3 Best Things to do in (or near) Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo, Texas may not seem like a top travel destination, but it has a ton to offer and the central location makes it a great stop over addition to any cross-country trip. Last May, my husband and I were looking for a quick trip and decided on Palo Duro Canyon. The canyon was by far the highlight of our trip, but Amarillo had so much more to offer than expected!

#1 Best Outdoor Adventure: Palo Duro Canyon

I’ve lived in Oklahoma my entire life and only recently learned Palo Duro Canyon was a weekend trip away. The canyon is located approximately 25 miles south east of Amarillo, Texas making it an easy day trip if you are passing through Amarillo! Palo Duro Canyon is the 2^nd largest canyon in The United States and boasts over 30 miles of trails.

The highway leading to Palo Duro State Park (entrance fee when we visited was $8 for the day) was unbelievably flat, making it even more amazing when we first arrived at the canyon.

Drive – If you aren’t up to hiking, the canyon still worth seeing from the road that winds through the state park. There are tons of areas to pull off the road and admire the views and wildlife. While we were exploring by road, we came across a deer and wild turkey.

On Foot: The Lighthouse Trail is one of the most well known in Palo Duro Canyon.

5.7 mile Out and Back Trail
Rated as Moderate, but is one of Palo Duro Canyon’s harder trails
Beautiful scenery and views of the Lighthouse formation.

Eat: The Trading Post located in the canyon offers souvenirs, a few supplies and hamburgers that are absolutely worth the stop. We arrived at the canyon hungry and the Trading Post Cheeseburger was amazing. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon

#2 Best Restaurant: Yellow City Street Food

There are plenty of great places to eat in Amarillo and The Big Texan has well deserved notoriety. But if you only eat one place in Amarillo, I recommend Yellow City Street Food.

This small space offers amazing and unique meals. The staff was super friendly and informative offering input and tips on the menu and beer offerings. We had a variety of tacos and animals fries, it was all delicious. I’m not sure how many days in a row I’d need to eat at Yellow City Street Food before I was ready for change, but the number has to be above 12. Great beer options, great food and a good vibe.

https://yellowcitystreetfood.com/

#3 Best Road Side Attraction: Cadillac Ranch

The Cadillac Ranch is some how exactly what you’d expect, but also worth seeing. It’s a row of 10 Cadillac car buried nose down in the ground along I-40. Just west of the city center, take Exit 60 and follow the service road. It’s set back a bit from the road, and cars pull off onto the shoulder so you’ll likely see right were to go. We noticed a wide variety license plates from all over the U.S. as travelers pull off of their cross country trips to check out this off beat landmark.

Whether Amarillo is a stop over on the way to another adventure or headlining your adventure, I’d recommend adding these stops to your list! Let me know what you’d recommend, leave a comment below!