Amarillo to Denver drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Amarillo to Denver drive are Clayton NM, Raton NM and Colorado Springs. The distance from Amarillo to Denver by car is 434 miles, with a 6h23m driving time.

Planning an Amarillo to Denver road trip itinerary

The Amarillo to Denver drive takes you from north Texas to the capital of Colorado.

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.

Interesting Amarillo activities include Route 66 walking tours and scavenger hunts.

For high quality Amarillo accommodation, try the historic Barfield or the spacious Embassy Suites Amarillo Downtown

Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.

Also worth considering are whiskey and history tours, guided mountain hikes and craft beer tours.

Memorable Denver accommodation options include the charming Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast and the strikingly stylish Ramble.

Amarillo to Denver distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Amarillo to Denver is 434 miles. That makes for a driving time of around six hours and 23 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the US-87 and I-25.

The best stops to add to an Amarillo to Denver road trip itinerary are Clayton NM, Raton NM and Pueblo CO.

Best stops between Amarillo and Denver: Clayton NM

The Herzstein Memorial Museum inside a former methodist church covers regional history. But it’s the series of dinosaur statues in the town centre that give Clayton NM its fun factor. These are a loving homage to the dinosaur prints found at Clayton Lake State Park, about 12 miles to the northwest. As well as the interpretive walking trail, you can also go birding and camping here.

Amarillo to Denver road trip attractions: Raton NM

Raton NM lies just to the south of the scenic, 7,834ft-elevation Raton Pass, which straddles the Colorado/ New Mexico border. This was once one of the key points on the Santa Fe Trail. There’s a scenic overlook on the Colorado side, and a camp and café on the New Mexico side.

Raton is also the gateway to the Sugarite Canyon State Park, which offers all manner of outdoor activities and plenty of wildlife viewing.

Amarillo to Denver drive: Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is at the foot of the Rockies – most notably the 14,114ft-high Pikes Peak. You can take a Jeep tour to the top, or go via the cog railway. The other natural highlight is the Garden of the Gods, a park with giant red sandstone formations jutting out towards the sky. Ways of exploring include Jeep tours, ebike adventures and Segway tours.

Other interesting Colorado Springs experiences include falconry classes, food tours, hot air balloon flights and ziplining.

For memorable Colorado Springs accommodation with character, go for the Great Wolf Lodge or the Mining Exchange.