Tucumcari to Amarillo drive: Best stops, distance & time

The distance from Tucumcari NM to Amarillo TX by car is 115 miles, with a 1h43m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Tucumcari to Amarillo drive are Glenrio, Adrian TX and Vega TX.

Finding the best things to do between Tucumcari and Amarillo

The Tucumcari to Amarillo drive connects eastern New Mexico to northern Texas.

Tucumcari NM makes a big play of its location on Route 66, and the Route 66 Monument here makes for a classic photo.

For more information and stories about the Mother Road, you can visit the New Mexico Route 66 Museum. The other Tucumcari attraction worth considering is the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum, which showcases the wealth of dino fossils discovered nearby.

Tucumcari accommodation is mainly motel-style, with the Roadrunner Lodge Motel generally getting the best reviews.

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.

Tucumcari to Amarillo distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Amarillo to Tucumcari is 115 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 43 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-40.

The best stops to add to a Tucumcari to Amarillo road trip are Glenrio, Adrian TX and Vega TX.

Best stops between Tucumcari and Amarillo: Glenrio

Glenrio spreads itself out over the New Mexico-Texas border. Whichever direction you’re coming from, there’s the chance to hop out of the vehicle and take a photo of the welcome sign for the new state. On the New Mexico side, you’ll also take the bridge over San Jon Creek.

Tucumcari to Amarillo drive: Adrian TX

The Texas town of Adrian is fairly non-descript in most respects, but it does have the honor of being exactly halfway between Chicago and Los Angeles. This makes it the halfway point on Route 66. Unsurprisingly, there are signs pointing this out, which make it a popular photo stop for roadtrippers making their way across the States.

Tucumcari to Amarillo road trip attractions: Vega TX

Vega TX is largely seen as a gas stop. However, if you go into the town itself there’s a pretty cool antelope mural on the traditional Route 66 road. Otherwise, the main attraction is the Milburn-Price Culture Museum, which does the usual take on local history. This local history museum is, at least, relatively kid-friendly in its approach.