On the Texas map, Amarillo lies at the midway point of its panhandle and at the midway point on historic US Route 66. You can catch a glimpse of what traveling through this area might have been like mid-century by driving through the city’s Historic Route 66 District. There is also a Route 66 museum here.
We visited this city when we travelled across USA in 2020-21 from Pittsburgh to Portland and back.
- Cadillac Ranch
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- Route 66 museum in Amarillo
Cadillac Ranch – This is a fun and free attraction just off Interstate 40. Old Cadillacs, coated with colorful paint, stand artistically in a row with their nose stuck to the ground of a farmer’s field. The cars are only a few yards from the parking area. The tradition here is to grab a can of spray paint and create your own graffiti on the cars. If you don’t have a paint can handy, not to worry, half-filled paint cans are strewn about the field surrounding the cars. Choose a couple of colors and get your artistic juises flowing.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park – 30 minutes south of Amarillo is the Palo Duro Canyon which is the 2nd largest canyon after Grand Canyon. It is about 120 miles long-20 miles wide-800 feet deep. The name Palo Duro is Spanish for hard wood or hard stick, referring to the hardwood shrubs and trees found in the canyon.
One can hike, bike, horse ride, and camp here. A 16-mile drive takes you from the canyon rim down to, and along, the canyon floor. Off this road are several campgrounds, and numerous hiking trails. One of the best hikes the Lighthouse Trail, which leads to a rock formation of the same name. This is a six-mile round-trip hike to the base of the Lighthouse.
Route 66 museum in Amarillo – located in the historic Myers Fried Chicken building, the museum serves as a central hub for travelers exploring the legendary Mother Road. Part museum and part visitor center, it helps preserve the legacy of U.S. Route 66 through exhibits, memorabilia, maps, local art, and souvenirs. Visitors can also watch the daily Two for the Road documentary while learning more about the history of the route.
Unfortunately, we passed by the museum late in the evening and were unable to visit.
