Traveling from San Antonio to Amarillo is a significant journey across Texas, covering 511.2 miles of the Great Plains. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 37 minutes of total drive time, making this a long-distance haul that is best tackled in a single, focused day. With an estimated fuel cost of $76, you will want to account for your vehicle's specific efficiency before heading out. While the trip remains within the same state and region, the scale of the drive demands careful planning. Expect to make at least two stops to keep yourself alert and comfortable throughout the trek. It is a straightforward route, but the sheer length means you should be prepared for a full day of travel.
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
253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
109.9 mi
1h 51m
I 10
98.7 mi
1h 37m
US 84
74.5 mi
1h 14m
Frisco Avenue
41.9 mi
44m
State Highway 153
29.5 mi
33m
North Main Street
29.3 mi
30m
Highway 84
20 mi
19m
Roberts Avenue
16.5 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
143 ft·4 sec·Dolorosa Street
2
Continue on West Market Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Market Street
3
Turn left onto Navarro Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Navarro Street
4
Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue
85 ft·1 sec·San Pedro Avenue
5
Continue on San Pedro Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·San Pedro Avenue
6
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Cypress Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Fredericksburg Road
8
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
0.1 mi·13 sec·Interstate 10 West
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
10
Merge onto I 10; US 87
13 mi·14 min·McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
99 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 83
Exit 456Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
13
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
29 mi·30 min·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Frisco Avenue
15
Continue on US 83
17 mi·18 min·Roberts Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft·18 sec·Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi·7 min·North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi·13 min·FM 2111
19
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi·33 min·State Highway 153
20
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft·0 sec·State Highway 153
21
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
22
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
23
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Northwest Georgia Avenue
24
Take the ramp
340 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
25
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi·5 min·I 20; US 84
26
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 84
Exit 238AToward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 84
28
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi·1 min·South Avenue F
29
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Avenue F
30
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi·38 sec·Ralls Road
31
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·17 sec·East 15th Street
32
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
33
Continue on US 84
20 mi·19 min·Highway 84
34
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
35
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
36
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·5 min·Slaton Road
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
38
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
39
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
40
Merge onto I 27; US 87
110 mi·1 hr 51 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
41
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·15 min·Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
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.
43
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.
44
Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
105 ft·1 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
45
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
To manage this 511.2-mile trek effectively, aim for an early morning departure to ensure you reach Amarillo before nightfall. Since the route requires a significant time commitment, plan your two scheduled stops strategically to break up the monotony of the surface roads. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $76 estimate may fluctuate depending on your vehicle's performance and local pump prices. Given the nature of these local roads, staying alert at intersections and changing speed limits is essential. A great tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation settings before leaving San Antonio, as the reliance on surface streets rather than highways means you will encounter more turns and road transitions than a standard interstate drive.
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 253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 4h 29m 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 112 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 253.4 miles or 4h 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 253.4 miles or 4h 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 7h 47m
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 San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from San Antonio, 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.1 and 505.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.1 mi into trip|~20m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
114.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 456
Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
6
202.8 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue
Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
202.8 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|TX 158 / North Broadway Street
Turn left onto TX 158 / North Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
505.2 mi into trip|~8h 48m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.59 one way
$153.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg177 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$83.84
$167.68
premium
$4.54
$90.50
$181.01
diesel
$5.61
$111.92
$223.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
152.1
1
$53.22
$24.33
Efficient EV
126.7
1
$44.35
$20.28
EV Truck/SUV
202.8
2
$70.97
$32.44
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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 16, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Night
in Amarillo on Saturday
Local time
11:22 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.
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
6 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 52m 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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
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 506.9
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 52.4
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 506.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique experience as you depart San Antonio via city streets like West Market, Navarro, and San Pedro Avenue before transitioning to the open road. Because the route features 0% highway share according to the data, your drive will rely on a network of surface roads rather than the high-speed monotony of a major interstate. This structure changes the feel of the trip, requiring you to remain more engaged with navigation and road conditions. You will find that the journey lacks the typical long, uninterrupted interstate stretches, favoring a more localized driving experience. Prepare for a steady pace that keeps you focused on the road ahead as you traverse the expansive Texas landscape.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
45 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
At 8h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.1 miles in near I 10; US 87.
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 30 significant decision points across 506.9 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 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.8 miles (US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue): 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 San Antonio, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Menard and Lubbock.
San Antonio is the second largest city in the state of Texas and the 7th largest in the United States. It's the 24th largest metropolitan area in the country. Visited by more than 31 million annual visitors, San Antonio is a beautiful city at the axis of three different geological terrains: Hill Country, South Texas Plains and Prairie and Lakes. There's a lot to do in this city: fine art museums, historical missions and plenty of amusement parks in addition to great dining and lots of drinking. The culture and people are vibrant and interesting. San Antonio's downtown is one of the most lively in the nation.
Top landmarks
•Alamo Mission in San Antonio — historic place in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
•San Antonio Missions National Historical Park — historic district in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
•Fort Sam Houston — military base in San Antonio, Texas
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 253 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 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.8 miles (US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.7 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.
