From Chicago to Los Angeles: What Makes Amarillo, TX the Perfect Pit Stop Along Route 66
So, you’re planning a trip down Route 66—the iconic road of America, stretching 2,448 miles from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois. This trip will take at least a week and include a lot of driving (even more than the New Zealand road trip I took) through small towns stuck in the 1950s, so it’s important to plan your stops strategically. If you’re ready to take on a Route 66 road trip to see a bunch of America at once and learn important parts of its history, read this guide to learn of a great pit stop in Amarillo, Texas!
What to Know About Amarillo, TX
Tucked away in the middle of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo (pronounced Amm-ur-il-la by the locals), isn’t your typical Texas town. While they have cowboys and the occasional tornado, they also have crazy snowstorms and an incredibly eccentric art scene. I lived there for four months, as well as several other towns throughout West Texas for a total of 18 months, so I’m not kidding when I say it’s not like most places in the Lone Star state. Here’s what to know before you visit to get the most out of your trip.
Size/Location: Amarillo is the only city (meaning with a population of at least 150,000) within a two-hour radius and is located in the Texas Panhandle. The closest cities to it with a comparable or larger population are Lubbock, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you’re looking for amenities typical of a big city, this is as close as you’re going to get for a while on your road trip.
Weather: Amarillo weather does include all four seasons, so pack accordingly. I was there in the fall and winter and saw a lot of snow (I’m talking ice completely covering the roads and several feet of snow piled up everywhere), and the crazy winds make for a bone-chilling cold. You’ll need a coat and gloves. It can also get extremely hot in the summer and experience tornadoes and strong winds, especially during the spring. If you have the flexibility to choose when you travel here, I would suggest late summer or autumn to avoid extreme weather.
Transportation: If you aren’t visiting Amarillo as part of a road trip, there is a small airport in Amarillo, so flying into the city is possible. However, you will still want to rent a car since public transportation is limited and the town is too spread out to walk everywhere.
Culture: Texans are so kind and hospitable. I was skeptical before moving to Texas for a year and a half, thinking they would just be a bunch of rowdy cowboys who brag about living in the best state, but I was wrong! Texans are genuine, salt-of-the-earth people! While visiting Amarillo, make an effort to meet some locals and learn about their city from them—they’re great storytellers and will keep you entertained for hours.
Where to Go in Amarillo, TX
Despite being a lesser known city in Texas, Amarillo is full of touristy things to do! There are roadside attractions, museums, an amusement park, and beautiful sights to see throughout the city and nearby areas. While living there, I found fun things to do each week! Here are some of my favorites.
1. Big Texan Steak Ranch
The first thing many people think of when they hear Amarillo is Big Texan and the 72 oz steak challenge, made famous by Man vs. Food. Surrounded by cattle ranch towns, it’s really no wonder steak is a big deal in Amarillo! This restaurant and the cowboy sign welcoming you in from outside are larger than life. When you visit, be sure to check out the wild west motel next to the restaurant, order steak (or even try the 72 oz steak challenge if you’re brave enough—it comes with a baked potato, salad, roll, and shrimp cocktail), browse the gift shop, and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s so much fun and you’ll really feel like you’re in Texas at the Big Texan!
2. Cadillac Ranch
Perhaps the second most famous place to visit in Amarillo is Cadillac Ranch. Two artists had this zany idea to bury ten Cadillacs nose-first in the ground and created a roadside attraction out of it, funded by Amarillo local millionaire, Stanley Marsh 3 (more on him later). As strange as it sounds, it really is a neat place to visit, especially if you bring spray paint to make your mark on the old cars. Don’t worry, it’s totally legal here and all part of the unique experience! Fun, free, and unlike anywhere else—what’s not to love about Cadillac Ranch?
3. Route 66 Shops
If you’ve been driving Route 66, you obviously have to stop here! Walking down this street is the best way to explore and window shop. You’ll find several small shops packed with Americana decorative antiques, as well as great souvenirs. Get your camera ready because you never know what you’ll find—a saloon parking lot packed with motorcycles? a store full of creepy mannequins? a wall of license plates from every state?—I’ve seen it all there! I found this area to be a little sketchy at night, so unless you are going to a bar or restaurant with a group, I would avoid it after dark.
4. Wonderland Amusement Park
This is the first amusement park I remember ever visiting. I was around the age of five and lived in Kansas at the time (where there really isn’t much to do besides play in corn fields), so I had fond memories of Wonderland Amusement Park. Visiting again when I was older as someone who has visited many amazing amusement parks (including Walt Disney World and Disneyland many times) gave me a different perspective on this one: it’s small and there are few thrill rides. However, this would be an exciting way to spend an afternoon for families driving Route 66. Take a break from driving, stretch your legs, and release some energy by screaming on the Texas Tornado roller coaster!
5. Amarillo Botanical Garden
While I lived in Amarillo I volunteered at the botanical garden, helping them set up lights for their Christmas show. Their festive light displays are magical and perfect for a winter evening activity, which makes it one of the most popular holiday events in town. Other times of the year also make a visit to the botanical gardens a treat. In spring and summer you will find a gorgeous array of flowers and unique plants to enjoy, immaculately organized with rows upon rows of greenery. Fall is the season of their pumpkinfest, where oranges and yellows and reds reign supreme.
6. Palo Duro Canyon State Park
After already living in West Texas for nine months, I genuinely could not believe that there was the second largest canyon in the USA (after the Grand Canyon) just 30 minutes south of Amarillo. West Texas is so flat! Visiting Palo Duro Canyon (nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Texas) was quite the pleasant surprise. This is a beautiful place to go hiking or horseback riding, enjoy geological wonders, and see some wildlife. I even saw several Texas longhorns when I visited! Be mindful of the weather when you go—the trails down into the canyon close when they are wet and/or snowy and can be quite hot during the day in the summer. Also be sure to reserve your day pass to enter the park ahead of time. They quickly reach capacity during busy summer months.
7. Street Sign Art
Remember Stanley Marsh 3—the millionaire who funded Cadillac Ranch? Well, he funded another zany project in Amarillo called Dynamite Museum. This isn’t an actual museum building—the city of Amarillo is the museum and the hidden street signs are the art! While driving around town, keep your eyes peeled for these signs that have absurd and sometimes nonsensical phrases or pictures on them (trust me, you'll know when you find one). I spent a lot of time around the neighborhoods near 6th Street and can remember seeing dozens of these signs in that area, but they are all over town!
8. Enjoy the Big Blue Sky
No, the big blue sky is not an actual place (although there is a restaurant called Blue Sky in Amarillo that I recommend), but a visit to the flat land of West Texas means you have to take time to enjoy looking up! If you happen to drive past a field of windmills—they’re all over the place—or a ranch that looks like it’s straight out of a Western movie, pull to the side of the road and take in the truly Texas setting. Wonder at the miles of sky stretching out before you during a sunrise, sunset, or in the middle of a clear day. You’ll be glad you stopped!
How to Plan for a Visit to Amarillo, TX
After you figure out what you want to do in Amarillo, it’s time to decide on the rest of the details for your visit. Here are some suggestions for places to eat and stay in Amarillo!
Where to Eat
Besides the Big Texan, of course, there are several restaurants worth experiencing in Amarillo!
This chain throughout Texas has a bright, colorful atmosphere and yummy Mexican food served with fresh tortillas. I have spent many Tuesdays eating tacos there for cheap, along with sopapillas for dessert. It’s always a party at Rosa’s!
Even though I was born in California, my controversial opinion is that Tex-Mex is better than Cal-Mex (and In-n-Out is gross, but that’s irrelevant). The Tex-Mex here is one of those shining examples—I love the taquitos!
This classic burger restaurant serves hearty meals typical of Texas: over-sized burgers, milkshakes made with the famous Blue Bell ice cream, and chicken fried steak! Everyone I ate with here also raved about the crispy tater tots sprinkled with salt and pepper.
If you’ve had enough American diner food from small towns along Route 66, then stop here for an Asian FEAST! I have spent too much time getting seconds and thirds…and fourths...here, but the assorted Chinese food items are so good you’ll want to, too.
Amarillo is surrounded by small towns built around the cattle industry (including Hereford, named after the Hereford cow), so they know a thing or two about good dairy products. Braum’s serves some of the creamiest, most delicious ice cream in the Panhandle—you have to try it!
Where to Stay
Since I lived in an apartment while in Amarillo, I don’t have any personal recommendations for Amarillo hotels to stay in, but I do know the north part of town is a good area close to many of the attractions I’ve mentioned. Here are some highly-rated hotels and lodging near I-40 and Route 66.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Amarillo West
Embassy Suites Amarillo Downtown
Palo Duro Canyon State Park Camping & Glamping
Amarillo on a Map of Route 66
Amarillo is nearly the halfway mark between Chicago and Los Angeles when traveling along Route 66 (just 50 miles from Adrian, TX, the true midway point). It is one of the biggest cities along the route and a great place to stop for a day or two and play! See the map below for a reference to where Amarillo is in relation to the eight states along Route 66. Have fun exploring!
What would you like to do in Amarillo, Texas? Visited before? Leave a comment below and share your favorite memory of your trip!
Looking for more fun? Another great place to make part of an American road trip is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Read about my adventure at GSMNP here!
If you’re really into road trips, drive along the East Coast, visiting iconic cities such as New York City and Washington, DC. Both are must-sees when exploring America!
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