The distance from Abilene to Amarillo by car is 286 miles, with a 4h6m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Abilene to Amarillo drive are the National WASP WWII Museum, Lubbock TX and the Mabee Regional Heritage Center.
Planning an Abilene to Amarillo road trip itinerary
The Abilene to Amarillo drive connects two of the larger regional cities in Texas.
The first port of call for many visitors in Abilene TX is Frontier Texas, a museum about life in the Old West. Unlike many dreary local history museums, Frontier Texas uses state of the art technology to be as interactive as possible, and the scope is much grander than the immediate local region.
Elsewhere, the Grace Museum inside a grand former hotel covers art and local history.
The other really interesting attraction in Abilene TX is the National Center For Children’s Illustrated Literature, which collects the original artwork from beloved children’s books.
For Abilene accommodation deals, compare prices here.
Amarillo is a classic stop on Route 66. Highlights include Cadillac Ranch, an art installation featuring 10 brightly-painted Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground. You’ll also find the Texas Air and Space Museum here, and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. For the great outdoors, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is just to the south-east of the city.
For high quality Amarillo accommodation, try the historic Barfield or the spacious Embassy Suites Amarillo Downtown.
Abilene to Amarillo distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Abilene to Amarillo is 286 miles. You can expect a driving time of around four hours and six minutes. The quickest route goes along the US-84 and I-27.
The best stops to an Abilene to Amarillo road trip itinerary are the National WASP WWII Museum, Lubbock TX and the Mabee Regional Heritage Center.
Abilene to Amarillo road trip attractions: National WASP WWII Museum
The National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater TX takes a look at World War II from an unusual angle. This aviation museum celebrates the efforts and achievements of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. When qualifies pilots were in short supply after Pearl Harbor, these women took on the task of delivering planes to the training bases in the South. They also flight-tested repaired planes before they were returned to active service.
The museum tells their story amid the planes on display.
Best stops between Abilene and Amarilllo: Lubbock TX
Lubbock is home to the Texas Tech University, which plays host to the National Ranching Heritage Center. This explains the history and culture of ranching across Texas and further afield.
There’s also the Museum of Texas Tech University, which has dinosaurs and a planetarium. Perhaps the most interesting attraction, though, is the Buddy Holly Center, which celebrates the local boy music star who died tragically early.
For something a little cuter, you can visit the prairie dogs at Prairie Dog Town Park.
Good Lubbock accommodation options include the good value La Quinta and the personality-packed Cotton Court Hotel.
Abilene to Amarillo drive: Mabee Regional Heritage Center
The Mabee Regional Heritage Center in Plainview TX plays host to three museums. The Flying Queens Museum is about a college basketball team that entered the Basketball Hall of Fame for a 133 game winning streak. The Jimmy Dean Museum looks at a local musician, entertainer and pig farmer. And the Museum of the Llano Estacado looks at the history of the Southern High Plains region.
More Texas road trips
- Best stops on the Dallas to Amarillo drive and the Fort Worth to Amarillo drive.
- Where to stop on the Dallas to Lubbock drive.
- The best stops on the Abilene to Lubbock drive.
- Getting to Houston: The best stops on the Abilene to Houston drive, Arlington to Houston drive, Dallas to Houston drive and Waco to Houston drive.
- Texas road trips from Houston: The best stops on the Houston to Amarillo drive, Houston to Beaumont drive, Houston to Fort Worth drive and Houston to Lubbock drive.
