I-40, I-27, and Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport

Getting to Amarillo

Reach Amarillo on I-40 or I-27, or fly into AMA east of the city; Palo Duro Canyon State Park lies south near Canyon and requires a separate drive.

Airport and highway arrival map

Compare AMA, I-40, I-27, and the separate drive to Palo Duro Canyon.

Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport sits east of Amarillo near I-40. I-40 crosses the city east to west, while I-27 reaches Amarillo from Lubbock and continues south toward Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a separate drive south of the city; use live directions and check park alerts before leaving Amarillo.

Tap a marker for the airport, highway, city, and canyon context.
Map lines show regional corridors rather than turn-by-turn road geometry.

Open driving directions →

Second Star gear guide

Road Trip Essentials

Road-trip packing list

A cleaner trunk and charged phones for the drive.

Phone mounts, coolers, emergency kits, chargers, packing pieces, and glovebox backup for scenic drives and weekend routes.

Car Phone Mounts

$25.6

Road Trip Coolers

$275

Car Emergency Kits

$49.99

Open road-trip guideMore picks on SSG →

From Dallas/Fort Worth

US 287 runs northwest from Fort Worth to Amarillo. Treat it as a long intercity drive and check road and weather conditions before departure.

From Lubbock

I-27 runs north from Lubbock into Amarillo and continues toward the downtown grid. The Palo Duro turnoff is south of Amarillo near Canyon.

By air

Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA) is east of the city near I-40. A rental car is the practical choice for Palo Duro Canyon and dispersed Amarillo attractions.

Match the approach to the first stop

For Palo Duro Canyon: use I-27 south toward Canyon, then follow the park route. Reserve a day pass and check TPWD alerts before the drive.
For Cadillac Ranch: continue west of central Amarillo on I-40. The installation is outdoors with an unpaved approach, wind, and little shelter.
For Sixth Avenue: the Route 66 Historic District runs west of downtown and is separate from Cadillac Ranch.
For a flight: allow for the drive between AMA, downtown, west-side hotels, and the canyon rather than treating them as one compact district.