Texarkana, TX to Amarillo, TX is 494.4 miles and takes about 9h 7m via US Highway 287 and US Highway 82 West, with a fuel budget near $75 and an overnight stay recommended. This drive primarily traverses the Great Plains, taking you across Texas from its eastern edge to the panhandle. Expect a highway-focused journey with plenty of open road. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the drive comfortably. This route is a straightforward path across the state, ideal for those looking for efficiency.
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
247.2 miles from Texarkana, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 287
75.4 mi
1h 17m
US Highway 82 West
72.5 mi
1h 18m
US 82
59.6 mi
1h 5m
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
Northwest Front Street
25.4 mi
29m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 287
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, TX and Amarillo, TX.
1
Start on US 67; US 82
298 ft·10 sec·West 7th Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
384 ft·15 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 67; US 82
0.8 mi·1 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
4
Turn right onto TX 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Summerhill Road
5
Turn left onto US 82
2.1 mi·3 min·New Boston Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Sowell Lane
474 ft·9 sec·Sowell Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
8
Merge onto I 369; US 59
0.2 mi·15 sec·Jarvis Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 30 West: Dallas
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
11
Merge onto I 30
20 mi·20 min·I 30
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 82: New Boston, De Kalb, Clarksville
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
14
Merge onto US 82
8.2 mi·9 min·US Highway 82
15
Continue on US 82
1.3 mi·2 min·Northeast Front Street
16
Continue on US 82
25 mi·29 min·Northwest Front Street
17
Continue on US 82
3.2 mi·4 min·Captain Henry Stout Bypass
18
Turn right onto US 82
1.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
19
Continue on US 82
17 mi·18 min·US Highway 82 West
20
Continue on US 82
2.0 mi·2 min·East Front Street
21
Continue on US 82
2.9 mi·3 min·US Highway 82 East
22
Continue on US 82
3.2 mi·3 min·Lamar Road
23
Continue on US 82
2.8 mi·4 min·Lamar Avenue
24
Continue on US 82 Business
3.4 mi·4 min·Bonham Street
25
Continue on US 82
56 mi·59 min·US Highway 82 West
26
Continue on US 82
23 mi·24 min·East Buck Owens Freeway
27
Continue on US 82
12 mi·14 min·East US Highway 82
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 82
12 mi·13 min·J M Lindsay Boulevard
29
Continue on US 82
10 mi·11 min·Division Street
30
Turn straight onto US 82
25 mi·27 min·US 82
31
Merge onto US 82
35 mi·37 min·US 82
32
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
33
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
34
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.
35
Continue on US 287
40 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
36
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.
37
Continue on US 287
26 mi·26 min·US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
38
Continue on US 287
29 mi·32 min·East 11th Street
39
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northeast
40
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
41
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·Burnett Street
42
Continue on US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
43
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi·28 min·Boykin Drive
44
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
45
Continue on US 287
28 mi·28 min·US Highway 287
46
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
47
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
48
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft·8 sec·East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
49
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
50
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
51
Merge onto Loop 335
1.3 mi·1 min·North Lakeside Drive
52
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 60, I 40 Business: Amarillo Boulevard
53
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·East Amarillo Boulevard
54
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
55
Continue on I 40 Business
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Amarillo Boulevard
56
Arrive at destination
I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 7m estimated drive time, splitting this 494.4-mile journey over two days is the most sensible approach. Aim to leave Texarkana in the morning to make good progress on your first day. With two recommended stops, plan to find lodging around the halfway point to break up the driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer stretches of US Highway 287, as services can sometimes be spaced out in this region. Budgeting around $75 for fuel should cover the trip.
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 247.2 miles from Texarkana, TX, or about 4h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 109 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.2 miles or 4h 41m 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 247.2 miles or 4h 41m
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 8h 2m
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 Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, TX
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Texarkana, 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 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 0.1 and 272.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 82 / New Boston Road
Turn left onto US 82 / New Boston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 West: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 30 West: Dallas
5
25.2 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward US 82: New Boston, De Kalb, Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82: New Boston, De Kalb, Clarksville
9
272.5 mi into trip|~5h 9m 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
$67.72 one way
$135.43 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg173 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$75.64
$151.28
premium
$4.23
$82.24
$164.48
diesel
$4.80
$93.35
$186.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 173 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
148.3
1
$51.91
$23.73
Efficient EV
123.6
1
$43.26
$19.78
EV Truck/SUV
197.8
2
$69.22
$31.64
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 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 16, 2026
Origin
Texarkana, TX
Late night
in Texarkana on Sunday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Amarillo, TX
Late night
in Amarillo on Sunday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
4 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
9h 7m 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 494.4
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 494.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 71% of the journey utilizing major highways. You'll encounter stretches that are primarily US Highway 287, including one segment that lasts 75.4 miles without interruption. While it's mostly high-speed highway travel, the character remains consistent, offering a predictable driving experience. The open landscapes of the Great Plains will be your constant companion for most of this 494.4-mile trip.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
56 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and US Highway 82 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
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 20 significant decision points across 494.4 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 82 / New Boston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,670 ft301 ft
Total Climb
3,627 ft
Total Descent
258 ft
Highest Point
3,670 ft
~494.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,369 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Texarkana, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward De Kalb and Clarksville.
De Kalb
25.2 mi in|~29m
Clarksville
25.2 mi in|~29m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. 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 247 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 82 / New Boston Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 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.
