Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas (2024)

Greetings from Amarillo Texas ... Land of Modern Pioneers on Route 66!

We've had the opportunity to get out on the road and explore Route 66 numerous times in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California ... and Texas!

Amarillo is the largest city on the 178 mile portion of Route 66 from Oklahoma to Texas and into New Mexico. The city is flush with historic sites, Route 66 memorabilia, hotels and restaurants,and lots of fun places to see.

Interstate Highway I-40 traverses the city east to west, much as Route 66 did in earlier years. I-27 heads south to Lubbock, while U.S. Highway 87 leads north to Dumas, Clayton and Raton.

Map of approximate Route 66 from Shamrock to Amarillo to Glenrio, Texas

Historic 6th Street District

The Route 66 Sixth Street Historic District preserves 13 blocks of cafes, antique shops, boutiques, nightspots and restaurants. The district includes commercial development in the San Jacinto Heights Addition west of Amarillo’s central business district.

It runs along an east-west axis through a grid system of streets between Georgia and Forrest Avenues. Developed as an early 20th century streetcar suburb, the district was transformed by the establishment of a national transportation artery running through its center. The road was originally paved with gravel in 1921.

Asphalt pavement on a concrete foundation replaced the gravel when the road became part of federally designated Route 66 in 1926. The commercial corridor was the first highway constructed to carry travelers out of Amarillo to the south and west.

The Historic District is Amarillo’s most intact collection of commercial buildings that possess significant associations with Route 66. Featuring elements of Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and Art Moderne design, these buildings represent the historic development phases of this early 20th century suburb and the evolving tastes and sensibilities of American culture.

The district is now a hub for nightlife and shopping, and tourism. The district hosts a number of festivals throughout the summer. It is the locale of popular shops like the Lile Art Gallery.

Entering Historic 6th Street in Amarillo

Texas Route 66 Visitor Center in Amarillo

Route 66 mural at the corner of 6th Avenue and South Virginia Street

Lodging Options in Amarillo

We travel through, and to, Amarillo on a frequent basis. We have stayed there dozens of times over the decades. Today, the city offers more than 100 hotels and places to stay. It is a great stopping point for those traveling Historic Route 66, with not only many lodging options, but dining possibilities as well.

There are three primary clusters of lodgingin Amarillo - downtown, on the east side of the city along I-40, and on the west side near Soncy Road (exit 64 from I-40). We prefer the Soncy Road area, near I-40 and the medical district, but that is just a personal preference.

Listed below are some popular lodging options, with reviews from TripAdvisor. NOTE: We have no affiliation with any of these properties, but only list these as a starting point in your lodging selection.

The Big Texan Modern-day travelers through the city probably know about "The Big Texan" steak house! It was originally on Route 66, but is located today not far away, on I-40 ... it's a place many tourists to Amarillo want to check out. In 1960 Bob Lee opened the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66 in Amarillo. The Big Texan moved to the east side of Amarillo on I-40 in the 1970s. Shown below is "The Big Texan" as it appears today ... home of the free 72 oz steak (with caveats)
Indoor view of the dining area at The Big Texan

Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum The Jack Sisemore RV Museum & RV Storage is located at 14501 Interstate 27 in Amarillo. The Sisemores began restoring and collecting unusual vintage RVs over 25 years ago. Their museum houses many of the RVs in their collection including a Flxible Clipper Bus, the first Itasca motor home ever built, the oldest Fleetwood in existence and many other RVs from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Several vintage motorcycles are also on display. The museum is free to the public. Phone 806.690.3377 for information and hours of operation. It is typically closed for the winter season from mid-November to early April. Website of the Jack Sisemore RV Museum

Popular in Amarillo: The Cadillac Ranch

As one heads westbound out from Amarillo today on I-40 between exits 60 and 62, the Cadillac Ranch comes into view quickly, on the south side of the road, on a privately owned pasture.

The Cadillac Ranch ... classic, half-buried Cadillacs!

This "interactive" folk art site of ten Cadillacs is the work of financier Stanley Marsh. Creators included Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group "Ant Farm".

It was created in 1974 and consists of what were old or junked Cadillac automobiles, many sporting those classic tail fins. The cars, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, face west in a straight line.

The cars are half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. As the city of Amarillo grew and encroached on the original site, the cars were moved two miles west to its current location in 1997.

Take exit 60 from I-40. Access is from the service road on the south side of the interstate. Park, cross over the fence gate, and walk across the field about 100 yards ... free admission!

Graffiti is allowed as you will quickly learn!

It isn't always a sunshine day at the Cadillac Ranch ... from May 1 - June 12 of 2023 parts of the area received over 10 inches of rain!

If you are traveling in a recreational vehicle or trailer, the Cadillac RV Park is located nearby, at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road. A bit further west is the Oasis RV Resort.

The Cadillac RV Park on I-40 west of Amarillo

The 2nd Amendment Cowboy near Amarillo, Texas The Cadillac RV Park is located just west of Amarillo, at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road near the Cadillac Ranch. The 2nd Amendment Cowboy stands tall at the RV Park.

Read more about giant "Muffler Men", their locations, and view photos on this website

Palo Duro Canyon

Located 25 miles south of Amarillo is Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the nation's second largest canyon system after the Grand Canyon. It is also 14 miles from the town of Canyon.

Palo Duro Canyon is the most spectacular and scenic landscape feature in the Texas Panhandle. It was formed by millions of years of water erosion by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and the West Texas wind.

There is an 800 foot descent to the canyon floor and more than 16 miles of paved road. Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers fantastic scenic views, historical sites and markers, picnic tables, public restrooms and showers. It also features miles of hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, and a souvenir shop with grill. There are a variety of camping and parking areas suitable for day trips, overnight tent camping, or extended stays in the largest of campers and motor homes.

The "Texas" Outdoor Musical runs Tuesdays through Sundays in the summer at the Pioneer Amphitheater in the park. Watch the stories, struggles and triumphs of early settlers. The family-friendly show has singing, dancing, fireworks and lots of Texas humor!

More things to See and Do in Amarillo

You are probably going to visit the Cadillac Ranch, and tour the Historic 6th Street District. And maybe eat at The Big Texan. But then what? There is lots more to do in Amarillo!

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum celebrates and preserves the history of the American Quarter Horse. Changing, one-of-a-kind exhibits are on display year-round, as is a gallery of western art. It is located at 2601 East I-40, and is open from 9:00 am to 5:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Other popular attractions include ...

• Amarillo Botanical Gardens
• Amarillo Zoo
• Cowgirls and Cowboys of the West
• Panhandle Plains Historical Museum
• Amarillo Museum of Art
• Texas Air & Space Museum
• The Helium Monument

Interactive Map of Amarillo, Texas

Earlier Times: Vintage Views along Route 66 in Amarillo

We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Amarillo and Route 66.

What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove through and around Amarillo? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new?

What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today.

Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades.

These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today around Amarillo.

Downtown Amarillo	Sunset Motel	Skyline Motel
Dowell's Saratoga Cafe	Elite Courts	Bailey's Motel
Broncho Lodge	Best Court	Bungalow Courts
Triangle Motel	Spanish Courts	Capitol Hotel

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