Round Rock, TX to Amarillo, TX is 484.1 miles and takes about 8h 43m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, US 84, and North US Highway 183, with a fuel budget near $73 and an overnight drive recommended. This trip takes you across the vast Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive with minimal elevation changes. With a recommended two-day itinerary, you'll have ample opportunity to rest and break up the 484.1 miles. This route is ideal for those who prefer a direct path and are comfortable with highway driving.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
242.1 miles from Round Rock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
109.9 mi
1h 51m
US 84
104.9 mi
1h 49m
North US Highway 183
73 mi
1h 19m
State Highway 153
69 mi
1h 14m
East Commerce Street
22 mi
25m
Highway 84
20 mi
19m
Canyon Expressway
13.5 mi
15m
State Highway 70
10.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m
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 Round Rock, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on South Mays Street
467 ft·18 sec·South Mays Street
2
Turn left onto West Liberty Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·West Liberty Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Round Rock Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Round Rock Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.3 mi·23 sec·North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 35 North
6
Merge onto I 35
7.3 mi·7 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 261Toward TX 29: BurnetUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35
0.5 mi·1 min·South Interstate 35
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto TX 29
3.0 mi·4 min·West University Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on TX 29
1.9 mi·2 min·TX 29 West
11
Continue on TX 29
6.4 mi·8 min·West State Highway 29
12
Turn right onto US 183
36 mi·39 min·North US Highway 183
13
Continue on US 183
2.3 mi·4 min·South Key Avenue
14
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.2 mi·14 sec·North US Highway 281
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190
37 mi·40 min·North US Highway 183
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16
30 mi·34 min·US 84; US 183; TX 16
17
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
1.7 mi·2 min·Early Boulevard
18
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
22 mi·25 min·East Commerce Street
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
7.2 mi·8 min·Wallis Avenue
20
Turn right onto TX 153
0.9 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
21
Continue on TX 153; TX 206
1.0 mi·1 min·West Walnut Street
22
Continue on TX 153
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·State Highway 153
23
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft·0 sec·State Highway 153
24
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
25
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
26
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Northwest Georgia Avenue
27
Take the ramp
340 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
28
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi·5 min·I 20; US 84
29
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 84
Exit 238AToward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 84
31
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi·1 min·South Avenue F
32
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Avenue F
33
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi·38 sec·Ralls Road
34
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·17 sec·East 15th Street
35
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
36
Continue on US 84
20 mi·19 min·Highway 84
37
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
38
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
39
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·5 min·Slaton Road
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
41
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
42
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
43
Merge onto I 27; US 87
110 mi·1 hr 51 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
44
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
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.
46
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.
47
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
48
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour and 43-minute estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is advisable. Plan to depart in the morning to make good progress on your first day, aiming to reach a midway point for an overnight stay. You'll have two planned stops, so be sure to utilize them for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 109.9-mile stretch on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach your next refueling point.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 242.1 miles from Round Rock, TX, or about 4h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 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 107 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 242.1 miles or 4h 32m 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 242.1 miles or 4h 32m
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 7h 39m
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 Round Rock, 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 Round Rock, TX
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Round Rock, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 109.9 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 32
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 483.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward TX 29: Burnet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward TX 29: Burnet
6
9.1 mi into trip|~11m in|TX 29 / West University Avenue
Turn left onto TX 29 / West University Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
245.5 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|US 84
Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
7
482.5 mi into trip|~8h 39m 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
483.4 mi into trip|~8h 42m 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
$66.31 one way
$132.61 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg169 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$74.06
$148.13
premium
$4.23
$80.52
$161.05
diesel
$4.80
$91.41
$182.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 169.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
145.2
1
$50.83
$23.24
Efficient EV
121
1
$42.36
$19.36
EV Truck/SUV
193.6
2
$67.77
$30.98
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
57 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Round Rock, TX
Night
in Round Rock on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny
S 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:16AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:07AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Night
in Amarillo on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:16AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:07AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
103°F
Sweetwater, TX
242 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
2 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
8h 43m 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 484.1
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 484.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive covers 65% on major highways, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster, more direct roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. Expect a consistent driving experience as you traverse primarily flat terrain. The route is designed for efficient travel, prioritizing getting you from point A to point B with fewer twists and turns.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.9 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and US 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 32 significant decision points across 484.1 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 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (TX 29 / West University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 245.5 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft730 ft
Total Climb
3,032 ft
Total Descent
91 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
~484.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,940 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Round Rock, TX to Amarillo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Lubbock along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109.9 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. 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 242 miles on day one.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (TX 29 / West University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 245.5 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.5 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.
