We just got back from Amarillo, Texas and we had such a great time! Whether you’re looking for adventure, nightlife, or something a little more low key, Amarillo has it. Since we, like most people, don’t have a lot of time to spend while on vacations, we thought we’d show you our itinerary for how we get the most out of weekend trips.
This weekend trip included driving the 9 hours from Houston on Friday and spending both weekend days exploring the city. As always, make your trip your own! This is just what worked for us.
Where to Stay
Whether you prefer an AirBnB, Hotel, or RV Park, Amarillo has a little something for everyone. The most important thing you can do when looking for accommodations is to figure out a good centralized location for all of the activities you have planned.
That way, you can maximize the time you have in activities and spend less time in the car. Realistically though, Amarillo is pretty easy to get across. It’s not a huge city, so you can cross the city in about 30 minutes.
Day 1
Day 1 for us included driving in from Houston, so we kept it pretty low key. We arrived in town around 4pm, so we were mostly looking to see/do something quick, eat, and head to bed.
Cadillac Ranch (free)
Bring your spray paint and come check out these iconic Cadillacs buried nose-first into the ground in a field right off of I-10. This completely random art installation is a fun, interactive stop that will allow you to make your mark (literally) on you family road trip! It was created in 1974 by artists Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm and has become a mecca for graffiti artists over the years. Pro tip: bring spray paint with you. Because of the popularity of this activity, local stores have a hard time keeping it in stock.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
If you like steak, over the top western wear, and kids meals being served in a cowboy hat, you’ll love this place. The food is great, the service is great, and the wait times are minimal. Also, if you’re staying at the RV park, there’s a free shuttle to bring you to the restaurant and back.
The most exciting part of the Big Texan is the 72 oz steak challenge. On a stage in the center of the room, you’ll get to watch the contestants try to eat a 72 ounce steak, 3 sides, and a salad – all in under an hour. We watched two guys try and fail, but it was fun to cheer them on from our tables.
Day 2
Day 2 was a day for adventure at Palo Duro Canyon! We hiked, we went ziplining, and we saw a show!
Breakfast – Ye Olde Pancake Station
If you love down home cooking breakfast kind of places like we do, this is your place. We were originally going to go to Brent’s Cafe, but they were closed, and we happily stumbled upon this place.
The place was packed. Don’t judge the parking lot fullness by your wait time. The parking lot was full when we went and we only had 5 minute wait before we got our table. The waitress was so friendly. Everything came out delicious, hot, and with a smile.
We enjoyed the hot chocolate, western omelet, chocolate chip pancakes, and biscuits and gravy. We’d stop here again in a heartbeat.
Palo Duro Adventure Park
Ready to fly? How about zipping across a canyon on a steel cable? This series of ziplines goes across Palo Duro Canyon and lets you get an unforgettable view! Afraid of heights? There’s also the “chicken truck” where you can ride along with you friends or family members and provide moral support and still be part pf the action without actually riding. Ziplines cost $30 and kids can ride tandem with adults for just $10 each.
Lunch – Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner
If you’re looking for something delicious to eat near Palo Duro Canyon, this is a great place to go to. They have classic Southern favorites like chicken fried steak and beef tips and they serve it with a smile. Our waiter was so kind and helpful. Our group enjoyed all the things – especially the chicken fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and beef tips. The chili cheese fries and chips and queso were great as well. We’d definitely go back here.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
This was a place that my dad has been wanting to visit for the longest time and I’m so glad we finally did it together! Palo Duro is absolutely beautiful! It’s called the “Grand Canyon of Texas” because it definitely has a similar feel to it. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to make your reservation up to 30 days ahead of time – even if it’s just for a day pass.
This place is kind of amazing. You pass miles and miles or flat farmland only to end up in what is a beautiful canyon, just ready to be explored. There’s one main road that loops through the park, so if you’re looking to just drive through and see it, I recommend doing that with one stop – the Visitor center overlook. It really gives you that wow factor you’re looking from the top of the canyon looking in.
If you’re looking to hike, ride horses, etc., there’s plenty of trail options for that too – with all different lengths ranging from .4 miles and beyond.
The RV spots look awesome too, if you’re into that – which we are – so we’ll definitely be back with the RV sometime in the future and already have our campsite picked out.
Dinner – Canyon Ranch Steaks & Sports
We decided to stop into Canyon to eat in between hiking and the Texas musical at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This place had good reviews, so we thought we’d give it a try.
We’re so glad we did! The wait staff was all super friendly and we were seated right away. We ended up getting the Foreman Philly, Chicken fried steak, hamburger, Quesadilla, and Ribeye special. Everything was delicious. We’d definitely eat here again if we’re back in the area.
Texas Outdoor Musical
A musical about Texas with Palo Duro canyon as the backdrop? Okay! This was such a unique experience! It’s $40 for adults and $30 each for kids, so while it’s not cheap, it’s definitely a unique experience that’s worth the splurge. Bring your own water with you; it can get pretty hot out there before the sun goes down!
Day 3
On day 3, we did a lot of sightseeing.
Floating Mesa (free)
Northwest of Amarillo on Tascosa Road, you’ll find what appears to be a mesa hovering above the earth. This optical illusion created by Stanley Marsh is really just a wide, white stripe painted around the mesa, causing it to appear as if it’s floating. It’s really pretty neat to see in person and let the kids think there’s some sort of magic afoot.
Route 66 Historic District
It used to be that if you wanted to travel from the East coast to the West coast, you had to travel route 66. From Chicago to Santa Monica, this road has been well traveled. Now, the historic Route 66 has been replaced by interstate highways, but the small towns still highlight the road-trippers through nostalgic cafes, shops, antiques, and more. Now this area in Amarillo has a great night life – there’s plenty of bars and music venues to spend a few evening hours.
Bill’s Backyard Classics
If you love antique cars, muscle cars, and everything in between, you’ll love Bill’s. Here, you’ll find two huge warehouses full of cars, trucks, jeeps, and vans from all different eras and in all different styles.
Ozymandias of the Plains (free)
The same man who commissioned Cadillac Ranch also commissioned these leg statues South of Amarillo. Another random stop? Yes. But let your creativity fly in coming up with a funny photo op here!
Creek House Honey Farm
Buzz buzz! This bee and honey farm is a great place to take a bee tour and learn about how these little winged insects help pollinate the area and produce some delicious honey. Tours are 1.5 hours in length and it’s $35 for adults and $20 for kids. They also have a great little boutique will also sorts of things made our of honey and beeswax, as well as a winery to sample their wines and have a light lunch/snack.
RV Museum
Jack Sisemore’s RV Museum is home to a collection of 15 vintage trailers, campers, and mobile homes from the 1930s to the 1970s, including the bus from the Robin Williams film RV.
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
On over 4.4 acres in West Texas, you’ll find beautiful blooms, gardens, and installations that’ll leave you in awe. If you love flowers and the beautiful outdoors, you’ll love this one.
Dinner – 575 Degree Pizza
This small pizza joint is serving up some seriously delicious pizza! Down the street from Cadillac Ranch, you’ll find this pizza place at the end of a shopping center. Though it’s not a large place, it’s packing a big punch when I comes to the food they provide. The service was excellent. While there, we got cheese breadsticks, Bender Pizza, and a build your own pizza. They also had live music which was a nice way to unwind after a long drive into town.
More Fun Things to Do & Eat in Amarillo
Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West
Texas Air & Space Museum
Tascosa Drive In
American Quarterhorse Museum
Brent’s Café
Coyote Bluff Café
Six Car Pub & Brewery
When planning a trip to Amarillo, here’s a couple things to know:
*Make a reservation. Everywhere you plan to go, just book it. Our zipline adventure was booked ahead of time and had we not had the reservation, we wouldn’t have gotten to do it because they were booked. It wasn’t crazy busy when we were there, but had it been, we wouldn’t have been able to get in without one.
*Visit earlier in the summer if you’re looking for below 90° weather. The first day we were there, it’s was 68° and perfect and the next it was 88° and definitely not the same experience.
*Bring lots of water. It’s dry and you can get dehydrated really quickly.
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