Rockwall, TX to Amarillo, TX is 379.6 miles and takes about 6h 53m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entirety of this trip, experiencing a largely consistent landscape. This route is a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's well-suited for a single day of travel. It's a practical choice if you need to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area to the Texas Panhandle efficiently.
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
189.8 miles from Rockwall, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 287
75.4 mi
1h 17m
North US Highway 287
72.5 mi
1h 15m
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi
42m
East 11th Street
28.7 mi
32m
President George Bush Turnpike
26.8 mi
28m
Boykin Drive
26.2 mi
28m
US Highway 287 West
25.7 mi
26m
US Highway 380 West
21.5 mi
24m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 287
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockwall, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on this road
169 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto TX 205
222 ft·13 sec·North Goliad Street
3
Turn left onto West Kaufman Street
261 ft·16 sec·West Kaufman Street
4
Turn left onto TX 205
261 ft·10 sec·North Alamo Road
5
Turn right onto TX 66
5.8 mi·8 min·West Rusk Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto TX 190
0.1 mi·9 sec·President George Bush Highway
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward PGBT Toll North
8
Merge onto PGBT
27 mi·28 min·President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35E North: DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35E North: DentonUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 35E
21 mi·22 min·South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi·9 sec·I 35; US 77
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 469Toward US 380: University Drive
14
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi·47 sec·North Interstate 35
15
Turn left onto US 380
3.4 mi·4 min·West University Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on US 380
22 mi·24 min·US Highway 380 West
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
18
Merge onto US 81; US 287
72 mi·1 hr 15 min·North US Highway 287
19
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
20
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi·5 min·Northwest Freeway
Exit 3AToward US 287 North: Vernon, AmarilloUse the slight left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on US 287
40 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
23
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.
24
Continue on US 287
26 mi·26 min·US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 287
29 mi·32 min·East 11th Street
26
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northeast
27
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
28
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·Burnett Street
29
Continue on US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
30
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi·28 min·Boykin Drive
31
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
32
Continue on US 287
28 mi·28 min·US Highway 287
33
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
34
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
35
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft·8 sec·East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
36
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
37
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
38
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi·1 min·North Lakeside Drive
39
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
40
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·East Amarillo Boulevard
41
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
42
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
43
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 53m estimated drive time, leaving Rockwall in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Amarillo with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but it's wise to fuel up before hitting the road or at a significant stop point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 75.4 miles on US Highway 287, as services can be more spread out in some sections. The $55 fuel cost estimate is a good benchmark for planning your budget.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.8 miles from Rockwall, TX, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 84 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.8 miles or 3h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 48m
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 Rockwall, 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 Rockwall, TX
This is one driving day of about 379.6 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Rockwall, 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 US Highway 287 for about 75.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 157.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 66 / West Rusk Street
Turn right onto TX 66 / West Rusk Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6 mi into trip|~9m in|TX 190 / President George Bush Highway
Turn right onto TX 190 / President George Bush Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
33.2 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Denton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North: Denton
7
34.8 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North: Denton
9
157.7 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
$51.99 one way
$103.99 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$58.08
$116.15
premium
$4.23
$63.14
$126.28
diesel
$4.80
$71.68
$143.35
Estimated Tolls: $2.15
President George Bush Turnpike
(26.8 mi)$2.15
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
$52
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.9
1
$39.86
$18.22
Efficient EV
94.9
1
$33.22
$15.18
EV Truck/SUV
151.8
1
$53.14
$24.29
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Rockwall, TX
Late night
in Rockwall on Monday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Monday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
9 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
6h 53m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 379.6
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 379.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 77% of the route utilizing major roadways like US Highway 287. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 75.4 miles on US Highway 287, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. As you move away from urban areas, expect more rural cruising and fewer exits. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.4 mi on US Highway 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near TX 66 / West Rusk Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 379.6 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 0.2 miles (TX 66 / West Rusk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (TX 190 / President George Bush Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 379.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.15 in tolls one way, starting with President George Bush Turnpike. 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.
Yes — we found about 33 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (TX 66 / West Rusk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (TX 190 / President George Bush Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 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.
