Amarillo itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Amarillo, day by day: Cadillac Ranch, the Potter County Courthouse, the Don Harrington Discovery Center and the Amarillo Museum of Art first, then Palo Duro Canyon, the Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum and the Big Texan Steak Ranch with a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Amarillo in 1 day
Day 1
Potter County Courthouse
Art Deco county courthouse in downtown Amarillo, a working government building best seen from the outside.
Don Harrington Discovery Center
Hands-on science centre and planetarium in west Amarillo, with exhibits aimed at children and families.
Amarillo Museum of Art
Art museum on the Amarillo College campus with changing exhibitions and collections of American and Asian art.
Cadillac Ranch
Ten old Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field beside Interstate 40, a 1974 public artwork that visitors cover with spray paint.
Amarillo in 2 days
Day 1
Cadillac Ranch
Ten old Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field beside Interstate 40, a 1974 public artwork that visitors cover with spray paint.
Potter County Courthouse
Art Deco county courthouse in downtown Amarillo, a working government building best seen from the outside.
Day 2
Palo Duro Canyon
The second-largest canyon in the United States, with red rock walls, hiking and riding trails and a scenic drive to the floor.
Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum
The largest history museum in Texas, on the West Texas A&M campus in Canyon, covering ranching, oil, art and fossils.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Route 66-era steakhouse beside Interstate 40, with cowboy decor and a well-known 72-ounce steak challenge.
Watch: Amarillo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Amarillo
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild days for Palo Duro Canyon. Summer is hot, and the canyon floor is hotter still; winters bring cold winds and occasional snow, and the open plains are windy all year. The Tri-State Fair and Rodeo is held in September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Amarillo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Amarillo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Amarillo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Amarillo
- Cadillac Ranch stands in a field beside Interstate 40 west of town; visitors may add spray paint to the cars, and the ground is muddy after rain.
- Palo Duro Canyon is much hotter on the canyon floor than in town in summer; carry plenty of water and start hikes early in the day.
- The Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum is in the town of Canyon, close to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, so the two fit well on one day.
- The outdoor musical TEXAS is staged in the canyon's amphitheatre on summer evenings; book seats ahead.
- Amarillo is spread out and public transport is limited; a car is needed for nearly every stop.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Amarillo Museum of Art: Who What Where Nguyen Why a/k/a Anonymous Cow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cadillac Ranch: Bavareze, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Don Harrington Discovery Center: SarahDHDC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palo Duro Canyon: Kimberly Vardeman from Lubbock, TX, USA, CC BY 3.0
- Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum: No machine-readable author provided. Who What Where Nguyen Why~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- Potter County Courthouse: Who What Where Nguyen Why, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Big Texan Steak Ranch: Who What Where Nguyen Why a/k/a Anonymous Cow, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
