Texas

Amarillo

Amarillo, Texas
Palo Duro Canyon
Big Texas Steak House
Longhorn cattle, Amarillo, Texas

Why visit Amarillo

Amarillo offers a compelling introduction to the vastness of the Texas Panhandle, where open skies and long horizons shape both landscape and pace. Sitting along historic Route 66, the city carries a quiet nostalgia, but it’s the surrounding countryside that gives it real depth.

Just beyond Amarillo, the land begins to shift. Palo Duro Canyon, often described as the ‘Grand Canyon of Texas’, reveals dramatic layers of red rock, best explored on foot, horseback or by private guided drive at sunrise or dusk. The sense of scale here is striking, and far removed from the flat plains above.

Ranching heritage runs deep throughout the region. We often suggest time on a working ranch, where days are shaped by the rhythm of the land – whether riding out across open terrain or settling in for long, fire-lit evenings under expansive Texan skies.

Back in Amarillo, the atmosphere remains relaxed and unpretentious, with a handful of characterful dining spots and Route 66 landmarks adding texture rather than distraction.

Amarillo works best as part of a wider journey, offering space, contrast and a more elemental connection to the landscapes that define this part of Texas.

Riding in Palo Duro

Highlights of Amarillo

  • Private Palo Duro Canyon exploration – Discover the ‘Grand Canyon of Texas’ alongside a specialist guide, with time your visit at sunrise or dusk when shifting light reveals the canyon’s full depth and colour.

  • Ranch stay on the Panhandle plains – Spend time on a working ranch where days unfold on horseback across open terrain, followed by long, fire-lit evenings and a slower, more grounded rhythm of life.

  • Helicopter over canyon country – Take to the air for a low-level flight over Palo Duro Canyon’s dramatic formations, before touching down in a remote setting for a secluded pause within the landscape.

  • Route 66 with a local insider – With the halfway point at Adrian around 1 hour from Amarillo, this is the perfect place to explore Route 66 with a knowledgeable guide, uncovering its quieter stories, historic details and lesser-known stops that most travellers pass by.

  • Canyon dining experience – Set within Palo Duro Canyon, a private dining experience unfolds as the light shifts across the rock formations, creating an atmospheric setting that feels entirely removed.

  • Art and Americana in Amarillo – Spend time exploring Amarillo’s creative side through curated gallery visits and characterful collections, offering a more thoughtful insight into the spirit of the Texas Panhandle.

Which way to Amarillo

‘Is This the Way to Amarillo’ was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the duo behind countless 1960s hits, and originally released in 1971, but it stalled outside the UK top 10 until its unlikely revival decades later by Peter Kay.

Home of the American Cowboy

The Texas Panhandle was once shaped by early cowboys known as ‘vaqueros’, whose Spanish riding techniques, tools and traditions laid the foundations for the classic American cowboy still associated with the region today.

Good to know

Getting to Amarillo

Amarillo is best reached via connecting, typically routing through Dallas or Houston before a short onward flight of around one hour.  Alternatively, flying into Dallas and continuing by road offers a more immersive approach, with a five to six-hour drive north through steadily opening landscapes. This works particularly well as part of a wider Texas journey, allowing the shift from city to wide-open Panhandle to unfold naturally.

When to go

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OUR FAVOURITE TIME TO VISIT

Summers are fierce and winters are unpredictable in this part of Texas. April, May and October stand out, offering the best balance of light, temperature and atmosphere across both Amarillo and the surrounding landscapes.

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