Did Route 66 go through Amarillo?

Yes. Route 66 ran through Amarillo along Sixth Street, and that stretch is now the U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District. Cadillac Ranch sits in a field on the west side of the city.

What is there to see on Route 66 in Amarillo?

We list 9 stops in and around Amarillo, mostly museums, landmarks and roadside art and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Cadillac Ranch, Leaning Tower of Britten and U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.

How far is Amarillo from the next towns on Route 66?

Amarillo sits at about mile 1,194 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Elk City, OK, about 167 miles back. Heading west, Tucumcari, NM is about 129 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.

Is Amarillo a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?

Yes. Our trip planner uses Amarillo as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.

Route 66 town guide · Texas

Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo is the biggest city on the Texas stretch of Route 66, about 1,194 miles from Chicago and a little short of the road's halfway point, which the Midpoint Café in Adrian claims. It sits in the middle of the Panhandle, and the stops we group here run from Groom and McClellan Creek in the east to the west edge of the city.

About mile 1,194 of 2,448 from Chicago
9 stops in and around Amarillo
Main overnight town

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop (the fork-and-knife markers are places to eat). Open Amarillo on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.

Cadillac Ranch is the reason many people stop: ten old Cadillacs buried nose-first in a row, a 1974 artwork about the rise of the tail fin, in a field west of town. In the city, the U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District preserves Amarillo's stretch of the old road along Sixth Street, home of the old Amarillo Natatorium, and the Ranchotel is a 1940 motel that was a favorite with highway travelers. East of town in Groom, the Leaning Tower of Britten is a water tower tilted on purpose beside the highway, a favorite of Route 66 photo books.

For a longer visit, Amarillo has museums of its own. The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame honors the breed, the Don Harrington Discovery Center has a full-dome planetarium and a helium monument by the door, and the Texas Air & Space Museum by the airport shows civilian and military aircraft. The Amarillo Museum of Art on the college campus is free. Out on the plains, McClellan Creek National Grassland surrounds a small lake and is still recovering from a huge 2006 fire.

Practical note: Amarillo is a main overnight town on our planner and the last big city until Albuquerque, about 330 miles west. Adrian, home of the Midpoint Café, is about 70 miles on.

Top 9 Route 66 attractions in and around Amarillo

Cadillac RanchTen old Cadillacs buried nose-first in a row in Amarillo, a 1974 artwork about the rise of the tail fin.
Leaning Tower of BrittenA water tower tilted on purpose beside the highway in Groom, and a favorite of Route 66 photo books.
U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic DistrictAmarillo's preserved stretch of Route 66 along Sixth Street, home of the old Amarillo Natatorium.
RanchotelA 1940 motel on Amarillo's old Route 66 that was a favorite with highway travelers.
McClellan Creek National GrasslandA small national grassland around McClellan Lake in the Texas Panhandle, recovering from a huge 2006 fire.
American Quarter Horse Hall of FameThe Quarter Horse breed's own hall of honor and museum, a short hop off the old road in Amarillo.
Don Harrington Discovery CenterAmarillo's hands-on science center, with a full-dome planetarium and a helium monument by the door.
Amarillo Museum of ArtA free art museum on the Amarillo College campus, a short drive from the Sixth Street stretch of Route 66.
Texas Air & Space MuseumAn aviation museum by Amarillo's airport, with civilian and military aircraft and space artifacts.

Art & landmarks (2)

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Leaning Tower of Britten

Groom, Texas · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A water tower tilted on purpose beside the highway in Groom, and a favorite of Route 66 photo books.

Art & landmarksPhoto credit

Cadillac Ranch

Amarillo, Texas · 0.1 mi from Route 66

Ten old Cadillacs buried nose-first in a row in Amarillo, a 1974 artwork about the rise of the tail fin.

Art & landmarksPhoto credit

Route 66 sites (1)

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U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District

Amarillo, Texas · on Route 66

Amarillo's preserved stretch of Route 66 along Sixth Street, home of the old Amarillo Natatorium.

Route 66 sitePhoto credit

Retro roadside (1)

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Ranchotel

Amarillo, Texas · on Route 66

A 1940 motel on Amarillo's old Route 66 that was a favorite with highway travelers.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Nature & parks (1)

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McClellan Creek National Grassland

Amarillo, Texas · 1.9 mi from Route 66

A small national grassland around McClellan Lake in the Texas Panhandle, recovering from a huge 2006 fire.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Museums (4)

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Texas Air & Space Museum

Amarillo, Texas · 1.3 mi from Route 66

An aviation museum by Amarillo's airport, with civilian and military aircraft and space artifacts.

MuseumPhoto credit

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame

Amarillo, Texas · 1.7 mi from Route 66

The Quarter Horse breed's own hall of honor and museum, a short hop off the old road in Amarillo.

MuseumPhoto credit

Amarillo Museum of Art

Amarillo, Texas · 1.3 mi from Route 66

A free art museum on the Amarillo College campus, a short drive from the Sixth Street stretch of Route 66.

MuseumPhoto credit

Don Harrington Discovery Center

Amarillo, Texas · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Amarillo's hands-on science center, with a full-dome planetarium and a helium monument by the door.

MuseumPhoto credit

Where to eat in and around Amarillo

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Diner & restaurant
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Amarillo, Texas · 1.8 mi from Route 66
An Amarillo steakhouse and motel from 1960, painted bright yellow and known for its 72-ounce steak challenge.

Next towns on Route 66

Smaller towns on the way to Tucumcari

Adrian, TX 3

Route 66 in Amarillo: questions

Did Route 66 go through Amarillo?: Yes. Route 66 ran through Amarillo along Sixth Street, and that stretch is now the U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District. Cadillac Ranch sits in a field on the west side of the city.
What is there to see on Route 66 in Amarillo?: We list 9 stops in and around Amarillo, mostly museums, landmarks and roadside art and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Cadillac Ranch, Leaning Tower of Britten and U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
How far is Amarillo from the next towns on Route 66?: Amarillo sits at about mile 1,194 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Elk City, OK, about 167 miles back. Heading west, Tucumcari, NM is about 129 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
Is Amarillo a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?: Yes. Our trip planner uses Amarillo as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.