 mi · 1 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress

15 mi · 14 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

2.0 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 50 sec

Toward I 35W Express North: Denton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W TEXpress

2.3 mi · 2 min · I 35W TEXpress

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 81; US 287

1.7 mi · 1 min · US 81; US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 81; US 287

102 mi · 1 hr 47 min · US 81; US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight lane.

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.

Continue on US 287

40 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

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.

Continue on US 287

26 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 287

29 mi · 32 min · East 11th Street

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

0.7 mi · 1 min · Burnett Street

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 13 min · US Highway 287

Turn straight onto US 287

26 mi · 28 min · Boykin Drive

Continue on US 287

1.6 mi · 1 min · East 2nd Street

Continue on US 287

28 mi · 28 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287; FM 1151

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street

Continue on US 287

20 mi · 20 min · US Highway 287

Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive

329 ft · 8 sec · East Interstate Drive

Toward East 3rd Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue

2.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast 3rd Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Merge onto Loop 335

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Lakeside Drive

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard

Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60

4.4 mi · 5 min · East Amarillo Boulevard

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

Continue on I 40 Business

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Amarillo Boulevard

Arrive at destination

I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

Trip Plan

Given the 10-hour, 59-minute estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your first leg. With 3 planned stops, be sure to factor in time for fuel and rest, especially during the longest stretch on I-45. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services can be spread out in some sections of this Great Plains drive. A good mid-point for an overnight stay would be around the halfway mark of your total mileage.

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 308.2 miles from Pasadena, TX, or about 5h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.5 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 136 miles or 2h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 308.2 miles or 5h 29m 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 308.2 miles or 5h 29m

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 9h 54m

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 Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, TX

Aim for roughly 308 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX

Aim for roughly 308 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 136 miles from Pasadena, 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 I 45 for about 213.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Mesquite, TX

203 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

Wichita Falls, TX

407 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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Keller, TX

308 mi · about 5.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Keller, TX after about 308 miles or 5.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Mesquite, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 136 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saginaw, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 308.2 miles from Pasadena, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 213.5 miles.

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 616.4

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663502738

Visit website

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 15.8 and 394.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

15.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward Hardy Toll Road North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 19B Toward Hardy Toll Road North

251.7 mi into trip | ~4h 27m 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

257.6 mi into trip | ~4h 36m 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

284 mi into trip | ~5h 3m 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

394.5 mi into trip | ~7h 1m 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

$93.14 one way

$186.28 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 216 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$101.95	$203.90
premium	$4.54	$110.05	$220.11
diesel	$5.61	$136.09	$272.19

Estimated Tolls: $1.74

Hardy Toll Road (21.8 mi) $1.74

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$93

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$225–$335

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 215.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $65 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	184.9	2	$64.72	$29.59
Efficient EV	154.1	1	$53.93	$24.66
EV Truck/SUV	246.6	3	$86.30	$39.45

Gas CO2

216 kg

EV CO2

72 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Pasadena, TX

Night in Pasadena on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amarillo, TX

Night in Amarillo on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Mesquite, TX

203 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

17 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

10h 59m 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.

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 616.4

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 616.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 82% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 213.5 miles along I-45, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the majority is highway, the transition to US-81 and US Highway 287 will introduce you to different driving environments as you move north. This route is characterized by its focus on covering distance rather than dynamic scenery.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 213.5 mi on I 45.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and US 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.8 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 25 significant decision points across 616.4 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 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 251.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.6 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.

Between Pasadena, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dfw Airport.

Waco

251.7 mi in | ~4h 27m

Denton

251.7 mi in | ~4h 27m

Dfw Airport

257.6 mi in | ~4h 36m | via TX 183

About the Cities

Starting in Pasadena, TX

Full guide →

Pasadena is in the North Barrier Coast of 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 213.5 miles on I 45. 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 308 miles on day one.

Expect about $1.74 in tolls one way, starting with Hardy Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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.

Yes — 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 11.0 hours each way, a round trip means 22.0 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Pasadena, TX to Amarillo, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

Chevrolet Charging Station

EVmatch Charging Station

EVmatch Charging Station

Universal EV Charging Station

Universal EV Charging Station

Universal EV Charging Station

Universal EV Charging Station

The Woodlands Waterway

Maniac’s Mansion (TAG’s)

Museum of North Texas History

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Pasadena, TX

Amarillo, TX

Same local time

17 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 59m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Pasadena, TX

Arriving in Amarillo, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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