Pecos to Amarillo is 336.9 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and I-20, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the vast Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward journey primarily on major highways. Expect a mixed driving profile that's generally efficient for covering ground. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal one-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and plenty of flexibility.
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
168.5 miles from Pecos, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
111.1 mi
1h 52m
I 20
78 mi
1h 15m
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
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 111.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pecos, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on East 6th Street
67 ft·4 sec·East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 285
1.8 mi·2 min·South Cedar Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
4
Merge onto I 20
78 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 20
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 121Toward Loop 338
6
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Interstate 20
7
Turn left onto Loop 338
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeast Loop 338
8
Continue on Loop 338
1.5 mi·2 min·Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
279 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto State Highway 191 East
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 191 East
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
12
Merge onto TX 191
2.4 mi·2 min·Chris Kyle Memorial Highway
13
Continue on TX 191
3.1 mi·3 min·Sergeant Michael Naylor Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward TX 349, FM 1788: UT Permian Basin CEED, Midland International Airport
15
Turn straight onto State Highway 191
0.2 mi·30 sec·State Highway 191
16
Turn slight left onto TX 349; FM 1788
2.2 mi·3 min·North FM 1788
17
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 349
12 mi·12 min·Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway
18
At end of road, turn left onto TX 349
47 mi·47 min·State Highway 349
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 180
268 ft·3 sec·South US Highway 87
20
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
21
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.7 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
22
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·Lubbock Highway
23
Continue on US 87
51 mi·51 min·North US Highway 87
24
Continue on I 27; US 87
4.4 mi·4 min·Tahoka Highway
25
Continue on I 27; US 87
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
26
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
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.
28
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.
29
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
30
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Starting your trip in the morning from Pecos will give you ample daylight to reach Amarillo, making this a comfortable one-day drive. With a total duration of under six hours, you won't need to split the trip, but planning for one stop around the halfway point is advisable for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on fuel availability, especially on the longer stretches of Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, as services can be spaced out. A good time to leave would be mid-morning, allowing you to arrive in Amarillo in the late afternoon.
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 168.5 miles from Pecos, TX, or about 2h 51m 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 74 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.5 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
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 Pecos, 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 Pecos, TX
This is one driving day of about 336.9 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Pecos, 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 1.8 and 336.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Odessa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
5
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward Loop 338
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 121
Toward Loop 338
5
82.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
335.3 mi into trip|~5h 41m 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
336.2 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
$50.91 one way
$101.81 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$55.72
$111.44
premium
$4.54
$60.15
$120.30
diesel
$5.61
$74.38
$148.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.1
1
$35.37
$16.17
Efficient EV
84.2
0
$29.48
$13.48
EV Truck/SUV
134.8
1
$47.17
$21.56
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pecos, TX
Night
in Pecos on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Night
in Amarillo on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
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
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
5h 45m 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 336.9
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 336.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed driving experience, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of efficient interstate driving alongside more traditional highway travel. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 111.1 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, meaning you can cover significant distance before needing to stop. The character of the drive is largely consistent, characterized by open landscapes typical of the Great Plains.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 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?
8/10
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 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 336.9 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 82.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pecos, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Loop 338, Fm 1788: Ut Permian Basin Ceed and Midland International Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 336.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m 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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 82.9 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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.
